Hike a loop of Upper Jackstraw Brook Trail through woods to Gilmore Pond to enjoy the wintry landscape and wildlife, admire the new dam and views cleared of invasives by Westborough Boy Scouts. Dress for the chilly weather. Meet at Primrose Lane mailbox, off Adams St.
***This hike has been cancelled due to impassable trails.***
***TOO MUCH SNOW!***
Map of the Upper Jackstraw Brook Trail: http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/upperjackstraw_trail_map.pdf
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Madeline Champagne, past president of the Mass Butterfly Club, describes the intricate system of survival and adaptation that lies behind the beauty of a butterfly. Each species has its own particular story. With examples of local species, she will cover butterfly (and moth) life cycles, protective colorations, defensive behaviors, and overwintering strategies. This program is suitable for all ages—bring your questions. Get ready for the butterfly season with a greater understanding and appreciation of this beautiful and fragile insect.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Enjoy a rare close-up look of a live eagle, peregrine falcon, great horned owl, a turkey vulture and hawks in this program by Tom Ricardi, a licensed rehabilitator and wildlife biologist. Discover more about the behavior of these amazing birds. You will learn about the great work done by the Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Facility, where Tom cares for injured birds and operates a successful captive-breeding program. His pioneering work with bald eagles has resulted in captive-bred bald eagles reproducing in the wild and captive-bred chicks being adopted into wild nests. "This program is supported by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
At Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow St.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join the annual town-wide litter clean-up sponsored by WCLT! Early birds meet at 6:30 am at West Meadow Plaza or Bellows Road. Families are invited at 9:30 am to Lake Chauncy parking to be assigned a site to clean up. Wear gloves and sturdy shoes—trash bags will be provided. Rally your co-workers or neighbors to form a team to pick up litter and beautify our streets!
Contact: earthday@westboroughlandtrust.org

Come help us restore the natural habitat and unveil the views around Gilmore Pond! We'll be ripping up and hauling invasive plants out of the woods. Loppers and mattocks are desirable, but a willingness to work is all that's needed. Be sure to wear long pants, socks, and sturdy shoes, and bring work gloves, bug spray, and water. Meet at the WCLT Property Reservation sign on Gilmore Farm Road.
(Rain date: Sunday, May 1, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Contact: stewardship@westboroughlandtrust.org

With the arrival of spring, do you wonder what wild shoots and young leaves you might gather for soups and greens? In response to popular demand, the Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) brings Arthur Haines back to Westborough to lead a spring foraging walk to find edible and useful wild plants. An avid forager and the New England Wild Flower Society’s research botanist, Arthur Haines is the author of the newly published book, Ancestral Plants: A Primitive Skills Guide to Important Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants of the Northeast.

NEW MEETING PLACE: the parking lot at Mass Fish & Wildlife headquarters, at end of North Drive off Milk St./Rte.135.

Find a map of the Westboro Wildlife Management Area at: http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf

Contact: Annie Reid 508-366-8429 or events@westboroughlandtrust.org

In celebration of National Trails Day, we will be building 3 bog bridges, installing Charm Bracelet trail markers, and tidying the route of the trail. Loppers and rakes would be helpful. Be sure to wear long pants, long sleeves, socks, and sturdy shoes. Bring work gloves, bug spray, and water. Watch out for ticks and poison ivy!

Park in WestMeadow Plaza behind Dunkin Donuts & JPs Restaurant, and meet us at the Meadow Road trailhead.

(Rain date: Possibly Sunday, June 5, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Contact: stewardship@westboroughlandtrust.org

7:00 - Join us at WCLT's Annual Meeting as world-renowned naturalist, lecturer, and ecotourism guide Peter Alden discusses how and why the number and variety of plants and animals have changed drastically over the last 150 years. Reception and book signing to follow.
8:15 - Business meeting.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

At Westborough High School Auditorium, 90 West Main St.

AGENDA
* Recap of major issues/comments expressed at March 29 public meeting
* Commission’s change in focus
* Presentation by Massachusetts Historical Commission
    * Significance of property on National/State Registers of Historic Places
* Presentation by Department of Youth Services
    * Continued presence on the Campus
* Open Q&A
* Next steps:
    * Special Commission meets in working sessions to review and discuss community comments, consultant reports (target date July 2011)
    * Commission formulates draft report (target date October 2011)
    * Public meeting - review report (target date November 2011)

Read WCLT Comments on the Westborough State Hospital Property Reuse Report (pdf)

*** Postponed from June 12 due to wet weather. This is now a Father's Day Butterfly Walk! Bring your Dad! ***

A flash of orange, winged spots of yellow, and a flutter of blue light up the meadow. The butterflies of summer are beginning to brighten our days! To glimpse these "dancing flowers," join husband and wife team, Barbara Volkle and Stephen Moore, president of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, on a WCLT family hike on Sunday, June 19 at 1:30 p.m. You may spot Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Viceroys, Monarch, Long-Dash Skipper or Appalachian Brown butterflies.

