Thursday, December 25, 2014

Holiday Greetings

Wherever 
your holiday 
celebration takes you,
we wish you a safe, relaxing 
time spent with family and friends.  
Happy holidays from the Trustees of the 
Sandwich Conservation Trust.


Sunday, December 14, 2014

2014 Is Coming to a Close

There are only a few more weeks until we roll over into the new year,


If you are thinking of making a tax free donation for the 2014 tax year, look no further.  The SCT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.  If you like, you may give a gift in honor of someone or in memoriam.

Your support helps us to preserve natural or undeveloped land in our beautiful town of Sandwich, for habitat protection, recreation, and visual beauty.

If you have any questions,please call:   508-888-7629


Our address:
Sandwich Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 531
East Sandwich, MA  02537 




Friday, November 28, 2014

November Take a Hike at Talbot's Point Photos












Thanksgiving

The SCT hopes you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Why not head outside this weekend and walk some of our trails. If you do, feel free to bring some clippers or loppers and do a bit of trail maintenance while you are at it. It will help with working off all those Thanksgiving calories : ).

Sunday, November 9, 2014

In just over 2 hours ...

It's a balmy day out there for November. Why not take a hike at Talbot's Point with the SCT! Meet at 2 at the E. Sandwich Grange Hall. Hope to see you there!

Friday, November 7, 2014

TAKE A HIKE - November 9, 2014

   

Take A Hike - Talbot's Point 

 

By John Nye Cullity 

This Sunday, November 9, 2014, at 2 P.M. the Sandwich Conservation Trust is sponsoring a walk to Talbot’s Point in East Sandwich, one of our oldest conservation preserves, and arguably one of our most beautiful. It is a 36 acre peninsula, lying in the middle of the inner marsh of Scorton Creek. It was once farmland, but is now nicely wooded.  Features of interest include beautiful perimeter and inner trails, a dark pine forest, views of the marsh, a flowing spring and two tiny islands.
 
We will begin the walk at the Grange Hall, at 91 Old County Road. When you park, please pull well off the pavement and avoid blocking any driveway. The hike will take about 1 ½ hours, is mostly easy walking, and will not be held if it is raining. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (508) 888-7629.


Monday, October 27, 2014

Maple Swamp Hike

Photos from last month's hike on a lovely Sunday afternoon at Maple Swamp.  Thanks for joining us!





Saturday, October 11, 2014

Take A Hike - October 2014

Take A Hike
Maple Swamp Conservation Lands

This aerial view of the Maple Swamp area was taken by the author in October 1986.  Within
 the preserve are features with names dating back to the 19th century:  Sam Nye’s Mountain,
Zene Wright’s Swamp, Moody Fish’s Bottom, Deer Hollow and Millstone Rock.

By John Nye Cullity

The Sandwich Conservation Trust invites you to walk the hills and hollows of the Maple Swamp Conservation Lands this Sunday the 12th at 2 p.m.  The entrance is at a parking lot off of Service Road, about half way between Exits 3 and 4.   

For those who don’t know the area, it is the largest conservation preserve in town - about 770 acres.  Most of the land is controlled by the Conservation Commission, though the Sandwich Water District and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife own parcels as well.  The Maple Swamp itself is a couple of acres in the bottom of one of the hollows.  Historically, the lower areas closest to the Service Road were once pasture land, and the hills and hollows were woodlots owned by the various bayside farms.

The walk will be about an hour-and-a-half in length, and will be somewhat strenuous - there are some steep slopes and loose stones.  The walk will not take place if it is raining.  We ask that dogs not be brought along.  If you have questions call me at (508) 888-7629.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

2014 SCT Annual Meeting


SCT Annual Meeting
to feature “A History of Fields in Sandwich”


Spring Hill area circa 1910

The Sandwich Conservation Trust will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, October 5th at the East Sandwich Grange Hall at 91 Old County Road.  The business portion of the meeting will begin at 2 p.m., and the featured program at 2:30.  The public is invited to attend.

The SCT is a non-profit organization, and has been working since 1985 to preserve open space in Sandwich.  216 acres are held in preservation through SCT ownership and conservation  restriction agreements with landowners.

The featured program will be a slide show and talk by SCT president and local historian John Nye Cullity entitled, “A History of Fields in Sandwich”.  The creation, uses, restoration and preservation of fields will be discussed and illustrated with photographs from the 1870s to the present.

The program is free, though donations are always appreciated. 

