Trustees | Special Places | Fall/Winter 2023

FOR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE TRUSTEES

FROM OUR FARM TO YOUR FORK

Buy sustainably grown food at your local Trustees farm stores

APPLETON FARMS Hamilton & Ipswich

CHESTNUT HILL FARM Southborough

POWISSET FARM Dover

WEIR RIVER FARM Hingham

Shop in person or online at thetrustees.org/farmstores

Armstrong-Kelley Park Reopens After Extensive Renovations

The Trustees has recently reopened ArmstrongKelley Park in Osterville, its newest public garden, after completing a large-scale renovation this spring. With over 90 years of history and 8.5 acres of rare trees, shady trails, and flourishing gardens, Armstrong-Kelley Park is the Trustees’ twelfth public garden and is also Cape Cod’s oldest and largest privately owned public park. The renovation project was grounded on beloved elements of the park such as the main green and Liam’s Train, with the new design including a gathering green, paths that meet universal accessibility standards, an expanded water garden, and improved parking. “Our stewardship does more than just keep these 8.5 acres as parkland,” said Katie Theoharides, Trustees President and CEO. “It ensures ArmstrongKelley Park will be a cornerstone of the community for generations to come.” The Cape Cod Horticultural Society, which had owned and maintained Armstrong-Kelley Park for nearly 100 years, approved a plan to be integrated into The Trustees several years ago. “We are excited that this garden will be a way to deepen visitors’ connection with The Trustees, with our mission, and with the natural world,” added Joann Vieira, the Trustees’ Director of Horticulture. “We are so honored to be part of Armstrong-Kelley Park and look forward to continuing to grow the collections and deepen our impact in this beautiful place.”

Trustees Receives a Series of Grants Aimed at Deeper Cultural Study

The Trustees has recently received two grants that will enable the organization to advance important elements of its mission in history and culture. A grant from the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) will launch a two-year initiative to process, conserve, and digitize two sets of archives: the Colonel John Ashley Papers (1755-1818) and the archives of the Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN; 1977-2014). BNAN first began working with community gardens in 1982, in an effort to preserve Boston’s inner city green space. In 2014, the organization was integrated into The Trustees, by then having acquired 54 gardens in eight Boston neighborhoods. Colonel John Ashley built what is now the Trustees’ Ashley House in Sheffield in 1735—the oldest house still standing in Berkshire County. Ashley was instrumental in drafting the Sheffield Resolves in 1773 at Ashley House. Related to the work enabled by the NEH grant, the Decorative Arts Trust has also provided a grant that will create a Curatorial Fellowship for researching and cataloguing the collections of Ashley House.

©KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

ASHLEY HOUSE SHEFFIELD ©ABOVE SUMMIT

2023 Rappaport Prize Given to Artist and Educator Tomashi

Jackson

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and The Trustees are thrilled to announce Tomashi Jackson as the recipient of the 2023 Rappaport Prize. Established in 2000, the Rappaport Prize is an annual art award presented to a contemporary artist with strong connections to New England by deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum through the support of the Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation. Tomashi Jackson’s research-driven multimedia practice combines painting, printmaking, fiber arts, sculpture, video, and performance to explore the influence of social histories and aesthetic imagery. She has deep ties to the New England area, including earning her MS in Art, Culture, and Technology from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning in 2012 and her MFA in Painting and Printmaking from the Yale University School of Art in 2016. A committed educator, Jackson has taught at Harvard University, Massachusetts College of Art, and Rhode Island School of Design, among others. A lecture is planned for May 2024—details will be available in the coming issues of Special Places and at thetrustees.org/rappaport.

Trustees’ Brockway Receives Horticultural Honor

This past spring, The Trustees’ Managing Director of Cultural Resources, Cindy Brockway, was awarded an Honorary Gold Medal for “eminent horticultural accomplishment” by The Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS). MHS has been awarding medals to individuals and organizations for their contributions to excellence in horticulture for the public good for 192 years. As announced by MHS, Brockway is “…an important and admired landscape designer with a deep sensitivity and responsiveness to place and preservation.” This award recognizes her work since 2011 as a leader in cultural resources at The Trustees. The society continues, “Cindy achieved eminence and prestige for her horticultural accomplishments half a career ago. Her depth and breadth of expertise has encompassed ways to extend interest to new visitors and open-up gardens in a way that is sensitive to history yet meets the needs and expectations of diverse and new audiences.” Trustees Members and visitors benefit from Brockway’s expertise and vision at each of the organization’s 12 public gardens across the state. Congratulations, Cindy!

Studio portrait of Tomashi Jackson. Photographer Julia Featheringill. Courtesy the artist and Tilton Gallery, New York.

PHOTO BY GROSS & DALEY PHOTOGRAPHY

LAND CONSERVATION

SAVE M ILLBORN FARM

An unprecedented opportunity to preserve and steward critical open space in the Charles River Valley

Situated on 180+ acres in the towns of Sherborn and Millis in the heart of the Charles River Valley, Millborn Farm is unlike any other property in the area. An intimate tree-lined entrance leads to an expansive open landscape of stonewalllined hay fields, forestland, farm lanes, and more than a mile of waterfront along the Charles River, Bogastow Brook, and South End Pond. Trails meander through fields and forest and around floodplain habitat along the water’s edge. Few places boast this combination of stunning landscape features and resources.

