The Attleboro Land Trust is grateful for services donated by WB Construction & Development and Ryan Asphalt in the construction of a gravel parking lot and stormwater management system at the Charron Farm Preserve.
WB Construction and Development constructed the gravel parking area and an infiltration basin to manage stormwater runoff.
Ryan Asphalt paved the twin driveways leading into and out of the parking area.
Photos by T.A. Charron
Martha L. Nickerson was not only the donor of the 48 acres of land that is now the Nickerson Walking Woods Preserve. Her life was filled with accomplishments. She held a doctorate in education and served as a school librarian and teacher, not only in Attleboro, but at U.S. military installations around the globe. On her travels she excelled at photography, capturing what she saw in color slides. Those images are now in the care of artist Kalliope Amorphous, who first began posting them online in 2014 under the title “A Life in Kodachrome.” She recently felt a renewed desire to share her appreciation for these amazing photographs. The expanded online collection, now renamed “Midcentury Archive,” can be viewed at these locations:
https://midcenturyarchive.com/
https://www.instagram.com/midcentury_archive/
https://www.facebook.com/MidcenturyArchive
https://www.pinterest.com/midcenturyarchive/
An earlier version of the website can still be found here:
https://marthanickerson.wordpress.com/
This post first published 7/23/19
Thanks to everyone who participated in our 5K Challenge fundraiser on November 9. About 65 people completed the hike and we raised about $700.
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
Please note there will be a 1 hour delay in the start of this event.
The Attleboro Land Trust is excited to once again distribute free trees in honor of Arbor Day. Our goal is to empower individuals to contribute to a healthier environment for generations to come.
The trees will be distributed, while supplies last, at the Attleboro Land Trust table at the Spring Fling, which is being held at Balfour Riverwalk Park in downtown Attleboro on Saturday, April 20. Originally scheduled to run from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, it will now start at 12:00 noon and end at 3:00 pm.
Both trees selected this year are native species that contribute significantly to our local wildlife habitat. When these trees flower in the spring, they attract pollinating insects, birds, and even bats. By planting one of these beautiful trees in your yard, you will be supporting the survival of its pollinators, many of which are facing the peril of habitat loss.
Downy Serviceberry (photo credit: Arbor Day Foundation)
The Downy Serviceberry is a fine naturalizing species that is very adaptive to our local soils–on the edges of woodlands, the moist low areas, and the rocky slopes that are found in our area. The tree bears flowers in white drooping clusters at the beginning of spring in late April. Late summer finds small maroon fruit that birds are particularly fond of. The tree’s fall color is pleasing though it does not last a long time. Arbor Day.org Downy Serviceberry Care Instructions
White/Bur Oak (photo credit: Arbor Day Foundation)
The White Oak/Bur Oak is a stalwart in woodlands as it supports many forms of life, from the soil to the top of the tree, including over 520 different pollinators. Beginning in May, the flowers attract both nocturnal and diurnal insects, bats, butterflies, and birds, all of which help to produce acorns that are key to the survival of a number of birds and mammals. Arbor Day.org White/Bur Oak Care Instructions
A huge thank you to the Arbor Day Foundation for providing affordable trees for our Arbor Day handout!
See their bare root planting instructions here: https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/bare-root.cfm
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.
On November 16, 2023, we held our Annual Meeting. The event was a great success, with a fantastic turnout and a lot of positive feedback from attendees. The event featured a keynote speaker, updates on land acquisition, financials, and election of directors new to the board or continuing for another three-year term.
The event started with a warm welcome from our president Jay Burby. Our keynote speaker, Eva Vaughan, an environmental analyst for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, then took the stage and delivered an engaging talk on backyard green infrastructure. Eva explained how simple landscaping modifications can turn a backyard or home garden into a rain garden, thus helping to control and purify stormwater runoff. A few native plantings can then attract pollinating insects, helping to preserve biodiversity.
After Eva’s talk, ALT President Jay Burby reviewed highlights from 2023, including the most recent donation of land from the Charron family, that put us above 500 acres owned by the ALT with an additional 236 acres protected for a total of 740 acres. The 12-acre Charron Farm Preserve will continue to be used for the production of hay, but will also be used to complete a trail that will connect to the adjacent Shaw-Denham Memorial Forest. The trail will open to the public once completed.
Ted Leach nominates new and returning board members while President Jay Burby looks on. Image credit: Erin Connell
Veteran board member Ted Leach nominated members Brian Hatch, Roy Belcher, Paula Murphy, and Dawn Bender, whose terms expire in 2023, to serve for another 3-year term. Tarah Kinniburgh was nominated to her first term. Members present voted unanimously to elect all the nominees.
Juliet Teixeira, who is stepping down as ALT Vice President and Community Garden Lead, was thanked for her service and dedication to the work of the land trust, and the community garden, over the past ten years.
The ALT hopes to give renewed emphasis to education and outreach in 2024. Erin Connell, who joined the board last year, has agreed to chair the Education and Outreach Committee. Membership in this committee is open to any ALT member. You don’t have to be on the board. The same is true for most of the ALT standing committees.
Overall, the ALT Annual Meeting was a great success, and we are grateful to everyone who attended and made it such a memorable event. Thank you for your continued support of the Attleboro Land Trust!
Every year the edges of Larson Woodland are piled high with the leaves dropped from the trees along Riverbank Road and Watson Avenue. It takes a lot of effort to rake them up and move them away from the old stone curb, so that pedestrians can walk along the edge of the woodland.
On Saturday, Nov. 25, we had an outstanding crew of site stewards and other volunteers helping with this effort, including seven members of the Ezekiel Bates Lodge of Attleboro. The Lodge has been partnering with the Attleboro Land Trust as a site steward of Larson Woodland since 2014.