For more information, please contact:
John Cullity 508-888-7629                                   Joe Queenan 508-833-0861        

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Images from Nye Pond to Scorton Creek Take a Hike on 9-14-14

Overlooking Nye Pond at the beginning of the walk.

Recently constructed fish ladder behind the Nye House.

"Forest art" alongside Marsh View Trail.

Believed to be the site of a small shipyard for coastal shipping.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Take a HIke

Nye Pond to Scorton Creek


This 1957 view shows Nye Pond flowing out to Cape Cod Bay through the 
East Sandwich Fish Hatchery near Old County Road, and the Game Farm
beyond.  Both of these Division of Fisheries and Wildlife facilities are now 
conservation land.

By John Nye Cullity 

The Sandwich Conservation Trust will continue its series of monthly walks this Sunday at 2 P.M. with an exploration of the East Sandwich water system and adjacent lands that begin at Nye Pond and flow out to Scorton Creek and the bay.

This system is one of three in Sandwich that begin as powerful springs which flow fresh for a bit before entering salt marsh.  The others originate in Upper Shawme Pond, and in the pond next to the Green Briar Nature Center at Spring Hill.  All three supported various water mills and many other historic uses, and all three experienced all sorts of manipulation - damming, filling, bridging, diversion, etc.  My ancestors did much of the fiddling around at Nye Pond and out to the marsh, and on this walk I will describe what was done. 

Equally interesting is Nature’s response to man’s imposed changes, including, finally leaving it alone.  To determine this we study the land carefully, along with old photographs, maps, documents and stories.  We can never know exactly what took place, but we can more or less trace the changes.  As always, we will take note of interesting trees and other vegetation and signs of wildlife that now exist.

This will be a fairly easy walk – no steep grades – but there may be a few roots, wet spots and puckerbrush.  It will last about an hour-and-a-half or so.  We will meet at the Grange Hall at 91 Old County Road – 2 P.M. – and please park on grass or gravel so that cars don’t protrude into the road or block driveways.  If it is raining the walk is cancelled.


If you are interested in the history of landscape change, you might enjoy attending the annual meeting of the Sandwich Conservation Trust at the Grange Hall on Sunday afternoon, October 5th. SCT members will begin our business meeting at 2 PM, and I will be presenting a slide show and talk at 2:30.  The public is welcome to both.  Donations to help pay for the hall or support the SCT will be most appreciated.  


Fisherman’s Landing on Scorton Creek, once the site of a small 
shipyard, saltworks, and a dock for coastal shipping.  


Saturday, August 23, 2014

Summer 2014 Newsletter

The Sandwich Conservation Trust Summer 2014 Newsletter has been mailed to members.  For those of you who are not members, we welcome you to join.

Click on the link to view the Sandwich Conservation Trust Summer 2014 Newsletter.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_985h0jYPt1T1RJQnpZSDlIWXc/edit?usp=sharing


Please consider renewing your 2014 membership to the SCT.  If you are a member, you should have received an envelope with your copy of the newsletter. Please see our mailing address below if you wish to support the SCT:

Sandwich Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 531
E. Sandwich, MA 02537

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Trails & Overgrowth

 
Spring is finally here and summer cannot be too far away.  However the good weather produces lots of foliage and this foliage sometimes over-grows and encroaches upon our trails.
 
The Sandwich Conservation Trust trail system is very limited.  We need volunteer help to maintain them in an acceptable condition.  If you think you could provide some help please contact me.
 
Thank you very much for your attention to this.
 
Joe
joe.queenan@comcast.net


Saturday, May 17, 2014

Take a Hike - Joe's Woods



TAKE A HIKE 
 at Joe's Woods
with the Sandwich Conservation Trust

by John Nye Cullity

Hopefully by this Sunday the 18th, the rain will have abated and we can meet at 2 PM to walk Joe’s Woods, off of Spring Hill Road.  We will meet at the Quaker Meetinghouse.  Directions: from the Route 6A and Quaker Meetinghouse Road intersection, go northerly over the railroad crossing, and take the next left, Quaker Road.  Look for the meetinghouse on the right, and please go in the second entrance, a bit up the hill.

This walk is mostly level and easy, and will last an hour or slightly more.  We will follow Roos Road (Yes, I will explain that name) to 7 acre Joe’s Woods, an SCT preserve donated in 1987 by Thomas Gelsthorpe.  From there we will take a large loop through a 30 acre town conservation property purchased by the town in 2000 using Land Bank funds.  This is a quiet area with a number of re-forested old cranberry bogs.  