The Trustees has been presented with an unprecedented opportunity to acquire Millborn Farm—to protect the land from the potential for development, to provide precious space for people to engage with nature, and to preserve its legacy and significant environmental value. “In a time of increased flooding due to climate change, protection of the river floodplain is critically important,” says Cynthia Dittbrenner, The Trustees’ Interim Vice President of Conservation and Resiliency. “Protecting Millborn Farm, with its more than one mile of waterway frontage, provides essential storage for flood waters as well as protects critical wildlife habitat.”

The farm’s land also includes 75 acres of productive hay fields and grasslands that support native pollinators, plants, and wildlife. 139 species of birds have been documented at Millborn Farm and it is believed there is the potential for as many as 50 more that frequent the property.

Notably, the addition of Millborn Farm to the Trustees’ portfolio will connect it via navigable water and trail systems to nine other Trustees reservations: Cedariver in Millis and Shattuck and Noon Hill Reservations in Medfield to the south, Bridge Island Meadows to the east across South End Pond, and Rocky Narrows (Sherborn), Medfield Meadow Lots (Medfield), Peters Reservation and Chase Woodlands (Dover), and Charles River Peninsula (Needham) to the north. These reservations are part of the organization’s long history and significant presence in the Charles River Valley—where The Trustees protects more than 2,600 acres across 17 diverse and dynamic properties, including its first reservation, Rocky Narrows, acquired in 1897.

“A strong demand exists for passive outdoor recreation opportunities in this area,” adds D.A. Hayden, Portfolio Director for the Trustees’ Charles River Valley properties. “Some of The Trustees’ most visited properties are in the Charles River

Valley and we have a deep connection to the community. Millborn Farm has the potential to offer visitors a unique refuge to experience multiple aspects of nature’s splendor. We look forward to stewarding this gorgeous property for generations to come.”

WITH YOUR HELP

The Trustees must raise the funds needed for this purchase by December 31. We welcome your contribution in the effort to preserve, steward, and share Millborn Farm with the public. For further details on The Trustees’ plans for conservation and access improvements, a photo gallery, and to make a donation, visit thetrustees.org/savemillborn .

You’re Invited!

Cocktail Reception for the Campaign to Save Millborn Farm, Thursday, Oct 19.

Details and tickets at:

COVER PHOTO: SIGNAL HILL, CANTON; PHOTO BY JENNIFER PLATT-URE

Dear Members,

It is such a pleasure to connect with you and share our Fall/Winter issue of Special Places. Since joining The Trustees, I’ve experienced the shared passion for this mission and the welcome and support from this community. I’ve seen the beauty, wildness, history, and engaging nature of our special places, and I’ve seen joy on the faces of children and adults visiting our reservations. I’ve also experienced the care and dedication of our staff from the Berkshires to the Islands who steward our reservations and connect visitors to our shared natural and cultural history.

As fall paints the landscape brilliant colors and brings the abundance of harvest, I’m leaning into the changing seasons and getting outdoors with family and friends. Whether you’re planning a leaf peeping getaway at Field Farm, a day hike at Rocky Woods, or attending an event at one of our farms, fall has a way of connecting us to our community and loved ones. The end of the season is beautiful, too. I love the smell of the first snow and anticipation of winter to come. The landscape becomes bare and you can see the shape of the hills and the colors of the marsh. I can’t wait to see the photos you share as you explore fall and winter across our beautiful state.

The change of seasons brings new challenges for those who are exploring trails and properties on wheels. Whether you’re biking, hiking in a wheeled chair, or pushing a stroller, accessibility for all guests is constantly on our mind. We’re committed to improving transparency to help guests plan their visits. To learn about our progress, read A Warmer Welcome, page 4.

There are so many ways we connect with and learn from nature. From our initiative to share our spaces with children through innovative school partnerships to our efforts to build resiliency on our coasts, the Trustees mission fills these pages. Your Membership helps us protect these landscapes and landmarks for generations to come. Thank you!

In Service, Katie Theoharides President and CEO

Trustees President and CEO Katie Theoharides with artist Hugh Hayden, whose original outdoor commission, Huff and a Puff, debuts at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum this fall.

©KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

INCLUSIVE SPACES

Welcome A Warmer

BY SARAH LYDON

Fall is a wonderful season for outdoor exploring, road trips, and adventures. For people eager to get outside together, a visit to one of the Trustees’ working farms, historic homes, beaches, or hiking trails can be a wonderful experience with family and friends. But for people with mobility challenges or other disabilities, a successful excursion often requires advance planning. Individuals who have difficulty walking over uneven ground may worry about their stability during a walk in the woods; people with sensory issues might feel overwhelmed by crowded spaces or loud noises.

