Charron Farm Preserve to Open on October 10

Posted on September 25, 2026September 25, 2026 by JR Johnson-Roehr

The Attleboro Land Trust is pleased to announce the opening of its newest property, the Charron Farm Preserve on Morse Avenue in Attleboro. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 10, at 1:00 PM. The rain date will be October 11. The preserve was generously donated to the land trust in 2023 by members of the Charron family. Following a brief formal program, attendees will have the opportunity to take a guided walk of the newly opened trail.

The Attleboro Land Trust is a non-profit organization that preserves 740 acres in the Attleboro area through direct ownership or conservation restrictions. The Charron Farm Preserve encompasses 12 acres and now includes a hiking trail around a hay field and former farmland. It is a key acquisition that has the potential to connect additional public conservation acreage, while it provides an opportunity for outdoor recreation in the city and further promotes species conservation and a healthy environment.

The Charron property represents agriculture in the Attleboro area across the twentieth century. It was typical of small family farms that grew a variety of crops and livestock and witnessed the arrival of such modern conveniences as electricity and tractors. Many farms were run by intergenerational households with members who also worked in Attleboro industry; the donors’ father, Theodore Henry Charron, was a tool and die maker. In 1959, parts of the farm were leveled to provide gravel for the construction of Interstate 95.

Directions: From downtown Attleboro, take County Street south for 3.8 miles. Turn right onto Read Street and drive 1/2 mile. Turn left onto Morse Avenue and drive 1/4 mile. Turn into the gravel parking area on your right.

Any cancellations due to weather will be posted at attleborolandtrust.org.

A Successful Season

Posted on September 20, 2026September 25, 2026 by JR Johnson-Roehr

The Attleboro Land Trust concluded its summer series of outdoor events on Saturday with a birding walk at Richardson Nature Preserve. Led by ALT Board member JR Johnson-Roehr, a group of 19 gathered in the early morning to scout the meadows, woods, and gardens for late-season birds. Their efforts were rewarded with great looks at a trio of Downy Woodpeckers, a garrulous group of Gray Catbirds, the nimble movements of a White-Breasted Nuthatch, a Mourning dove imitating a puff-ball as it warmed itself on a sunlit branch, and the frequent vocalizations of local Blue Jays. Perhaps the best moment of the day was witnessing the flight of a large flock of Common Grackle as the black birds came together for a fall migration flight.

Early morning birding advice. Image credit: Catherine Johnson-Roehr

Learning about birds and trees. Image credit: Kate Viens

Black and white back of downy woodpecker.

Downy Woodpecker. Image credit: Paul Viens

White-Breasted Nuthatch. Image credit: Paul Viens

ALT Vice President and horticulturist Phil Boucher, who started off our summer events with a well-attended tree walk at Richardson Preserve, also joined the group. He provided details about history of the property and answered questions about the trees as we scoured their branches for birds.

Phil Boucher talks about trees. Image credit: Catherine Johnson-Roehr

Tufted Titmouse. Image credit: Paul Viens

In August, naturalist Gary Krofta led a guided walk through the Lawrence Wildlife Preserve in South Attleboro. Because of the dry weather, attendees were able to explore deep into the marsh. After circumambulating the wooded section of the preserve, 22 intrepid adventurers joined Gary on a journey into shoulder-high grasses and over uneven ground to explore the shifting habitats along the Seven Mile River.

Gary Krofta shares some words about sassafras. Image credit: Kate Viens

A group of people heading into tall grass.

Heading into the marsh at Lawrence Wildlife Preserve. Image credit: Kate Viens

We hope you were able to enjoy one of these outings with us! Keep an eye on our events calendar and look for an announcement about our annual meeting to arrive soon.

A place to rest at Richardson Nature Preserve. Image credit: Catherine Johnson-Roehr

Group of people in summer clothes standing near trees.

Beholding the Beauty of Trees

Posted on August 1, 2026August 1, 2026 by JR Johnson-Roehr

Recently, Attleboro Land Trust board member and horticulturalist Phil Boucher led a group of enthusiastic learners on a “Beholding the Beauty of Trees” walk at Richardson Nature Preserve. The group heard about Red/Black and White Oaks, the suffocating threat of bittersweet vine, and how trees of different species may communicate with and support each through their root systems. Many thanks to Phil for generously sharing his time and knowledge, it was so fun to hear his stories about the evolution of the site’s gardens as well as learn more about the native roots and branches!

Please join us for one of our upcoming nature walks! Check our our schedule of events here.

Phil Boucher shows off the trees at Richardson Nature Preserve. Image credit: Catherine Johnson-Roehr

Richardson Nature Preserve. Image credit: Catherine Johnson-Roehr

Beholding the beauty of trees at Richardson Nature Preserve. Image credit: Catherine Johnson-Roehr

Trail Camera Observations at the Lawrence Preserve

Posted on July 20, 2026August 5, 2026 by caa

These are some observations recorded on video by a team of students from Wheaton College during “A Year in the Life of the Lawrence Preserve.” This study, led by Associate Professor of Biology Jessie Knowlton, ran from June 2024 to June 2025, with the support of a grant from the Woodard & Curran Foundation.

For better viewing, each video can be expanded to full screen.

Bobcat

Deer

Family of fisher cats

Meet Us Outside!

Posted on July 10, 2026August 1, 2026 by JR Johnson-Roehr

The Attleboro Land Trust has organized several summer and fall outings. Please join us for one or more of these free events to learn more about the natural world nearby!