Bring repellant, and close-focusing binoculars are helpful.

Meet at the Mass Wildlife parking lot, at the top of North Drive, off rt.135.

Map of the Westboro Wildlife Management Area: www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf

Stephen Moore, president of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, has spent more than three decades on explorations with his wife Barbara to track not only all the butterflies but also bird species in North America. These naturalists have traveled as far as the Arctic to catch sight of rare species and add to their life lists. It wasn't until 2001, however, when they joined the Mass. Butterfly Club, that they turned their focus on the 720 species of butterflies in North America. To date, Moore has spotted 500 different butterflies. He, Volkle and other members of the MBC are happy to share their enthusiasm and knowledge about butterflies. Through their walks and talks, they hope to promote the preservation of meadows and butterfly gardens, habitats that provide butterflies with the plants they need for home and food. For more information about the Massachusetts Butterfly club, visit www.massbutterflies.org

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Enjoy great music and an ice cream sundae under the stars! Bring your lawn chair. All donations benefit WCLT.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Explore the beautiful woods and learn its secrets from well-known naturalist and trail expert Jill Phelps Kern, author of Hiking the SuAsCo Watershed. We will also visit the new eco-friendly Visitor Center with interactive exhibits about the habitats and history of the refuge. Bring a brown bag lunch, insect repellent, and binoculars. Meet to carpool at Westborough Public Library.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join us on a 2.5-mile hike through a newly re-opened section of an old woods road through the Westborough Wildlife Management Area, from the days of the old Lyman School. The new trail goes north through a wide variety of habitats including some beautiful deep woods—you wouldn't believe this is Westborough! We then will loop back through the farmer's fields of the State Hospital and follow the shore of Lake Chauncy. Learn about the history of the area, and see the remnants of old stone walls from the property's farm days. We may even catch a glimpse of an osprey or some visiting waterfowl. Families are welcome. Meet at the Lake Chauncy boat ramp, off Chauncy Street.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Hikers of all ages are invited to join Marge Fisher on the newly created trail to see the foliage and wildlife at Indian Pond. Be one of the first to hike the newly created ¾ mile trail to discover the hidden jewel of Indian Pond, a former 2-acre farm pond. We will hike the trail from one end to the other and back to our starting 
point for a total distance of 1.5 miles. We'll pass through a grove of 
blazing red maples following the pond’s shoreline. In the wetlands around the pond spicebush, false hellebore and skunk cabbage flourish. 
 The trail then climbs a knoll to overlook the Assabet River. This 
newly accessible trail was the result of Scouts working on an Eagle 
project and by WCLT stewards. All ages will enjoy this easy fall 
 discovery hike.
Park along Meadow Rd. off Milk St. (Rt.135) just 
before West Meadow Plaza.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

View the natural beauty of Westborough as seen through the creative eyes of local photographers.

The WCLT work party is moving from Hundreds Road to Sawink Farm. At Sawink we will be raking and clearing a new trail. The work will be light and easy for the most part, and you can see the newest links in the Charm Bracelet.
Meet at the SVT Sawink Farm parking lot off Walker Street at 9AM.
Contact: stewardship@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join us as we present and celebrate this year's nature photography contest winners! Admire the creative eye of local photographers who have captured Westborough’s natural beauty through their individual perspectives. Exhibit runs through November 6.
Contact: photocontest@westboroughlandtrust.org

Help to clean up the Gilmore Pond area for the winter. Work will include removing invasive plants and hauling brush, downed wood, and trash. Bring gloves and loppers if you have them.
(Rain date Saturday, November 12)
Contact: stewardship@westboroughlandtrust.org

Concerned and curious about earthquakes in New England? About their history and likelihood? Geologist Andy Koenigsberg will give a short primer on earthquakes, explain New England’s geology relative to the occurrence of earthquakes in the past and their potential for the future. Join us in the Library’s Meeting Room for an enlightening evening.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join WCLT for a presentation by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Westborough Board of Health on the history that led to creosote waste draining into the 27-acre Hoccomocco Pond in the '70s, the pond's subsequent designation as a Superfund site in 1983, and the cleanup that has taken place since. We will then head to the train station and hike a short new trail completed by an Eagle Scout to see the pond and get a tour of the work that was done.

Meet at 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Forbes Municipal Building for the presentation. To join us for the hike only, meet at the Westborough train station at 2:30 p.m.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Do you need a break from the holiday rush? Then take to the woods! Join Mark Fox for a scenic hike from Gilmore Pond Road over Pheasant Hill. On this walk on mixed terrain, you can unwind as we follow old stone walls through the New England forest and pass through open vistas. Dress for the conditions with sturdy boots and warm clothes. The trail map for this area can be found at http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/upperjackstraw_trail_map.pdf. Check out http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/trailmaps.php for other trail maps.
Park on Gilmore Farm Road and meet at the WCLT sign.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org