As part of the Trustees’ ongoing work on accessibility initiatives, the organization is exploring and implementing new ways to make more of its reservations welcoming and accessible for people of different ages and abilities and making it easier for visitors to get the information they need to plan ahead.

Below: Many programs offered at Weir River Farm in Hingham now include sensory-friendly elements such as quieter events and uncrowded spaces for neurodiverse children and families. This pilot program will guide potential expansion to other Trustees farms.

COLLABORATION AND LISTENING ARE KEY AS THE TRUSTEES WORKS TOWARD MAKING PROPERTIES AND PROGRAMMING MORE INCLUSIVE

DOANE’S FALLS ROYALSTON ©TRUSTEES

WEIR RIVER FARM HINGHAM ©TRUSTEES

STEVENS-COOLIDGE HOUSE & GARDENS NORTH ANDOVER ©TRUSTEES

PUTTING FEEDBACK INTO ACTION

When it comes to improving accessibility of Trustees properties and programs, communication is key. Mark Lindsay, Director of Visitor Experience and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator, heads the Accessibility Working Group for The Trustees. One of the first steps the Working Group prioritized was to develop trainings for front-line staff about how to make the visitor experience the best it can be for people of all ages and abilities.

“One important goal is to improve transparency,” said Lindsay. Detailed information about accessibility issues, from accessible parking and restrooms to special programming is available on the Trustees website for every property. A downloadable map provides a visual aid to accessible properties. Feedback forms available online or on-site are designed to encourage visitors to share thoughts about their experiences.

“Through the feedback forms, we get a lot of constructive comments about accessibility issues from people who want to partner with us to make things better,” says Lindsay. “We’re striving to develop more relationships with people who have lived experience to help serve as resources and consultants on these issues.”

ACCESSIBLE TRAILS

While it’s early yet in the initiative, a number of Trustees properties are leading the way in welcoming visitors with disabilities. A former equestrian estate, Doyle Community Park extends over 157 acres in the urban towns of Fitchburg and Leominster in central Massachusetts. Former bridle paths have been repurposed as walking trails, including a mile and a half of wheelchair-accessible trails that lead visitors on a meandering loop through woods, fields, and over tranquil streams.

“Doyle is a model of how we do accessible trails,” says Lindsay, noting that several other properties are currently being retrofitted along the same lines, such as Armstrong-Kelley Park in Osterville.

The 216 rambling acres of meadows, forest and seasonal wetlands of Mary Cummings Park in Burlington and Woburn can be explored through a network of accessible trails and boardwalks so that visitors with mobility issues can enjoy the abundant birds and wildlife that thrive in the park’s natural habitat.

For visitors looking to lose themselves in the sights, scents, and sounds of a peaceful garden, Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover—the former summer home of Helen Stevens Coolidge and her husband, diplomat John Gardner Coolidge—has a crushed bluestone pathway throughout the grounds, accessible railings, and a ramp to the terrace around the historic house. There are accessible parking spaces and restrooms, and an accessible picnic table located by the Ashdale Farmstand.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING

For people on the autism spectrum, visits to unfamiliar places can be a source of uncertainty or anxiety. Weir River Farm in Hingham is one of the first Trustees properties to offer sensory-friendly programming to encourage and support neurodiverse children, teens, and adults. Visitors to the working farm will find calm kits with noise-reducing headphones as well as visual story guides that they can view online before the trip to get a preview of what to expect when they arrive at the farm. Some farm programs offer limited admission at certain times for visitors who might feel overwhelmed by crowds and noise.

The sensory-friendly programs at Weir River Farm are the direct result of a partnership with the Autism Alliance, an organization that provides support and resources for people with autism and their families. Partnering with people and organizations who have experience and expertise with disability issues has been essential as The Trustees continues to make progress on its goal to make properties more welcoming and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

“We look at how the programming that we’re piloting at Weir River Farm is working and think about how we can expand that to other farm properties like Appleton Farms and Powisset Farm,” says Kristen Swanberg, Interim Vice President, Marketing & Engagement. “Programming has proved to be the strongest area where we can work directly with groups that support people who live with disabilities—such as through the Autism Alliance and ASL provider events and historic house tours—and connect with people in those communities.”

PHOTO BY PETER MAROTTA

WORLD’S END HINGHAM ©TRUSTEES

Above: An all-abilities hike at World’s End in Hingham this past spring, with Trustees partners Waypoint Adventures.

COMING FEATURES

At deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, work is underway on a number of new accessible trails through the property that will allow visitors to explore even more of deCordova’s unique combination of art and natural landscape. While the museum’s indoor exhibition spaces are currently closed for renovation, the 30-acre sculpture park offers an extraordinary opportunity for visitors of all ages and abilities to experience a variety of modern and contemporary artworks in a natural setting. deCordova is proud to be a designated Universal Participant (UP) organization, an accessibility program developed by the Massachusetts Cultural Council that recognizes the power of inclusive design to grow audiences and enhance cultural experiences for all.