There is no charge for the walk.  Be prepared for ticks, and no dogs, please.  The walk will not be held if it is raining.  


Daffodil Festival

Daffodil Festival

April 26, 2014

(despite the sometimes inclement weather)

Thank you to the organizers and participants of the 2014 Sandwich Daffodil Festival.  And, if you stopped by to see us, the SCT, THANK YOU!  A lot of dedicated individuals worked many hours to create the festival.  Despite the rain and wind, we still had a few thousand visit.  Bravo!

Entrance to the festival.
SCT display

Nancy showing a SCT produced map to an interested party.

Joe keeping warm with some tea.






All decked out for the rain.  Look at that smile!
Everything was weighed down due to the winds.



Thursday, May 1, 2014

Club Day

EMS Club Day - Hyannis

Today through Saturday (May 1-3) is Club Day at EMS Hyannis for members of outdoor organizations.


What will a purchase get you?
  • Up to 25% off full price in stock items and an extra 5% off camping gear.

Make sure you enroll in EMS Rewards while you are there (if you aren't already a member) and you will earn double points in the EMS Rewards program.  Don't worry, there is no key card to carry around - they use your phone number to keep track.


Thursday, April 24, 2014

Daffodil Festival

Please Join Us:
Daffodil Festival
Saturday, April 26, 2014
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Oak Crest Field on Quaker Meetinghouse Rd.



Please stop by to say hi to us at the Daffodil Festival this Saturday at Oak Crest Field.  There will be something for everyone, including:

gardening events
master gardeners (bring a soil sample to be tested)
flower arranging competition
local artists
food
music
KID zone

Click below to see the official Daffodil Festival site for more info:






Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Earth Day 2014

April 22, 2014 = Earth Day


Original Earth Day advertisement in 1970 





Have you noticed our signs around town to remind us of Earth Day and to support your local land trust in an effort to preserve our land?  You will also see us at the Daffodil Festival on Saturday - please stop by and say hi.

 

Earth Day, what is it?

Founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green awareness. The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson and inspired by the antiwar protests of the late 1960s, Earth Day was originally aimed at creating a mass environmental movement. It began as a “national teach-in on the environment” and was held on April 22 to maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses. By raising public awareness of air and water pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Great Hill Take a Hike Photos

Thanks to all who came out to join us for a hike up Great Hill last Sunday.

 

 

 

 

  

 







 

 

Friday, April 11, 2014

Take a Hike with the Sandwich Conservation Trust

By John Nye Cullity



The SCT will begin this year’s series of second-Sunday walks, Sunday, April 13th, at 2 PM with the straightest one we have, the trek along the Barnstable-Sandwich town line. The walk begins at Service Road, about half a mile east of Exit 4, and goes in a straight line to Great Hill. Here we find the closest thing we have to a dramatic crest on Cape Cod, with a nice view towards Nantucket Sound, at an ear-popping 230 feet above sea level. This is a good time of year to visit this elevated spot. With the absence of foliage we can see the topography through the trees.


The habitat is dry pine-oak woods, livened up by hills and valleys as we make our way to the top. The land to the east is the 1200 acre West Barnstable Conservation Area, and to west is a long strip of privately owned land that is held in a conservation restriction with the SCT. Through the generosity of the landowners the public is allowed to pass.

This section of walkable town line was created in the early 1950s, when the clearing was bulldozed to create somewhat of a fire brake and better access to the woods. My guess is that this action was inspired by the great forest fire of 1946, when much of South Sandwich, and even part of East Sandwich was burned over.


The walk will last 45 minutes or so. It is a strenuous walk in that there are some steep slopes, loose stones, and probably some branches down after our long winter, so please be prepared. The hike will not be held if it is raining.

Parking is best along the south side of Service Road; make sure you are well off the road. There is no charge for the walk. No dogs, please. Call me at (508) 888-7629 if you have questions.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Laffoon Preserve



On January 21, 2014, the Sandwich Conservation Trust accepted a land donation in E. Sandwich.  The property was deeded to the non-profit SCT by Christine Marrs and Daniel Laffoon of the Nancy J. Laffoon Trust.  The parcel, consisting of ¾ of an acre of salt meadow, is situated on Long Creek, just south of North Shore Boulevard.  Thank you to the Laffoon family for this gift of land.




John Cullity has provided the following photos of the property: