Attleboro Land Trust logo

Attleboro Land Trust
 Helping to Protect Our Own Backyard
Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA
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Welcome

The Attleboro Land Trust is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to keeping Attleboro green.

Lands under our protection as of June 30, 2013: 329 acres owned; 118 acres restricted; 447 acres total.

Join us! Support us!

Membership dues (Individual $25, Family $50) or donations in any amount may be made online to the Attleboro Land Trust at PayPal.

  
 

You don't need a PayPal account--
just a credit card.

  
  Other ways to get involved are by mail or email.  

A Walk in the Woods with ALT Board Member Melissa Riley

In this video, shot at Larson Woodland and the Colman Reservation, Melissa Riley introduces our new publication for kids and their families.

Video by Mark Stockwell, courtesy of The Sun Chronicle.

Our new publication was created in collaboration with Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary and the Attleboro Conservation Commission.  It was funded by a generous donation by Al Walker in memory of his dear friend Barbara Corrigan.

Site Stewards Wanted

photo: Charlie Adler

A site steward is a volunteer who "adopts" one of the Attleboro Land Trust nature preserves, individually or with a group, such as a group of neighbors, church group, youth group, or fraternal organization.

Duties of a site steward:

  • Walk the property on a regular basis
  • Pick up litter
  • Report vandalism
  • Help with routine trail maintenance
  • Assist with special projects

If you are interested, contact us.

New Trail System Opens at Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve

On September 15 Attleboro Land Trust members and friends gathered at the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve to mark the opening of a new trail system that has been years in the making. The program included remarks by ALT President Ted Leach, board member Charlie Adler, Mayor Kevin Dumas, City Council President Frank Cook, Jane Nerney (a friend of Martha Nickerson), and "Nick" Nickerson (nephew of Martha). Well over a hundred people attended the event and afterward walked the trails and boardwalks.

"Nick" Nickerson, nephew of Martha Nickerson, addresses the crowd at the Grand Opening of the new trail system at Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve on September 15.

photo: Charlie Adler

We gratefully recognize the following individuals and organizations for helping us to achieve this milestone through their donations and volunteer efforts:

Martha L. Nickerson

Donation in 2001 of 48 acres

John E. Hagerty, Jr.

Donation in 2013 of an adjoining 5-acre parcel

Bafflin Foundation

$15,000 Grant in support of this project

Attleboro Foundation

$1160 Grant for entrance sign

Jim Lewis, Attorney

Legal advice and services

J. Fisk Construction

Services and materials provided at a generous discount for construction of parking lot

Kevin J. Dumas, Mayor of Attleboro; Municipal Council; Conservation Commission; Gary Ayrassian, Director of Planning; Lee Fuller, Conservation Agent

Working in partnership with the Attleboro Land Trust to place a conservation restriction on the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve

Tara Henrichon, Mass Audubon

Consultation on trail design and species identification

Scout Troop 3, North Dighton

Clearing of trees for parking lot

Ed Liston Landscaping

Rebuilding of stonewall entrance

Cryan Landscape Contractors

Consultation and services for meadow restoration

Liston Portables

Portable toilets

Jason Panicci, Troop 25, Attleboro, and everyone who assisted with his Eagle project

Trail development

Greg Fine, Troop 3, North Dighton, and everyone who assisted with his Eagle project

Boardwalk construction

Employees of Sensata Technologies, through the Days of Caring program of the United Way of Greater Attleboro/Taunton

Construction of boardwalk ramps, construction of kiosk, meadow restoration, and other improvements

Attleboro Land Trust board and members, Nickerson neighbors, and friends

All of the volunteer hours and monetary contributions that have supported the overall mission of the Attleboro Land Trust and the improvements leading up to this Grand Opening, including the development of the trails and boardwalks and the meadow restoration

We also would like to acknowledge E. Otis Dyer, Jr., of Rehoboth and Cavallaro Signs of Franklin for the outstanding quality of the work they performed on this project.

 

Attleboro Land Trust Scores a Double Eagle!

Two young men have completed outstanding service projects for the Attleboro Land Trust on their way toward achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Both service projects were done at the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve--making it possible for trails on the property to be opened to the public.

In September, 2012, Jason Panicci of Troop 25, Attleboro, and volunteers under his direction cleared 3600 feet of new trails and 1700 feet of old cart paths and installed signposts to create a new trail system consisting of an Inner Loop and an Outer Loop.   In June of this year Greg Fine of Troop 3, North Dighton, and volunteers under his direction laid concrete foundations and constructed 4 boardwalks totalling 376 feet in length over wetland portions of the Outer Loop Trail.

 

Troop 25 volunteers clear a trail.

 

Installing the signposts.

 

Thanks to these volunteers and all the others who helped with Jason's Eagle project!

 

Laying the concrete block foundation for one of the boardwalks.

 

Troop 3 volunteers constructing one of the boardwalks.

 

Thanks to these volunteers and all the others who helped with Greg's Eagle project!

photos: Charlie Adler

 Attleboro Land Trust Calendar
Annual Meeting
  Thu Oct 17 - 7:00 pm - Our guest speaker will be Henry George Tepper, president of Mass Audubon. Tepper will provide some startling statistics regarding growth as compared to land preservation in Massachusetts, as outlined in Mass Audubon's latest report Losing Ground: At What Cost? He will also discuss strategies for land protection and management--strategies vital to us as we continue in our mission to preserve open space for future generations.

There will also be a report on our accomplishments over the past year. Members will vote on nominees for the board of directors. Refreshments will be served. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park Street.

Recent Events

A Sensational Job!

On September 6, a team of volunteers from Sensata Technologies helped the Attleboro Land Trust complete several key projects, just in time for the Grand Opening of the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve.

Sensata is a supporter of the Days of Caring program of the United Way of Greater Attleboro/Taunton.

 

This team of Sensata employees added a finishing touch to the boardwalks by constructing ramps to improve access.

 

This kiosk now stands at the trail entrance, thanks to these Sensata employees.

 

These Sensata employees helped with the arduous task of meadow restoration.

photos: Charlie Adler

Hikers Venture Off the Beaten Path to Enjoy a Colorful Late Summer Show

On August 31, local naturalist Gary Krofta led hikers on an exploration of the marsh at the Anthony Lawrence Wildlife Preserve in South Attleboro.

Hikers are shown here observing insect pollinators in a patch of Joe-Pye-weed.

A colorful variety of late summer wildflowers was on display in the marsh at the Anthony Lawrence Wildlife Preserve, including orange jewelweed (or spotted touch-me-not, impatiens capensis), Joe-Pye-weed (pinkish-purple flower at top of photo), goldenrod, and the invasive purple loosestrife (at bottom of photo, lythrum salicaria).

photos: Charlie Adler

Local Links

Check out these web sites for more local green events and activities...

Attleboro Area Community Garden

Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary

Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary

 

 
 © Attleboro Land Trust, Inc.  All Rights Reserved. Page last edited 13 October 2013  
To request information or report a problem, email us at attleborolandtrust@gmail.com.