2024 Calendar of Events
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Sunday |
Winter Walk to Beat Cabin Fever
Get out into nature to fight off the winter blahs, and join a walk at Westborough's Despres Preserve!
We'll enjoy views of hills and valleys not visible when the leaves are on the trees, and look for signs of what our local wildlife might be doing during the cold weather. Traction devices attached to boots are strongly recommended if the temperature is below freezing. Free, open to the public, no reservation needed. Park in the parking lot of Fales School, 50 Eli Whitney Street, Westborough. Meet at the edge of Eli Whitney Street at the uphill (west) side of the school property. Before leaving, check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for cancellations. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/25th-anniversary-hikes/hike12-depres-conservation-area.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
Tour MassWildlife Headquarters!
Have you ever seen the huge mostly-glass building that is the headquarters of MassWildlife (Formerly Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife) in Westborough, and wondered why the building looks like that, or what is inside?
Wonder no more! We will receive a private, in-depth, off-hours tour from outreach coordinator Sue Sacco! We’ll learn about the building’s cutting-edge “green” features, and get a look at the extensive wildlife collection housed there. Please plan to be on time, as the doors to the building will be locked once we begin the tour. After the building tour, we’ll finish by taking a walk around some of the MassWildlife property and talk about what happens there. Traction devices attached to boots are strongly recommended if the temperature is below freezing. Before leaving check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for cancellations. Free, open to the public, no reservation needed. Address: 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA. (From Milk St., take North Drive, then Lyman School Rd. It's at the end of Lyman School Road.) Trail Map: https://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Friday |
Earth Day Essay Contest Starts
WCLT Earth Day Essay Contest & Scholarships
The Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) is offering two scholarships of $1000 each, to be awarded to the winners of its 2022 Earth Day Essay Contest, which runs March 1 – April 8. Open to graduating Westborough High School (WHS) seniors and to graduating seniors who reside in Westborough but attend a different high school. Students do NOT have to be planning an environmental emphasis in their future studies or career in order to be eligible for the scholarships. As of March 1, contest details and scholarship applications are available from the Westborough High School guidance office OR online on the Westborough Community Land Trust website (westboroughlandtrust.org/#scholarship). Contact: scholarship@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Saturday |
Eyes on Owls: Who’s Watching You?
Bring the family and join us for our always-popular spring free live animal show!
Meet some fascinating owls you may see or hear while out walking in Westborough, as well as some impressive specimens from around the world. Learn to identify, respect, and protect these beautiful creatures. This show is always a big hit with the young and the curious of all ages! Plan to arrive early as seating is limited. Location: Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow St., Westborough MA; parking lot in rear. There is no parking along Willow Street. Overflow parking is in Arturo’s parking lot, 54 East Main St.--Walk behind the Arturo’s building to cross directly into the rear of the KofC parking lot. Presented by Eyes on Owls. No reservation required. Free; donations to WCLT gratefully accepted at the door. 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 |
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Friday |
Woodcock Walk
Walk gentle trails to listen for the Woodcock’s unique call and watch its amazing sky dance.
Meet at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road (off North Drive) in Westborough at 6:30 p.m. The walk will be canceled in case of heavy rain. Leader: Laura Lane (508-480-8259) [pete.lane@comcast.net] Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club. |
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Saturday |
Earth Day Town-Wide Cleanup
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Monday |
Essay & scholarship application DEADLINE
WCLT Earth Day Essay Contest & Scholarships
The essay and signed application must be received by WCLT by Monday, April 8, 2024. Please submit them on paper (in time to be received by the deadline) to WCLT, P.O. Box 838, Westborough, MA 01581, OR submit electronically by email to scholarship@westboroughlandtrust.org. ------- The Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) is offering two scholarships of $1000 each, to be awarded to the winners of its 2022 Earth Day Essay Contest, which runs March 1 – April 8. Open to graduating Westborough High School (WHS) seniors and to graduating seniors who reside in Westborough but attend a different high school. Students do NOT have to be planning an environmental emphasis in their future studies or career in order to be eligible for the scholarships. As of March 1, contest details and scholarship applications are available from the Westborough High School guidance office OR online on the Westborough Community Land Trust website (westboroughlandtrust.org/#scholarship). Contact: scholarship@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Thursday |
Early Morning Bird Walk #1
We’ll hike the north side of Lake Chauncy and check the water for migrating fowl.
