Happy Holidays 2016

Take A Hike: Elinor's Woods

by John Nye Cullity 

In 1994 the Sandwich Conservation Trust was approached by Ploughed Neck Road resident, Robert Sprague, about a possible donation of land adjacent to his house.  It was an interesting piece, nearly 5 acres, with some road frontage.  It was heavily wooded lowland, rising gradually out of the salt marsh west of Ploughed Neck Road.  Bob did give us the land, in loving memory of his late wife Elinor.  He also joined the SCT as a trustee for eleven years, before moving to Florida.  Bob died on September 12^th, and it seems appropriate to have a walk in Elinor’s Woods.

In 1998, a trail system was installed by a group of volunteers led by Neil Irving as part of his Eagle Scout project, with access from a private road.  The preserve was enlarged by the 2006 purchase of an adjacent 4,400 square foot parcel, and this allowed us to create a much better entrance on Ploughed Neck Road itself.  This work, along with signs and other improvements was led by another Eagle Scout candidate in 2008, Chris Hall.   The trail system winds around in a way that makes the parcel seem larger than it is.  There are some fine specimens of large, native trees.

If you would like to become familiar with Elinor’s Woods, the SCT is conducting a walk there this Sunday, November 13^th,  at 2 P.M.  The walk will last an hour or so.  The terrain is level and easy to walk.  We will meet at the town-owned gravel parking lot at the corner of Ploughed Neck Road and North Shore Boulevard, and hike back on the paved road to Elinor’s Woods.  The walk will not take place if it is raining. Call me at (508) 888-7629 if you have questions.  You can learn about the SCT at www.sandwichconservationtrust.org. 

Elinor's Woods, Ploughed Neck Rd., E. Sandwich

Fall Newsletter

If you aren't a member of the Sandwich Conservation Trust, you don't receive a copy of the newsletter so we are posting a link to the pdf copy.  This year we upgraded from publishing in black and white to color!  That, in addition to all the news John reported on, makes for an excellent summary of the accomplishments this year.

Don't forget to send in your dues for 2016, as we are counting on you so we can continue conserving properties in town.

Click on the image below to access the newsletter.

Annual Meeting Recap

SCT President, John Cullity

Our president, John Cullity, provided a summary of the accomplishments over the year and goals for the coming year.  Accomplishments included acquiring new properties, creating a parking area and the installation of fencing at Gully Lane, to name a few.  You can read more in the SCT Newsletter that was mailed to members a few weeks ago.  If you didn't receive a newsletter, why not become a member?  

Trustees elected for a new three year term included:

• Cliff Irving
• Brian Kelly
• Bob O'Connor
• Joe Queenan
• John Juros, a new trustee

We are sorry to see our treasurer, Sarah Marter, leave our organization.  Sarah provided much support in that capacity and as a trustee over the years and we wish her well in her new ventures in a warmer climate.

Welcome to our new treasurer, Monique Szechenyi, a longtime Sandwich resident who comes to us with non-profit experience.

Brad Chase, MA DMF

If you missed the meeting, you missed an interesting talk by Brad Chase of the MA Division of Marine Fisheries.  Brad's work focuses on American eel and river herring management.  He explained the differences among diadromous, anadromous and catadromous fish species; population trends historically to present; the numbers of fish runs on the Cape and in MA ; fish counting methods employed in runs; and much more.  Thanks Brad!

Brad Chase speaking about American eels and river herring.

Annual Meeting Today

Hope to see you today at the annual meeting with a talk by Brad Chase on American eel and river herring.

When:     2 p.m.

Where:      E. Sandwich Grange Hall

                   91 Old County Rd.

                   E. Sandwich

Annual Meeting this Sunday

Hope to see you there ...

Photo Recap from Take a Hike at Murkwood

Thanks for joining the SCT on the Murkwood Take a Hike.

Something new at the Toolas Preserve

Fencing has been installed to prevent vehicles from driving down the wide pedestrian path and parking area at the far end of the wildflower meadow.  The photos depict before and after fence installation.

Former Trustee, Bob Sprague

Robert (Bob Sprague), a former Sandwich Conservation Trust trustee, has passed. Bob donated time to the SCT for 11 years. If you don't know Bob, you may know of the Elinor's Woods property on Ploughed Neck Rd. in E. Sandwich. In 1999, Bob gifted the 5 acre parcel to the SCT in memory of his wife Elinor. Thank you Bob, for your time and work with the trust and for donating this lovely property in memory of Elinor.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Robert-Sprague&lc=6870&pid=181396073&mid=7086063

http://sandwichconservationtrust.blogspot.com/p/elinors-woods.html

Take a Hike - Murkwood

The Sandwich Conservation Trust will begin a series of fall guided walks by visiting the town-owned Murkwood Conservation Area this coming Sunday, Sept. 11^th, at 2 PM.  This East Sandwich preserve lies north of Route 6A, just west of Canning’s Service Station.  The Murkwood Conservation Area totals 129.39 acres – 22 parcels of upland and (mostly) salt marsh acquired by the town between 1974 and 1999.  The first 65 acres were purchased from Dorothy Nye Holway, and was part of one of the early East Sandwich farms.  The original Holway house, taken down in 1939, was located across from Titcomb’s Bookshop.

            Our upcoming walk will take place on the main upland, which is a peninsula of low land reaching out into Scorton Marsh.  Now heavily wooded, this area was once farmed by the Holways, and even contains the remains of a small cranberry bog.  This is the time of year when the salt hay was being cut, raked, and stacked on the staddles (12’ diameter group of posts) that once dotted all the marshes.  We will talk about this aspect of the land’s history as we take in a wide view of the quiet marsh.