Copicut Woods provides a gateway to the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve, one of the largest protected lands in Massachusetts, whose more than 13,000 acres of pine forests and cedar swamps shelter nearly 100 species of birds. Located near the cities of Fall River and New Bedford, the property offers a unique opportunity to help urban families build lasting connections with the outdoors. In 2021, the City of Fall River and The Trustees received state grants to build an Accessible Nature Play Trail at Copicut Woods and to create a 20-mile Loop Trail through the Bioreserve for hikers, runners, and cyclists. Extensive

planning is underway, and the trail is due to open in the winter of 2024.

Jen Klein, the Director of Outdoor Experiences for The Trustees sees projects like Copicut Woods as an essential way to welcome visitors from different backgrounds and create multigenerational experiences for families. “It’s an opportunity to create truly inclusive spaces where kids can come with older caregivers and have a positive experience in the outdoors. Infusing nature play with accessibility, especially for families who live in places where they don’t have a lot of access to nature, is so important. Kids discover these magical places and develop connections to the natural world.”

Partnering with disability organizations and listening closely to visitor feedback can reveal the sometimes-invisible obstacles that keep people from feeling comfortable and welcome in natural spaces or cultural environments. “We have to ask ourselves ‘who’s not coming?’” Klein explains. “What are the barriers for people with mobility challenges, for people with physical disabilities, older adults, or families with young children?”

ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT

Making changes to physical spaces and structures isn’t the only way to make a property more welcoming. The Trustees partnership with Waypoint Adventures, an organization that encourages people with disabilities to travel and explore the outdoors, has helped many to enjoy Trustees trails. In the year ahead, the plan is to expand the types of adaptive equipment available to visitors, as well.

Hiking poles provide additional balance and stability on trails for hikers and walkers. Beach wheelchairs designed to help visitors with mobility issues access the water’s edge are available at Crane Beach and at Long Point on Martha’s Vineyard, as well as golf carts and all-terrain vehicles to traverse long stretches of sand. And more Trustees properties are testing out adaptive bicycles and kayaks to expand the range of activities that visitors can enjoy on the trail or on the water.

Not every property can be made accessible for everyone. Retrofitting hilly paths and trails can be prohibitively expensive and adapting the narrow passageways or twisting staircases of historic houses isn’t always feasible. But The Trustees is well begun on a journey to create more places where people of all ages and abilities feel comfortable, acknowledged, and welcomed as they explore its rich natural and cultural landscapes.

For more information about accessibility at Trustees properties, please visit thetrustees.org/accessibility.

Sarah Lydon is a writer, artist, and gardener based in northern Vermont. She spent many years volunteering as a garden coordinator for the Trustees’ Boston Community Gardens.

Below: The Trustees invested in an accessibility “makeover” at Weir River Farm this summer, resurfacing the barnyard to be wheelchair-friendly and adding accessible parking spaces nearby.

WEIR RIVER FARM HINGHAM ©TRUSTEES

CRANE BEACH IPSWICH ©TRUSTEES

BY REN É E GANNON, TRUSTEES STAFF

This summer, The Trustees named Katie Theoharides as its next President and CEO. Katie brings a background in ecology and climate science to her longstanding career in environmental leadership and land conservation, key pillars of The Trustees’ mission. We met with Katie at Long Hill in Beverly to learn more about her vision for the organization, her passion for these special places and her leadership style.

Hello, Katie! Meet Katie Theoharides, the Trustees’ new President and CEO

Q: Where are you from?

A: I grew up in a little town in the Pioneer Valley called Hampden. Now I live in Arlington, which is outside of Boston, with my family and husband.

Q: What were you doing professionally before you came to The Trustees?

A: Before I came to The Trustees, I was working on climate change and conservation policy, and have been focused on that work for the last 20 years. My most recent long-term role was with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where I worked as a

cabinet official on energy and environmental issues and spent a lot of time working to build climate resiliency at the community level all across the state.

Q: What made this the right opportunity for you at this point in your career?

A: This opportunity at The Trustees spoke to my passion and what I feel is my calling, which is connecting people to nature and to the importance of taking environmental action to protect our special landscapes, to work on climate change solutions, and to preserve our shared history here in the Commonwealth.

PHOTO BY KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

I think The Trustees as an organization really embodies something I feel very strongly about, which is that if people are not connected and don’t know and love these landscapes, there won’t be that desire to protect our natural world going into the future. I think The Trustees works by connecting people to special places through arts and agriculture and history, and a shared reverence for the beauty of the natural world. Bringing that all together and having the chance to be part of a team and an organization that is leading that work really was a perfect opportunity to help protect our special places for everyone forever and connect more people to our mission.

Q: As you step into this leadership role, tell us about a leader who inspires you.

A: One of the leaders I find most inspirational is Gina McCarthy. She’s from Massachusetts and is the former EPA administrator for President Biden. She also served in state government here in Massachusetts and in Connecticut for a number of years. Gina is someone who

cares passionately about environmental issues and connecting those issues to impacts on people and families and communities all across her area of work, which is focused on environmental quality and how that can affect children and their families. Gina is also filled with joy for her work. She is funny and personable and she’s kind, and I think she exemplifies both the passionate qualities that a leader has to bring to taking on the hard issues, along with a really humanitarian side to working with people.