This is the first of three Thursday morning walks in this very productive area. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough at the Ball Field Entrance. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water. Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401). Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club. |
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Thursday |
Early Morning Bird Walk #2
Join us early on Thursday morning to search for migrant warblers and other songbirds along the north shore of Lake Chauncy.
Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough at the Ball Field Entrance. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water. Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401) Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club. |
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Sunday |
Family-friendly Nature Walk
Join the Westborough Community Land Trust’s Marge Fisher on a family-friendly nature walk, offered as part of Westborough Unplugs week.
Turn off the devices and turn on your powers of observation and curiosity, as we look for wildflowers, birds, insects, and more! This will be a 2 ½ mile walk on relatively level woodland trails with uneven terrain and some inclines. Co-sponsored with Westborough Connects. Free, open to the public, no reservation required. Location: MacCallum Wildlife Management Area north of Lake Chauncy. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way [formerly Hospital Road] off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Then take the last left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Go toward the lake, and where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot near the yellow gate. Before leaving check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for cancellations. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/WMA Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Thursday |
Early Morning Bird Walk #3
Spring migration is at its peak! Don’t miss our last early-morning hike on the north side of Lake Chauncy.
Take Fuller Way off Lyman Street in Westborough at the Ball Field Entrance. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water. Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401). Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club. |
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Sunday |
Identifying Wildlife Using Apps
Do you ever notice interesting plants, animals, insects, or birds, and wish you knew what they were?
Field guide books are still a great way to identify native creatures, but phone apps are becoming increasingly popular. On this walk, led byWCLT’s Sharon Dankwardt, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of using apps, and learn how to use some of the most popular apps to identify practically any native creature you can find! Before coming to the walk, please download at least one of the following apps to your phone: SEEK, INaturalist, Merlin (for bird ID), and Plantnet (for plant ID). If you don’t know how, come early and you can do it with assistance at the start of the walk. Free, open to the public, no reservation needed. The hike will be held at the Libbey-Wile Forest. Park along one side of Carroll Drive in Westborough and meet at the trail entrance at the end of the road, near 5 Carroll Drive. Check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for weather cancellations. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/LW Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Monday |
Birding by Ear, presented by Martha Gach, PhD, And Westborough Community Land Trust Annual Meeting
Learn all about birdsong in this fascinating presentation by Martha Gach, PhD, Conservation Coordinator and Regional Education Manager at Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary.
Why do birds sing, and when is the best time to hear them? How can we identify birds by their song? You’ll come away with an increased appreciation for the sounds of the season! Free and open to the public. Presentation will start at 7 pm; WCLT Annual Business Meeting will follow the presentation at about 8 pm. Non-members are welcome to leave after the presentation. Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
Wildlife of the Meadows Walk
Photo credit: Sharon Dankwardt
Come spend some time appreciating and identifying the wildflowers and insects in the meadows at Westborough’s Zwicker Farm open space area. If we are lucky, we will see dragonflies gathering to migrate. Walk leader Garry Kessler is an experienced naturalist and nature photographer. Walk length less than one mile on mostly level meadow and woodland terrain. Free, open to the public, no reservation needed. Location: Zwicker Farm Conservation Area. The entrance is across the street from 27 Belknap Street, Westborough. Park in a row along the left side of the open field. Check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for weathercancellations. Trail map not yet available. Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Monday |
Monday Morning Bird Walk at Lake Chauncy #1
Photo credit: Garry Kessler
Catch the best of fall migration in Westborough! This is the first of three Monday morning walks in the very productive MacCallum Wildlife Management Area. We will look for sparrows, migrating warblers, and other songbirds along the north shore of Lake Chauncy. Co-sponsored by WCLT and the Forbush Bird Club. Leader: Nick Paulson. Pre-registration (required) runs Saturday, October 5 through 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 6: email Nick at grendelpgill@yahoo.com; or text or leave message at (508) 330-4401. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Then take the left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Go toward the lake, and where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot and meet at the yellow gate. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/WMA Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
*** CANCELLED *** Tour Westborough’s Newest Open Space
Note: The October 20 tour of the Ellis-Walker Property will not be taking place.