            The walk will be about an hour long, and is easy except for some roots to step over.  If it rains the walk will be cancelled. For questions about the walk or the Sandwich Conservation Trust call me at (508) 888-7629.

The Sandwich Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 to preserve undeveloped land in Sandwich. Through ownership and conservation restrictions the SCT currently holds 221 acres in preservation. For questions about membership, support, volunteering or other issues please call (508) 888-7629.   http://sandwichconservationtrust.blogspot.com.  Find us on Facebook.

Carelton Preserve

A Gift to the SCT:

Carleton Preserve

On June 16, 2016, a 6.59 acre property at the end of Great Marsh Rd, E. Sandwich was gifted to the Sandwich Conservation Trust by Joy Carleton.  Thank you Joy for providing more land to preserve as open space.

Sandwich Property Map
Highlighting Gifted Property at end of
Great Marsh Rd., E. Sandwich

SCT President John Cullity and Joy Carleton
at the Carleton Preserve

Save the Date

SAVE the DATE

WHAT:       Sandwich Conservation Trust’s Annual Meeting

WHEN:      Sunday, October 16^th, 2016

WHERE:    E. Sandwich Grange Hall

Brad Chase of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will give a talk titled, 

“The Diadromous Fish Runs of American Eel and River Herring on Cape Cod.”

Stay tuned for more details …

American eel
Photo credit:  MADMF

River herring
Photo credit:  OnTheWater.com

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod - Thank You

Thank you to The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod (Sandwich) for generously printing maps for the SCT. Those maps include Joe's Woods, Elinor's Woods and the Toolas Preserve and have been placed at the properties for your use. We are always grateful for your community support.

The Moore Preserve on Country Farm Road Now Displays SCT Sign

Our new preserve, the Moore Preserve, at 6 Country Farm Drive now displays the SCT sign. The 0.7 acre property is a gift of Carla and H. William Moore. The piece has some pond frontage (pond is unnamed) and is adjacent to a property owned by the National Wildlife Federation.

Many thanks to The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts for assisting us. Also, a big thank you to Cliff, Bob and Joe for installing the sign. Next time you are in the area, check it out.

Moore Preserve, 6 Country Farm Road, Sandwich, MA

Moore Preserve with SCT sign

Bob and Cliff (with Joe behind the lens)

View of unnamed pond at the Moore Preserve

Vegetation on property

Bob, Cliff and Joe

Mowing at Gully Lane = Good Looking Property

The Sherman-Osborne property on Gully Lane was close-mowed on Friday, 7/29. The property looks terrific.

Update on Osborne-Sherman Property

Stop by and check it out!

The fencing work at the Osborne-Sherman property on Gully Lane has been completed.

Once again, thank you to the donors of our special appeal, the trustees that made it happen and Paul Crane, who installed the fencing.

Thank You

Thanks to our generous donors, we received a total of $3,590 from our special appeal to support the extension of fencing at the Osborne-Sherman Conservation Lands and to continue the mowing of the field.

5 Days Remaining

There are only 5 days remaining to donate toward the special appeal for work on the Osborne-Sherman Conservation Lands.

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to the cause of extending the split rail fencing and continued mowing of the field to keep invasives at bay.

Special Appeal

Sandwich Conservation Trust – Special Appeal 

Osborne-Sherman Conservation Lands

Dear Members and Friends,

     Last year the SCT Board of Trustees decided to improve access to the Osborne – Sherman Conservation Lands, located off of Gully Lane, in the Spring Hill section of Sandwich. This was done to allow our mowing contractor a safer way to park, and of course, provide a modest parking area for visitors. After several months of design, permitting, and other preparation, the work was completed last December, resulting in the attractive entrance pictured above.

            

     This accomplishment led to thoughts about other improvements for this beautiful preserve – 2 acres of hillside field with a mowed path and a bench from which Cape Cod Bay can be viewed.  Our 2 acre field is partially surrounded by a much larger clearing, in private ownership, and we want to be sure our visitors don’t stray onto this property. We currently have split rail fencing at two of the corners, but we would like to add more fencing, especially on the south side.

            

     As beautiful as it is, this field has a serious problem with invasive or unwanted vegetation.  The problem species are bittersweet, multiflora rose, and poison ivy, which is a native plant, but not desirable in a publicly-used field.  We currently have the field mowed by tractor several times a year, but this is not adequate to eliminate the unwanted plants. Repeated close mowing as required turns out to be a practical, non-toxic approach to accomplishing our goals. As parts of the field become free of invasive plants, they can be allowed to grow to benefit wildlife.

            

     The SCT is asking for your financial help with these projects. We are seeking at least $3000 to install fencing and fund the mowing.  To jump-start the effort, one of our sponsors has offered $250 as soon as that amount has been received from other donors. Your donation will be tax-deductible – the SCT is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit.  Though we welcome your help at any time, this specific fundraising effort will end May 31^st, with the fencing work scheduled for early June.

            

     The SCT received this preserve as a bequest from Constance S. Crowell (1931-2006).  She and her husband Edward Crowell acquired 26 acres here in 1969 and developed stables, pasture and other facilities for horses, and named the property “The Mowings”.  Connie dearly loved The Mowings, and we are so grateful to her for leaving these beautiful 2 acres to the Sandwich Conservation Trust for preservation, wildlife habitat and public enjoyment.  She chose to name the preserve using the last names of her two grandfathers:  Osborne and Sherman.

            

      Please help us honor Connie Crowell by helping us fund improvements to the Osborne-Sherman Conservation Lands, and please do visit the preserve.

           

     Thank You.

                                                                                                            Sincerely,

                                                                                                            John N. Cullity

                                                                                                            President
Mailing Address:
Sandwich Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 531
E. Sandwich, MA  02537