Nature Walk through the Lawrence Wildlife Preserve

Naturalist Gary Krofta will guide us through this South Attleboro property along the Seven Mile River, home to red-winged blackbirds, cattails, and colorful wildflowers. Join us for this FREE event on Saturday, August 15, 2026, 9:00 to 10:30 AM (rain date August 16,1:30 PM). Meet at Lawrence Wildlife Preserve, 45 Hope Avenue, Attleboro. Note: street parking is available, but please do not block driveways or mailboxes.

Introduction to Birdwatching
Have you ever wondered which birds make the sounds you hear in the woods or who comes to your birdfeeder? JR Johnson-Roehr will show us how to identify native birds and migratory species on their autumn travels. Note: bring binoculars if you have them. Join us for this FREE event on Saturday, September 19, 2026, 7:30 to 9:00 AM (rain date September 20, same time). Meet at Richardson Nature Preserve, 577B Wilmarth Street, Attleboro.

A graphic showing various volunteer activities, butterflies and red flowers

Intro to the ALT and Update on Current Projects – April 8

Posted on March 27, 2026July 10, 2026 by JR Johnson-Roehr

With the coming of spring, the Attleboro Land Trust is busy with trail maintenance and other projects on its 504 acres of conservation land. On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Charlie Adler will provide an update on what the land trust is doing and how you can help. The presentation will be at the Attleboro Public Library, 74 Main Street, Attleboro, at 7:00 pm. There will be plenty of time for questions, and an opportunity to sign up to help with all facets of the organization, including educational activities for families, fundraising, boundary monitoring, habitat restoration, and saving more land.

World Water Day Bungay River Cleanup

Posted on March 15, 2026March 26, 2026 by JR Johnson-Roehr

Friends of the Ten Mile River Watershed and the Attleboro Council on Human Rights will once again be teaming up for a cleanup in celebration of World Water Day. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot of CVS on North Main Street in Attleboro on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM and will clean along the Bungay River. Participants should wear gloves and long sleeves. Trash bags will be provided. Plan on doing some walking along the waterway. The Bungay River is one of the major tributaries to the Ten Mile River and is a natural resource for the Attleboro area. The cleanup should take less than 2 hours. We hope to see you there!

Keep Attleboro Beautiful 9th Annual Cleanup

Posted on March 15, 2026March 27, 2026 by JR Johnson-Roehr

Join Keep Attleboro Beautiful on April 18, 2026, for the 9th annual community cleanup! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to help give the city of Attleboro a thorough spring cleaning! To participate, fill out the registration form on the Keep Attleboro Beautiful site—one form per volunteer. Groups are also welcome to register. To register your group, please contact the organizers at KeepAttleboroBeautiful@gmail.com.

Larson Woodland – Where Nature and History Intersect

Posted on February 13, 2026July 10, 2026 by caa

Although only four acres in size, Larson Woodland sits at a strategic location, in a dense neighborhood, across from an elementary school, and next to a dam on the Ten Mile River whose flow had once powered a nearby cotton mill.

Autumn view of the dam at Mechanics Pond, 2008.

Great blue heron, 2014.

In 2019, Ben Cote led a guided walk along the Ten Mile River, stopping here in Larson Woodland.

Snapping turtles lay their eggs on Sandy Point. Image credit: David Laferriere

Fishing at Sandy Point, Larson Woodland, 2009.

Swan, Mechanics Pond, 2009.

Tufted Titmouse, Larson Woodland, 2007.

Fish census, 2020.

Large mouth bass

Yellow Bullhead Catfish

Don Doucette, Devoted Steward of Our Watershed

Posted on May 15, 2025July 12, 2025 by caa

Don Doucette at the 2011 Attleboro Land Trust Annual Meeting.

Don Doucette, long-time advocate of watershed conservation, passed away on May 9. Don was devoted to the preservation of our local environment and its history. He was a founding member of the Ten Mile River Watershed Alliance (TMRWA) in 1990, and he with his wife Nancy were early members and supporters of the Attleboro Land Trust, which was founded that same year.

A partnership between the two organizations resulted in the donation of Larson Woodland to the land trust by Ray Larson in 1997. Don played a key role in that acquisition. Earlier, in 1996, the TMRWA had dedicated a 3-mile urban trail beginning at Balfour Riverwalk Park and following the Ten Mile River upstream as far as West Street. A guide to the Ten Mile River Heritage Trail, written by Don, described historic stopping points along the route.

2011 Attleboro Land Trust Annual Meeting.

One of the land trust’s most memorable annual meetings was in 2011, when Don was our keynote speaker. His talk, “The Ten Mile River Watershed: A Walk Through Time,” was accompanied by a stunning slide show consisting of mostly of postcards he had collected of scenes photographed up and down the Ten Mile during the early decades of the twentieth century. Don’s authoritative grasp of his subject reflected not only painstaking research, but the fact that, with fellow TMRWA member Mark Benoit, he had trekked the entire 27-mile length of the river, from Plainville to East Providence, in 2 days in 1995.

Keynote speaker Don Doucette at the 2011 Attleboro Land Trust Annual Meeting.

Of his motive, Don wrote, “The primary intent was adventure–to cross, as does water, all human imposed, social and physical bounds that tend to fragment the Ten Mile River Watershed. Envisioned was a more intimate encounter with the river–we were not disappointed.”