Category Archives: TAKING A WALK

Visitors are attracted to our nature preserves to pursue a variety of outdoor activities. What all these activities have in common are the health benefits and pure enjoyment of being in the presence of nature.

Trail Dedicated to Former ALT President Larry St. Pierre

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On Saturday, June 1, a trail at the Handy Street Conservation Area, 109 Handy Street, was formally opened to the public.  The 80-acre preserve was acquired by the City of Attleboro in 2014 in a collaborative project that also involved the Attleboro Land Trust and Mass Audubon.  The trail is named in memory of Larry St. Pierre, who served as president of the land trust from 1991 to 1994 and 1997 to 2001.

The dedication ceremony featured remarks by Mayor Cathleen DeSimone, State Representative Jim Hawkins, Attleboro Conservation Agent Nick Wyllie, and Larry’s sister Linda and brother Michael.  Following the ceremony, Gary Krofta led a guided walk along the trail.

A temporary map of the trail is available here.  The program for the event may be downloaded here.

Mayor Cathleen DeSimone read a proclamation in memory of Larry St. Pierre as his son Joshua and widow Donna looked on.    Image credit: Dick LaCivita

State Representative Jim Hawkins spoke to thank everyone present for their efforts in preserving open space in the City.

Larry’s sister Linda and brother Michael shared some memories of Larry.    Image credit: Ken Salome

Donna and Joshua unveiled the sign while Charlie Adler formally dedicated the trail in memory of Larry.    Image credit: Ken Salome

The sign in memory of Larry explains his deep connection to this part of Attleboro. His grandparents owned a farm nearby on Park Street.    Image credit: Ken Salome

The family of Larry St. Pierre gathered around the sign created in his memory.    Image credit: Ken Salome

In fulfillment of the requirements for the rank of Eagle, Raphaiah Joseph, Troop 314, Foxborough, installed signposts along a new trail extension that will connect the St. Pierre Trail to Locust Street.    Image credit: Ken Salome

Scout Christopher Vallejos, Troop 25, Attleboro, built a boardwalk on a portion of the St. Pierre Trail to fulfill his requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout.    Image credit: Ken Salome

Gary Krofta led a guided walk along the St. Pierre Trail.    Image credit: Ken Salome

Conservation Agent Nick Wyllie (standing next to Gary) represented the Conservation Commission, owner of the Handy Street Conservation Area.    Image credit: Ken Salome

Guided Walk Postponed to Sunday July 7 at 1:00 pm

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The Attleboro Land Trust invites you to participate in “A Year in the Life of the Lawrence Preserve”, a one-year scientific study of the Anthony Lawrence Wildlife Preserve.  Jessie Knowlton, Associate Professor of Biology at Wheaton College, will lead the study and provide guidance to participants.

Volunteer Observers will be asked to visit the Preserve on their own at least once in each of the four seasons and to report what plants and animals they observe.  These reports may include notes, sketches, photographs, and audio or video recordings.  The volunteer reports will be collected every three months and combined with the observations of Professor Knowlton and her students.  The data will then be reviewed, summarized, and made available to the public.

At the conclusion of the study, a final report will include recommendations for maintaining and protecting the Preserve’s ecosystem, and for engaging the public in stewardship of the property.

If you or your child would like to be a Volunteer Observer, you may sign up by email to attleborolandtrust@gmail.com, or by using the online sign-up form on this website.  If you are under 18, you must have an adult partner to accompany you on your site visits and to co-sign your application.  A guided walk for Volunteer Observers will be led by Professor Knowlton at the Lawrence Preserve on Sunday, July 7 at 1:00 pm.  Any schedule changes will be posted on this website.  

If you are undecided about becoming a Volunteer Observer, you may attend the guided walk to find out more before deciding whether to sign up.  Just let us know that you will be attending by emailing attleborolandtrust@gmail.com.

This project is made possible by a Giving While Living Grant from the Woodard & Curran Foundation.

Full Moon Hike

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Join us on Thursday January 25th for a full moon hike at the Deborah and Roger Richardson Nature Preserve. Beginning at 8 pm, ALT board members will lead a moonlit walk through the preserve. Dress warmly, including shoes that are waterproof, and bring a flashlight or headlamp. Walk is a little less than a mile! Short and sweet, but a great opportunity to see the full moon and its beauty!

Meet at parking lot at 577B Wilmarth Street.

Any cancellations due to weather conditions or overcast skies will be posted on our Facebook page.

Dogs not permitted at this event.