Q: How would you describe your own leadership style?

A: My leadership style is informed by listening and trying to solve problems with teams. I am passionate about understanding the experience and the expertise of my staff and what they are passionate about, and how we can build a strong strategic mission together. I like to remove obstacles from the team’s success and understand what the challenges and opportunities are across an organization as big as The Trustees. I believe that really matters. I think we can be tough on the issues,

but then be kind to each other and work collaboratively and effectively as one team to take on the hard challenges together.

Q: Do you have a favorite Trustees property?

A: I’m not sure as the President and CEO that I’m allowed to have a favorite! But there is something for everyone here at The Trustees, and that’s what makes it so special. We have beautiful beaches, unique hiking trails, waterfalls, and mountaintops to explore. We have working farms where kids can get engaged with farm animals and with planting out in our fields, and we have historic homes and cultural and art institutions. It’s a really full portfolio that invites our visitors to connect with our natural and cultural landscapes in many different ways.

We’re doing this interview at Long Hill in Beverly, which is a beautiful home and garden with walking trails. Here, I’m finding myself thinking about the Sedgwick women who built and designed and lovingly cared for this garden. And thinking about the family events and times they must have spent walking in the garden, and that connection to today when we’re able to

Theoharides has been busy visiting and getting to know Trustees properties and staff, including Old Town Hill in Newbury (opposite page), a tour of the Sedgwick Gardens at Long Hill in Beverly (left) with Senior Horticulturist Dan Bouchard and Seasonal Assistant Horticulturist Sophia Macneil, and some fun with vintage stilts at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard (above).

©TRUSTEES

©TRUSTEES

host things like weddings and gatherings here on this property. It’s a really special place and a delight as a gardener to spend some time in today.

Q: If you can’t have a favorite property, do you have a favorite season?

A: I love the fact that New England has seasons, and that each season has its own flavor. But if I had to choose one, my favorite season is the fall. I love the crisp morning air, going apple picking, and the colors the leaves put on. And I even love as the fall starts to turn into winter and you smell the first snow—the landscape becomes really bare and you can see the shape of the hills and the colors of the marsh, and you get that first snowfall.

Q: Which property are you excited to explore next?

A: I am really looking forward to exploring Notchview, which in the winter is a crosscountry skiing site, and I love cross-country skiing. I’ve been to Notchview in the winter but I have not had the opportunity to visit

at other times of the year. And not only is it a great place to take a hike, but it’s also on our list of great places to bring a picnic to! Our Western Massachusetts portfolio is one that is very exciting and offers a number of ways to get out and enjoy the crisp fall and early winter weather— including our newest reservation, Becket Quarry, which has seven miles of hiking trails around an old quarry site.

Q: What is your vision for The Trustees?

A: I am thinking a lot about the future of The Trustees right now and spending time during my transition to listen and learn from our team, from our governance, and from our supporters across the state. It’s too early to have a fully-fledged vision because we will be doing that work of engaging all of our strong supporters of The Trustees in building the vision for the future. But I’ve already seen some clear strengths of the organization that I think we can lean into. The first is continuing to accelerate the pace of land conservation here in Massachusetts, and that means both large tracts of resilient landscapes that protect wildlife and biodiversity, as well as urban parks and areas in more populated locations that can offer opportunities to get outside to our communities. Here in Massachusetts, we lose 13 and a half acres of land every day to development, so it’s really important to

continue this work that The Trustees has built such a strong track record on.

We also have a real opportunity to bring people together around climate change solutions. I think this is something we can build real expertise in, so we can use our properties as ways to solve climate challenges, whether it’s looking at how to retrofit a historic building or how to build a more resilient coast. I hope in the future our properties become engines of climate hope.

We’re also at a moment in time that really calls for us to ensure that all communities have access to these outdoor resources, that we are welcoming to more diverse and inclusive audiences, and that all people across the Commonwealth and all of our visitors to the state feel welcomed into our properties. That’s something we’re already doing and I want to build on that work.

The Trustees has been around for 130 years and it’s really important that we’re working on the sustainability of the organization for the next hundred years so we can continue to deliver on this mission and support members and visitors across our properties and throughout our landscapes and special places.

Hear Katie’s responses in her own voice— watch the interview in the digital issue of Special Places at thetrustees.org/ fall23specialplaces.

Top: On a Day of Service at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard recently, Katie (center) helped dig a French drain for the barn with, from left to right, Trustees Vice President of Community Impact Janelle Woods-McNish, Landscape Construction Specialist Josh Hasenfus, Stewardship Team Leader Mead Binhammer, and Chief Operating Officer Christine Morin. Bottom: A moment of reflection in the Summer Garden at Long Hill.

