Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
Pictures are from ACT’s June 10 Nature Walk of Pratt’s Brook led by storyteller and naturalist, Boot Boutwell. Pratt’s Brook comprises wetlands, forested uplands, a blueberry “barrens,” two brooks, and a small pond with nearby vernal pools.
The following news and events may be of interest:
Now through June 15
Acton Boxborough Bioblitz
Please join us as we document and celebrate biodiversity in Acton and Boxborough, which together host over 2,000 acres of conservation areas. From cattail marshes and ponds to fields and forests, these habitats thrive with snapping turtles, frogs, insects, birds, and mammals galore. Another 3,000 acres of private lands provide habitat for wildlife, including what’s two steps outside your door! What kind of wildlife lives here? Let’s find out June 1-15.
How to participate? Download the “iNaturalist” app on your smartphone and click on our “Nature of Acton and Boxborough 2023” project. Or visit https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/nature-of-acton-and-boxborough-june-2023.
Starting June 1st, snap away at any plant, animal or fungus you see and get it on our list. Can we break 200 species this year? Who can ID the most? Taking observations of wildlife helps advance science too! According to National Geographic, “High quality data uploaded to iNaturalist become part of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an open source database used by scientists and policy makers around the world.” Happy BioBlitzing!
We continue our observations from the Acton Boxborough BioBlitz as part of the City Nature Challenge Boston area in 2021. The 2023 BioBlitz is a collaboration of people from Acton Conservation Trust, Boxborough Conservation Trust, Green Acton, Acton PIP STEM, Acton Men’s Outdoor Club and Energize Acton. Questions? contact Matt Lieban, liebman.matt57@gmail.com
Thursdays in June (June 15, 22, 29)
Mass Land Trust Coalition (MLTC) is offering a Fundamentals of Land Protection series of virtual classes
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. via Zoom
Registration link here (Zoom link will be sent to registrants before the first session). Syllabus here
Fridays, June 16, 23
NARA Park Stroll with Conversation, Coffee and Pastry
10-11am
Open to those age 55 plus from Acton, Boxboro and Littleton. Come one week, all four, or anywhere in between! Meet in the upper parking lot located off Quarry Road. If you park in the lower lot you’ll have to walk up to the upper fields. There is a nice walking path around the park and you can choose whether to walk a half mile or the full mile loop. Or just come for the conversation and refreshments. RSVP required to Sheryl Ball at: sball@actonma.gov or 978-929-6632
Thursday, June 15
Evening Firefly Walk
8 PM
In-Person in Lincoln, MA
Avalon Owens returns to Lincoln, MA in mid-June to lead a firefly walk through one of the fields that she has studied extensively. Participants will meet at Town Offices at 8:00 P.M. for a brief (indoor) tutorial on firefly behavior. Then the group will head out to a nearby field. We expect to return to the parking area by 9:15 P.M.
Avalon Owens holds a PhD in Biology from Tufts University, and has studied fireflies in Lincoln for many years. This walk is a continuation of LLCT’s efforts to offer educational opportunities to the community on light pollution and its impacts on Lincoln’s wildlife.
Open to all, no experience necessary. We will be walking through fields with tall grass at night. Participants should take all necessary safety precautions against poison ivy, ticks, etc. Only lights with red filters will be used out in the field. Filters and tape will be provided, and participants are welcome to bring their own. Our focus will be on wildlife-no pets on this walk.
This is a free program, but space is limited so registration is required. Detailed parking directions and more information will be emailed to participants in advance of the walk. Waitlist only: Register HERE
Saturday, June 17
Household Hazardous Waste Day
DPW Garage located at 14 Forest Road
9:00-11:30 AM
• If possible, please only make ONE trip to Hazardous Waste Day. Upon entering the site, please drive slow
and stay in your vehicle.
• Please read the below lists of what to and not to bring. Many materials can now be dropped off year-round
at Town of Acton facilities.
• Transfer Station sticker or recycling only sticker required to drop the below materials at the Transfer
Station.
• Recycling sticker is only $15 annually ($10 for seniors 65+)
For a list of items accepted at the Transfer Station, visit: http://www.acton-ma.gov/documentcenter/view/350
These collection services are for Acton residents only and proof of residency will be required.
Sundays, June 18 – October 15
Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market Season begins
Elm Street Playground, West Acton
10 AM – 1 PM
Join us for our 15th season of promoting good food and supporting sustainable agriculture.
