Author Archive: caa

Cleaning up after a storm

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Severe winds have taken their toll on land trust properties in recent years, and we are surveying our lands now for any damage that might have been caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. Thanks to site steward Alan Henry, we already have one report of a downed tree blocking the Charlie Wyman Loop Trail on the Richardson Nature Preserve.  Volunteers will be clearing the trail in the next few days.

If you would like to help keep our conservation lands well managed, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers.  Contact us to find out more.

When hiking our trails, don’t forget to bring insect repellent

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In Massachusetts, mosquitoes can give you eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus or West Nile virus (WNV).  Today’s Sun Chronicle reports that West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Attleboro.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, there are simple steps that you can take to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites, and the illnesses they can cause.

Protect yourself from illness by doing simple things:

  • Use insect repellents any time you are outdoors
  • Wear long-sleeved clothing
  • Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours from dusk to dawn during peak mosquito season
  • Repair damaged window and door screens
  • Remove standing water from the areas around your home

More information is available here.

Thanks to our volunteers

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On Tuesday, May 26, a work party of nine volunteers helped with the maintenance of Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve.  The work was peformed with coronavirus precautions and the size of the group was limited to a maximum of ten people.


Most of the work focused on the meadow, which had become overgrown with invasive buckthorn saplings.

 


The invasive plants were removed by the roots to prevent them from growing back.

 


One of our volunteers helped to extend the life of a boardwalk by removing leaves and dirt that had collected between the slats.

If you would like to help with future work parties, contact us.

Thanks to Our Donors, 2019-20

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We are grateful to the following organizations and individuals for their financial support of our mission through donations and in-kind contributions.

Corporate Sponsors and Institutional Partners, 2019-20

American Legion Aux Unit # 312
Attleboro Arts Museum
Attleboro Foundation/Bank of America, N.A.
Briggs Garden and Home
Casey Law Offices, P.C.
Cryan Landscape Contractors, Inc.
Duffy-Poule Funeral Service Inc
Faulkner Family Foundation
Fredric J Hammerle Charitable Trust
Gilmore Insurance
Houghton Physical Therapy
Lewis & Sullivan, P.C.
Liston Portables
Plymouth Rock Foundation
Reeves Company
Sensata Technologies, Inc.
W. Walsh Company, Inc.
Woodard & Curran Foundation
Zumalt Tree Experts

Individual Major Donors, 2019-2020

Sponsors

Ted and Debby Leach

Caretakers

Don and Laura Ouellette

Trail Blazers

Lucia and Bruce Field
Richard Harris
Brian Hatch and Kelly Neil
Rev. David Hill
Tim and Gloria McGinn
Michael and Patricia Murphy

Protectors of Flora and Fauna

Denise Antaya & Clif Ennis
Roy Belcher and Bertha Young
Victor and Karen Bonneville
Laurel Carlson
Anne and Mike Newquist
Gretchen Reilly

A Grant with Fond Memories Attached

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Applying for a grant is usually a laborious process, requiring pages of applications, documents, and financial statements.  Usually!  The Attleboro Land Trust recently received a $2000 grant that came to us through a different set of circumstances.

Enter Sherri Peak-Palermo, who works for Woodard & Curran, an environmental consulting firm with an office in Providence. The firm, together with its employees, has set up a foundation to support non-profit groups across the country in their efforts to protect the environment.

Sherri is the daughter-in-law of the late Paul Palermo, Sr., who passed away in 2019.  Palermo was widely-respected as the City of Attleboro’s electrical inspector, serving in that capacity for 30 years.  Sherri nominated the Attleboro Land Trust for the grant in memory of her father-in-law and in recognition of his love for the city.

Our thanks to the Woodard & Curran Foundation for this grant, and to Sherri for nominating us.  Stay tuned for more about the specific project on which these funds will be spent.

COVID-19 Guidelines

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Attleboro Land Trust properties are open during daylight hours, with the understanding that visitors will follow local, state, and federal COVID-19 rules and guidelines.

When visiting our properties:

  • Maintain a 6-foot distance between yourself and other people on trails, boardwalks, and at parking lots.
  • Be generous in yielding the right of way to others, if you can safely do so.
  • On loop trails, follow the arrows.
  • Do not step onto a boardwalk if someone is already on the boardwalk coming toward you.
  • Treat all with extra courtesy and respect.
  • Leash your dog, use a doggie bag, and take it home with you.
  • Remember to take precautions for ticks.

For extra comfort on the trail, download and print a trail map before you leave home.

Attleboro Land Trust – Coronavirus Contingency Plans

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If you were planning to attend or volunteer at one of our events, we understand that your plans might change, based on concerns about the coronavirus. By the same token, we may cancel some of our planned events and activities, out of an abundance of caution, or use various communication tools, rather than face-to-face meetings, to carry out our work. Any cancellations or updates to our scheduled activities will be announced on our website.

Walking the boundaries at the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve

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On Saturday, March 7, 2020, a group of volunteers walked the boundaries of the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve.  The purpose of the walk was to inspect the condition of the preserve, check for any encroachment of the boundaries, and find existing boundary markers.  From the parking area on Richardson Avenue, we headed for the far corners of the property.

   
A snowfall the previous night had added a sparkle to the landscape.

 

After crossing the power line easement, we found a steel pipe marking the SE corner of Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve.  This point is on the town line between Attleboro and Norton.

 

We placed a witness post near the pipe to make it easier to find next time.

 

The pipe is at the end of this stone wall.

 

We added a sign with our visitor regulations.

 

We walked the entire length of the power line easement from south to north.

 

We put up another regulation sign at the edge of the power line along our northern boundary.

 

Thanks to all who attended the walk!

Boundary Walks on March 14 and 21 are cancelled

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A series of boundary walks was planned for the first three Saturdays in March, weather permitting.  The purpose of boundary walks is to maintain signs and markers along the boundaries and to check for encroachment.

The first boundary walk was held at the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve, 221 Richardson Avenue, on Saturday, March 7.