©TRUSTEES

©TRUSTEES

RESILIENCE MOVEMENT

Fighting biodiversity loss on Martha’s Vineyard

BY JOSEPHINE BRENNAN, TRUSTEES STAFF

Earlier this year, The Trustees partnered with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to use fire as a means to improve habitat on Martha’s Vineyard, by performing six controlled burns over 130 acres of shrublands and grasslands at Long Point Wildlife Refuge in West Tisbury and Wasque Reservation on Chappaquiddick Island. The burns encourage regrowth of globally rare and imperiled sandplain habitats, a form of barrens habitat important for biodiversity—more than 40 species statewide depend on these habitats.

A habitat type that has built-in resiliency, barrens primarily occur in the coastal plain. “It’s a system that is dependent on extremes,” says Russ Hopping, Lead Coastal Ecologist for The Trustees. “These habitats are found in areas with drought-prone soils and are therefore subject to wildfire. But within these habitats we find fire-adapted species. These species are often at their northernmost limit here in New England, so they will continue to endure despite climate change. While fire and drought

Supported by local fire departments, the Trustees and TNC’s controlled burns are critical in reducing fuel loads and lowering the risk of wildfires on Martha’s Vineyard, in addition to promoting regrowth of barrens habitats.

disturbances are expected to increase, with some management, these systems are ready to continue through that change. It’s like a phoenix.”

GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE

While many Islanders over a certain age recall spotting black racer snakes as children, the harmless snakes have been gradually disappearing for the past 20 years. Also known as the eastern or North American racer (Coluber constrictor), they are ranked as “Common” by the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan and are listed as a priority species given their disappearance across the state in recent years. Addressing the decline of black racer populations is another of

several ways The Trustees is helping stem the tide of biodiversity loss on the Island.

BiodiversityWorks—a local wildlife conservation organization—has, since 2014, been committed to monitoring local racer populations and creating habitat solutions to coax back a species that serves a critical role in the ecosystem. One of the racers’ main sources of prey is the white-footed mouse, a common carrier of tick-borne illness.

The Trustees, in partnership with BiodiversityWorks, received a MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant to protect and support black racers at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. This pilot project included construction of a new snake crossing under the summer road to the refuge, along with nearly 2,000 feet of drift fence to encourage

snakes to use this under-road crossing. Two hibernacula (small underground areas snakes use, particularly in winter) were also created.

When it comes to both racer populations and sandplain grasslands, Hopping hopes the Trustees’ work and partnerships serve to heal and help nature along. “We are thinking about how we can provide nature with the support needed to remain resilient, and not put obstacles in its path as we so often do,” he said.

To learn more about these projects, and other ways The Trustees is working to combat biodiversity loss, follow our Coast & Sustainability posts at thetrustees.org/blog.

Soon after it was constructed, a black racer was documented on trail cameras using the new crossing under the summer road at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. The use of the crossing provides data needed to expand upon this work in the future, both within the refuge and beyond.

ALL PHOTOS ©TRUSTEES

E xplore. C onnect.

Dig In.

GREAT THINGS TO DO THIS SEASON… JOIN US!

Fall colors. Pumpkins. Farm festivals. Moonlight hikes. Concerts and art. Beer and pizza. Kitchen and garden skill-building. Winterlights! There’s so much to do at Trustees reservations in fall and winter, and more ways to get inspired than ever before!

FALL FARM FUN

You can always count on having lots of fun at a Trustees farm in the fall—from goat rambles and cow connections, to barnyard storytimes, hayrides, and more. Special fall festival days are always a treat for families this time of year, too. Try Fall Fun at Powisset Farm (weekends in October), Fall Festival at Weir River Farm on Saturday, Oct 7 (with a sensory-friendly hour from 10-11AM), Pick Your Own Pumpkin at Chestnut Hill Farm (Southborough) on Saturday, Oct 7, and Fall on the Farm Festival at The FARM Institute, also on Saturday, Oct 7. Appleton Farms chimes in with Oktoberfest on the weekend of October 14 & 15. Plus, we’ve got all kinds of Spooky Full Moon hikes, Barnyard Trick or Treats, Haunted Theater events, and more great Halloween happenings throughout October. BOO- yeah!!

GET COOKING

As a chill starts to take hold (and really, any time of year!) Trustees kitchens are hopping. Explore new culinary adventures with our professional chefs. Take in one or more of dozens of cooking classes and culinary workshops at our teaching kitchens—Appleton Farms (Hamilton & Ipswich), Powisset Farm (Dover), and The FARM Institute (Edgartown). From Fabulous Fungi to sweet and savory pie baking to Holiday Mixology, we’ll show you new ways to create delicious, locally sourced delights for your family and friends.

A REALLY GREAT SHOW

Show (Stockbridge) has more pumpkins and harvest decorations! Both start in late September and run through October 30. Ever-popular Winterlights! returns to Naumkeag, Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens (North Andover), and the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate (Canton) with updated spectacles of light from late November through the end of the year. And perennial

Trustees annual favorites are back and bigger than ever. Halloween on the Hill at Long Hill (Beverly) adds the new Hall of Faces to the family-friendly experience, and The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

Fall 2023Highlights & Special Events

A glimpse at just a few of the hundreds of things to do at our special places across the state this season. For a list of upcoming programs curated just for Trustees Members, including registration and ticketing information, visit thetrustees.org/curatedevents. We hope to see you at one of our reservations soon!

