Wonderful Winter!

Warm up with a walk in the woods of the Mass Wildlife property near Lake Chauncy. Explore some lesser-known trails and look for signs of wildlife while enjoying views not visible when leaves are on the trees. Come “snow or shine;” hike length will be determined by the weather.

Meet at the Lake Chauncy boat ramp on Chauncy Street, just east of the Westborough Tennis and Swim Club.

Trail Map: www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Scott Shumway, Jennings Professor of Biology at Wheaton College and President of WCLT, presents a slideshow on the spectacular plants and animals of the Costa Rican rainforest. This virtual tour of biodiversity in the tropics provides a welcome escape from the bitter cold of New England.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Meet the wild animals up close that share our habitat. Naturalist Rick Roth of Creature Teachers introduces local wild animals, such as a skunk, fox, flying squirrel, and fisher. Learn each animal's behavior, habitat, and field markings and the importance of preserving land to benefit wildlife. This event is part of the annual Earth Awareness Program of the Westborough Community Land Trust to connect children with nature. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Learn to identify the insidious garlic mustard! Join us in a vigorous attack to help rid the Bowman Conservation Area of this common invasive that is crowding out native foods for wildlife. Bring gloves and meet at the Bowman Conservation Area parking lot.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join the annual town-wide litter clean-up sponsored by WCLT! Early birds meet at 6:30 a.m. at West Meadow Plaza or Bellows Road. Families are invited at 9:30 a.m. to Lake Chauncy parking lot to be assigned a site to clean up. Wear gloves, long sleeves, 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: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Discover the Assabet River and Mill Pond on a family-friendly letterboxing and geocaching excursion. Caches can be found using maps/directions available at the starting point, or using your mobile GPS device. Bring your smart phone or a hand-held GPS or accompany our guides. When you find a cache, sign the logbook and continue on to find the treasure. Meet at Mill Pond School.

Trail Map: www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/hca_trail_map.pdf

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Celebrate the progress that has been made on the Charm Bracelet with a 10-mile hike from Minuteman Park to the MBTA station and Hoccomocco Pond. It has been 10 years since the last 10-mile hike, and much has improved. Remember to bring lunch, water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Or take a 3-mile walk (9:30-11:00AM) around both sides of the Bowman Conservation Area to learn about the changes around Sandra Pond. Meet at Minuteman Park on Upton Road.

Trail Maps: www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/trailmaps.php

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Dr. Mark Pokras of Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine will share his experiences in treating injured or ill wildlife, from a fallen robin to orphaned raccoons. Dr. Pokras will discuss how the cases coming to the Wildlife Clinic reflect local environmental issues or changes. Presentation followed by reception and refreshments. Annual Meeting with recognition of WCLT Scholarship winners, committee reports, and election of officers begins at 8 p.m.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Please join us at Gilmore Pond and help to remove invasive honeysuckle and multiflora rose from the edges of the pond--opening views to this jewel of our Upper Jackstraw Brook Reservation. Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and leather work gloves, as well as sun and bug protection. If you have loppers, they will be useful. And if you have an old tarp, perhaps "almost ready" for the trash, and a length of rope to lace it up, please bring that, too, for dragging brush to the pile. Come for the whole session or only a portion if your morning is hectic. We'll find something you can do to contribute!

Meet on Gilmore Farm Road by the WCLT property sign.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

The Reminiscents
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join us to look for resident and migrating birds on this walk near Lake Chauncy. We'll keep an eye out for fall warblers such as palm warblers and yellow rumps, as well as for great blue herons, green herons, kingfishers, and more. Bring binoculars and favorite bird guides if you have them.

Meet at the Lake Chauncy boat ramp (off Chauncy Street, east of Swim & Tennis Club). Paula Kirk and Annie R. will lead walk.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Ever wonder what the Charm Bracelet is? Or where you could take a short walk, sit by a pond, or go on a 7-mile hike in Westborough? Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) will be running two bus tours of conservation areas in town on Saturday, September 27, in conjunction with the Arts in Common festival in town.

The tours will leave from the parking lot in front of the Steinmart and the Boston Sports Club building in Bay State Commons at 11 am and 1 pm.  

The 11 am tour will explore the southwest side of town and cover trails around and between Sandra Pond, Gilmore Pond, Libbey-Wile forest and Mill Pond plus stop by Hoccomonco Pond to talk about options for opening up that land for new uses.  The 1 pm tour will explore the north and east side of town and cover trails at the Walkup Robinson reservation, between Sawink and Cedar Hill areas, near Chauncy Lake including state hospital land on its north and state Fish and Game lands to the west, plus the Oak Bluffs and Indian Pond lands off Milk Street. Both tours will point out trailheads and entrances to our many wonderful conservation areas, and each will last about an hour and a half. No hiking will be involved. We will be on the bus the entire time.

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.

Call John Metzger at 508-366-1724 if questions.
Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Enjoy the reds and golds of fall foliage on this short hike with Marge Fisher around Gilmore Pond to the newest link in the Charm Bracelet trails. Learn about the work done and in progress by WCLT to polish this open space "jewel.” You can extend the walk onto the Upper Jackstraw Trail to see diverse woodlands.

Meet at the WCLT sign on Gilmore Farm Road.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Not your usual hike by the Westborough Community Land Trust—follow the old trolley route through woods, along roadsides, across developed and undeveloped land. The route will explore part of the planned bicycle trail. This 2.5-mile hike will begin at Westborough Office Park on West Park Drive and ends at Julio’s Plaza.

Drive to the end of West Park Drive; we will shuttle most of the cars to the shopping plaza.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org