It’s Time to Update the City’s Open Space and Recreation Plan – NEW DATE

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The City of Attleboro needs to update its Open Space and Recreation Plan. Citizens are invited to attend a public workshop at Attleboro City Hall, 77 Park Street, on Thursday, , at 6:30 pm. At this workshop, attendees will join in small groups to generate recommendations for actions the City should be taking to protect open space and to provide recreational opportunities.  (This event was originally scheduled for Sept. 13 but was not held on that date due to weather.)
More information at:  attleboroosrp.com

Meet Woody the Beech Tree

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For those of you who did not attend the Family Tree Day and meet Woody the Talking Beech Tree, you can still see Woody by walking to the end of the Beech Point trail at the O’Donnell Nature Preserve on Bishop Street.  Parking is available at Finberg Field.

Here is a recording of what Woody said on Family Tree Day.

 


“My name is Woodrow, but you can call me Woody.  That’s what my friends call me.  We trees don’t normally talk like humans.  Sometimes you can hear us whisper, with a little help from the wind.”

 


“You may have noticed that we Beech trees love to show off.  When you walk through the woods in the middle of winter you’ll notice that all of the other trees have dropped their leaves on the ground–well, except for a few oaks.  But it’s us well-dressed Beech trees that stand out in the forests of New England, our leaves tinted beige as the winter light passes through them.”

 


“When I reach old age, my bark becomes brittle, and my branches are bare, I may remain standing for years, providing shelter for a woodpecker looking for a place to carve out a home and raise a family.”

Pileated Woodpecker

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This photo was taken at the Vaughan Memorial Forest on April 21, 2023, by ALT board member and devoted birder Bob McKetchnie.

For much more about this amazing bird, check out this YouTube video:

Attleboro Land Trust presents Family Tree Day

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Weather Update:  As of Friday evening, we are still planning to hold this event as scheduled from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday.

Bring the family for fresh air, fun and games. Take home a sapling tree to plant in your yard.  Learn about the importance of preserving open space, and the many hiking trails right here in Attleboro.  This event is free and open to the public in celebration of Arbor Day.  All are welcome!

Featured at this event:

  • Kids’ hike and scavenger hunt with prizes
  • Walk the trail at the nearby O’Donnell Nature Preserve
  • Meet Woody, the Talking Tree
  • Learn about rain gardens and pollinator plants
  • Take a sapling tree to plant in your yard (we’ll show you how!)
  • Play our local wildlife game
  • Ice cream coupons from co-sponsor Bliss Dairy
  • Enter to win a tree from co-sponsor Cryan Landscape
Any schedule changes due to weather will be posted on this website.
Share our  Family Tree Day flyer with your friends.

Eagle Project Breaks New Ground

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The Handy Street Conservation Area is an 80-acre parcel of land purchased by the City of Attleboro in 2014 with the involvement of the Attleboro Land Trust and Mass Audubon, and a substantial grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  There are trails crisscrossing the area, making it easy to get lost on the property.  The Attleboro Land Trust has designated a main trail route that utilizes some of the existing paths to form a loop, beginning and ending at the main entrance on Handy Street.

Scout Jason Zenofsky (right) with crew installing signposts at the Handy Street Conservation Area.    Image credit: C. Adler

Scout Jason Zenofsky of Troop 61 in Norton has completed an Eagle project that involved the installation of directional signposts at 33 trail junctions along the route.  Digging holes to a depth of two feet for each of these posts was challenging, to say the least.  Sometimes the problem was large rocks.  At other times the Scouts hit hardpan, which is soil that has hardened like concrete and has to be chipped away with a heavy iron bar in the shape of a chisel.  Thankfully, Jason and his crew persevered, and the signposts were all installed.

Scout Jason Zenofsky (next to signpost) with his crew after installation of 33 signposts at the Handy Street Conservation Area.    Image credit: C. Adler

In the spring, the ALT will put the finishing touches on the trail, which will be named in memory of Larry St. Pierre, who served as ALT president from 1991 to 1994 and 1997 to 2001.  A temporary map of the trail is available here.

Seniors Visit Richardson

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The Attleboro Council on Aging Hiking Group visited the Deborah and Roger Richardson Nature Preserve on June 22.  The popular weekly event is coordinated by Juliet Teixeira, vice president of the Attleboro Land Trust (in the green Hike Attleboro T-shirt).

Hikers on the Wyman Loop Trail as it crosses the Lower Hayfield at the Richardson Preserve.

For more information, contact the Larson Senior Center at 774-203-1906.