11th Annual Craft Festival at Fruitlands Museum

55 New England artisans fill Fruitlands’ fields with juried crafts. Jewelry, ceramics, wood, photography, fiber and fine art, mixed media, and more!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEP 23 & 24 | 10AM-4PM

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

Jamaica Plain Community Garden Tour

Enjoy a guided tour of several JP community gardens, complete with local food and cocktails/mocktails.

SUNDAY, SEP 24 | 2-4PM

Boston Community Gardens, Jamaica Plain

Arts and Ales: Ciderfest

deCordova’s signature event is back, with seasonal craft ciders from MA-based Artifact Cider Project accompanied by live music and your favorite sculptures. Families welcome!

SUNDAY, SEP 24 | 4:30-6:30PM

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

The Harrington Circus at Castle Hill

Come back to the 1910s for wandering performers, side shows, games, and exciting staged performances—juggling, aerial acrobatics, and more!

SUNDAY, SEP 24 | 1-4PM

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Ipswich

thetrustees.org/things-to-do

Use

TRACY LEVESQUE NAYDA CUEVAS

©TRUSTEES

©TRUSTEES

Don’t forget to REGISTER ONLINE FOR YOUR PROGRAM at

Program details subject to change. For up-to-date event information, or to search for events in your area, at a specific property, by type or by date, click on Things To Do at thetrustees.org.

your member code (above your name on your member card) to qualify for member discounts. If you need to find your member code, account information, or look up ticket and registration status for specific programs, visit thetrustees.org/customerservice

PHOTO COURTESY HARRINGTON CIRCUS

Mohican Travels through Storymapping

Join Maggie Bennett as she creates a broad overview of Stockbridge-Munsee travels and significant historical events through storymapping.

SATURDAY, SEP 23 | 11AM-12NOON

The Mission House, Stockbridge

Choate Island Day

Celebrate all that Choate Island has to offer with family-fun activities, hikes, and historical house tours. Guided and self-guided experiences available.

SATURDAY, SEP 30 | 10AM-3PM

Crane Wildlife Refuge, Ipswich

The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show

Explore Naumkeag’s famous gardens, transformed into a celebration of autumn with more than 1,500 jack-o-lanterns, hundreds of mums, pumpkins, and countless gourds.

SATURDAY, SEP 30 - SUNDAY, OCT 29

(WEDNESDAYS-SUNDAYS) | 4-8:30PM

Naumkeag, Stockbridge

Halloween on the Hill

Come explore this year’s Halloween trail at Long Hill as we transform the property into a celebration of autumn and all things Halloween!

FRIDAY, SEP 29 - SUNDAY, OCT 29

(WEDNESDAYS-SUNDAYS) | 5:30-9:30PM

Long Hill, Beverly

Oktoberfest at Appleton Farms

Special Oktoberfest-inspired food offerings along with lawn games, traditional German Hammerschlagen, a stein-holding competition, local breweries on-site, and live oompah band music. Fun for all ages!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCT 14 & 15 | 12NOON-5PM

Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

For a FULL LISTING OF PROGRAMS not shown here, visit thetrustees.org/things-to-do

PHOTO BY DAVID EDGECOMB

©TRUSTEES

©TRUSTEES

©TRUSTEES

©TRUSTEES

ART & EXHIBITIONS

EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW

For more information on these and all Trustees exhibitions, visit thetrustees.org/exhibitions

FRUITLANDS

MUSEUM

102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard

RACHEL HAYES: TRANSCENDING SPACE

Through January 2, 2024

Oklahoma-based artist Rachel Hayes blurs the realms of craft, sculpture, and architecture with a large-scale textile installation featuring several of her large, color block fabric hangings. The work is displayed in Fruitland’s main gallery alongside dried flower bouquets with patches of vibrant fabric.

PLATFORM 31: RACHEL HAYES, THE EDGE OF BECOMING

Through March 2024

A new outdoor commission from Rachel Hayes, installed along the hillside of Fruitlands Museum. Hayes chose fabrics with bright colors that both relate to Shaker textiles found in the collection and evoke a sense of optimism sought after by the site’s Transcendentalist founders.

BEAUTY AND USEFULNESS

Through January 2, 2024

Drawn from the Fruitlands permanent collection, this exhibition explores how both native and non-native people during the 19th century were inspired by nature

to merge form and function—making the useful also beautiful. Displaying native and non-native perspectives side by side reveals a multiplicity of stories about places, art forms, and communities that have historically been separated.

DECORDOVA SCULPTURE PARK AND

MUSEUM

51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln

HUGH HAYDEN: HUFF AND A PUFF

Opening October 1, 2023

An original outdoor commission from Hugh Hayden, Huff and a Puff is a slanted replica of the one-room home where Henry David Thoreau lived while writing Walden. The entire cabin, every shingle, windowpane, and brick dramatically slants toward the viewer.

