The East Quabbin Land Trust
We recently moved to Hardwick, MA, a town which is in the very center of the state. Hardwick is not well known and never was, but it was once a beautiful dairy town full of hills and waterways, more cows than people back as late as the 1980s.
Dairy farms have fast disappeared since, unfortunately, but the land is still prized out here, and the East Quabbin Land Trust was formed to preserve donated land across several towns in the area. The goal of the land trust is to maintain areas where wildlife can flourish, but also to guard recreational areas for hikers, canoeists, bikers and walkers.Volunteers help to create and upkeep trails, clear invasive plants like the Oriental Bittersweet, build kestrel and bluebird boxes and harvest seeds to create more flowers for the Pollinator Pathway.
Especially during this year of Covid 19, outdoor activities for children and adults have had enormous appeal. The land trust organized a salvage arts program installed on fences on the MA Central Rail Trail. The bottom photo is an example of the art, which keeps the trail walkers busy, banging out percussion on xylophones made of old metal and wind chimes made of nuts and bolts. There have been virtual runs for children, story times in the woods, and nature art programs such as rock painting.
The East Quabbin Land Trust broadcasts upcoming activities, such as workdays, group hikes and pizza parties for volunteers on their Facebook page. Check them out!