Visit http://www.abfarmersmarket.org for more information
Sunday, June 18
Breakfast at Fort Pond Littleton
8 Kaleva Road
8-19:30 AM
Directions at www.Kalevalittleton.org
Tuesday, June 20 (Rain date, June 21)
Summer Solstice Bike Ride
6 PM
Meet at Pedal Power, 176 Great Road
Bike or walk on the trail and rendezvous back at Pedal Power between 7:30 and 8:00 PM. Parking available across the street – stay for pizza afterward. Contact tmichelman@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 21
Summer Solstice
10:57 AM EDT
In 2023, the June solstice occurs on Wednesday, June 21, marking the astronomical first day of summer—and the longest day of the year. Learn fun facts and folklore about the summer solstice at 7 Facts About the June Solstice | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Saturday, June 24
June Food Day Sponsored by Boston Area Gleaners
4:30-8:30 PM
Stonefield Farm, 91 Martin St., Acton, MA
Join Boston Area Gleaners for our 4th annual June Food Day celebration! Come enjoy local food and community, and support the critical work we do bringing healthy food from farms to families. All proceeds from this fundraiser event will help to support our programs that sustain our work at the intersection of food waste, food access and farming.
We will have farm fun activities for everyone: hay rides, a silent auction, live music, face painting, and complimentary festive beverages. We will also have food for purchase from delicious food truck vendors.
Reserve your ticket here; https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/june-food-day.html
Wednesday, June 28 and subsequent Wednesdays through 7/19
Concord Band Concerts
Fruitlands, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard Phone 978-456-3924
Gather on the lawn at Fruitlands Museum for a picnic concert with stunning sunset views. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs and picnic basket. There is plenty of room on the concert lawn to spread out and get comfortable.
The Concord Band is a group of 65 musicians from 40 area towns who have been performing since 1959. The Concord Band will treat concert-goers to a fun roster of timeless music, including pieces memorializing historic events, show tunes, holiday favorites and more.
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ABRHS Envirothon Team placed 3RD for their presentation on Climate Change in our community, May 25, 2023. For more information visit www.massenvirothon.org.
From BAG’s June Newsletter Learn more at BAG website
Native Plant Project
Last week a group of volunteers came to Stonefield Farm to help plant native wetland plants, which was the culmination of a two-year project to restore the health and fertility of the soil in the front fields. This project began when the Gleaners moved to Stonefield Farm during one of the rainiest summers in Massachusetts, which lead to flooded fields.
Bird Boxes
We have 21 nest boxes installed around the fields at Stonefield Farm. We have 15 active nests that we are monitoring in boxes, plus one ground nest. Species include Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, and Killdeer. Pictured below are 6 Chickadee and 4 Bluebird chicks, an angelic looking Tree Swallow nest (with white feathers), and a House Wren nest with tiny salmon-colored eggs. We are delighted to provide safe nesting opportunities for these species at the farm!
NEWS:
Theoharides fills vacancy at Trustees of Reservations – from Boston Globe, 6/7/23
Katie Theoharides, who has two decades of experience in environmental leadership and land conservation, fills a vacancy left by the sudden departure of John Judge in October after just eight months in the job…. “We are at a moment in time now that calls for us urgently to preserve the outdoors,” Theoharides said. “We need to come together around climate=change solutions.” For more information, https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/07/business/trustees-reservations-names-katie-theoharides-next-leader/?s_campaign=8315
Walden Pond in Concord
7 am-7 pm
915 Walden St.
walden.pond@state.ma.us; 978-369-3254, bridal paths, and farm roads.
Boat ramp Sunday – Saturday: 5 AM – 7 PM.
Parking: MA resident $8; Non-MA resident: $30
Annual and senior passes NOT sold in park, click here to purchase an annual pass, click here to purchase a senior pass.
Camp Acton is Open
Pope Road, Acton
Fee is $25 per site reserved through he Recreation Department.
Limited to 10 people per site. Visit http://trails.actonma.gov/ to learn more about Camp Acton.
Please complete the registration form 48 business hours prior to desired reservation date.
Payments are due upon reservation confirmation.
Portable toilet on site.
All users must follow social distancing, regulations and posted guidelines.
Please complete and send camp Acton Permit application via email to recreation@actonma.gov or fax to 978-929-6333.
Please allow up to two business days to process.
Boxborough Birders
Boxborough Birders is a local, all-volunteer group of bird watchers with varying levels of experience. Local walks in Boxborough, Acton, Harvard, Stow, Bolton, Littleton, are organized during spring and fall migration and occasionally beyond. Our walks are free of charge and most are scheduled on weekends. (Due to Covid-19 pandemic, all scheduled walks for 2021 will be limited in size, masks will be worn, no shared equipment and social distancing required). Visit their website at: boxboroughbirders.org for links to local birding spots, photos, and more. You can sign up there to be on our mailing list and get all the information you need. We hope you will join us out on the trail soon.
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Sincerely,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a nonprofit organization focused on conserving land in Acton, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”!