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Monday |
Longer Bird Walk: Crane Swamp to Cedar Hill
Photo credit: Garry Kessler
We will walk about 2.5 miles on the Boroughs Loop Trail by Crane Swamp and over Cedar Hill. Please note: There is occasional rough footing, and Cedar Hill is moderately steep. Participants may want to bring a walking stick. Co-sponsored by WCLT and the Forbush Bird Club. Leader: Laura Lane. Pre-registration (required) runs Saturday, October 19 through 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 20: email pete.lane@comcast.net or leave message: 508-480-8259 Directions: From Route 9 or 30, take Lyman St. north; at the end of Lyman St, turn right onto Bartlett St. In 0.8 miles, bear right onto Cedar Hill Road, and turn right onto Forest St. to the trailhead parking area. Meet at the Crane Swamp Trailhead, 360 Cedar Hill Street in Marlborough. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/CSS Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Monday |
Monday Morning Bird Walk at Lake Chauncy #2
Photo credit: Garry Kessler
Mid-October is a great time to discover uncommon sparrows in the fields around Lake Chauncy. Co-sponsored by WCLT and the Forbush Bird Club. Leader: Nick Paulson. Pre-registration (required) runs Saturday, October 26 through 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 27: email Nick at grendelpgill@yahoo.com; or text or leave message at (508) 330-4401. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Then take the last left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Go toward the lake, and where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot and meet at the yellow gate. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/WMA Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
Full Morning of Birding in Westborough and Northborough
Photo credit: Garry Kessler
We will drive to several locations to explore ponds and fields around Northborough, Westborough, and the MacCallum Wildlife Management Area. Leader: Nick Paulson. Pre-registration (required) runs Friday, November 1 through 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 2: email Nick at grendelpgill@yahoo.com; or text or leave message at (508) 330-4401. Directions: Meet at the Casta Diva Restaurant parking lot, 35 Solomon Pond Rd, Northborough at 7:30 a.m. Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Monday |
Monday Morning Bird Walk at Lake Chauncy #3
Photo credit: Garry Kessler
Join us for the last of this season’s walks at Lake Chauncy to look for waterfowl, late-migrating land birds, and early winter arrivals. Co-sponsored by WCLT and the Forbush Bird Club. Leader: Nick Paulson. Pre-registration (required) runs Saturday, November 9 through 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 10: email Nick at grendelpgill@yahoo.com; or text or leave message at (508) 330-4401. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Then take the last left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Go toward the lake, and where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot and meet at the yellow gate. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/WMA Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Saturday |
Full Moon Walk
Watch the sun set over the water and the nearly-full supermoon rise on this walk at Lake Chauncy.
Bring a flashlight, but we will keep their use to a minimum in order to experience the light of the moon and the magic of darkness on this post-Halloween walk. Will we hear an owl? This will be a leisurely 1-2 mile walk on mostly level woodland paths. Free, open to the public, no reservation needed. Location: MacCallum Wildlife Management Area north of Lake Chauncy. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way [formerly Hospital Road] off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Then take the last left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Go toward the lake, and where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot near the yellow gate. Check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for weathercancellations. Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/WMA Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Westborough Community Land Trust, PO Box 838, Westborough , MA 01581
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