PLATFORM 32: ANDREA CARLSON, LAST OUT

Through July 2024

The current billboard at deCordova, Last Out takes inspiration from Firsting and Lasting: Writing Indians out of Existence in New England.

HISTORIC SPACES

THE GREAT HOUSE AT CASTLE HILL

Ipswich

Themed tours run daily through October 29 and weekends throughout November. Christmas at Castle Hill returns November 30-December 30.

FRUITLANDS MUSEUM

Harvard

The Shaker Office and Farmhouse are open daily for self-guided tours through November 5.

LONG HILL

Beverly

The grounds, garden, and main house is open through October 29, Thursdays-Mondays.

THE MISSION HOUSE

Stockbridge

Our Lands, Our Homes, Our Heart, an exhibit curated by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community is on view in the Carriage House through October.

NAUMKEAG

Stockbridge

Don’t miss the Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show running late September through October or Winterlights running late November through early January.

THE OLD MANSE

Concord

Six themed tours run daily (Closed Tuesdays) through November 5.

STEVENS-COOLIDGE HOUSE & GARDENS

North Andover

The main house and grounds are open 10AM-6PM, Thursdays-Mondays through the end of October.

Before heading out, be sure to visit thetrustees.org/historicspaces for the latest details on opening schedules, tour dates and times, tickets, and more.

Rachel Hayes, The Edge of Becoming, 2023, nylon, cotton, steel, aircraft cable. Courtesy of the artist. Image: Mel Taing

THE OLD MANSE CONCORD

PHOTO BY MARK GARDNER

favorite Christmas at Castle Hill (Ipswich) returns throughout December. Watch your email and check the Trustees website for details on Member Preview days, schedules, and tickets.

working for the weekend

We’ve all been there… it’s Friday and you’ve been so busy all week you forgot to plan something for the family this weekend. Guests are arriving soon and you need something that will help you entertain them. Or maybe you just want to get out of the house, see a new place, try something new. Trustees has just the inspiration for you! Bookmark our new Things To Do This Weekend page at thetrustees.org/weekend; you’ll find detailed listings of everything happening at Trustees properties, with

links for signing up. Relax—weekends are supposed to be easy, and Things To Do This Weekend is here to help!

Also, check out our new Events Curated for Members page at thetrustees.org/ curatedevents for a selection of events and programs that should be of special interest. There you’ll find links to our new downloadable six-week listings calendars. These are updated every month, so you’ll always be able to find out what’s happening soon at a reservation near you. Keep checking back as the fall turns to winter— there’s never a dull moment at Trustees reservations!

As always, schedules are subject to change, so please be sure to check thetrustees.org/ things-to-do for the latest program information and to use your Member discount when you sign up.

our gardens

Good Times ROLL

BY VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI

GREAT TRUSTEES PLACES TO EXPLORE ON WHEELS

PHOTO

With its golden light, cooler weather and changing colors, fall is a glorious time to visit Trustees properties. While most reservations can be explored on foot, many are wheelfriendly, too, with established and new trails suitable for mountain bikes, scooters, strollers, rollators (wheeled walkers), and wheelchairs. Here’s where to get rolling this fall.

MOUNTAIN BIKING BLISS

Cormier Woods in Uxbridge provides five miles of undulating trails coursing past meadows and along stone walls.

“It’s a beautiful part of the Blackstone River Valley with mostly single-track trails offering a nice mix of terrain,” says Mike Francis, Associate Field Director, East.

Bikers can extend their ride by joining the adjacent trails in Mendon’s Meadow Brook Woods and Town Forest. Likewise, Whitney & Thayer Woods in Hingham and Cohasset offers ten miles of trails, with many more in adjacent Wompatuck State Park.

In greater Boston, Dover’s Noanet Woodlands has 13 miles of rolling terrain with another 30 miles of trails on the adjacent Hale Education property. Noanet’s trails, mainly easy cart paths, pass by ponds lit up with harvest colors. Rocky Woods in Medfield offers a similar experience with seven miles of biking trails winding past Echo Pond and Chickering Pond. The latter also has a stroller-friendly loop and wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and fishing platforms.

Gloucester’s Ravenswood Park on the North Shore has designated bike paths offering exciting climbs and descents with plenty of lumps and bumps across the park’s 600 acres.

Another excellent biking spot is Brooks Woodland Preserve in Petersham in Central MA, says Associate Field Director, West, Brian Westrick. With more than 13 miles of old farm roads marked with crumbling early-19th-century homesteads, the property boasts easy riding with little elevation under canopies of pine, oak, and hemlock. For a more vigorous ride, visit Peaked Mountain in Monson. The 3.5-mile forested road offers a heart-pumping climb to the summit with sweeping mountain views.

Finally, Notchview in Windsor—the Trustees’ bustling Nordic Ski Center in winter months—is a great spot to visit in fall, quiet and peaceful in a secluded part of the Berkshires. Biking the public gravel roads that crisscross Notchview is a great way to see hemlock, red spruce, and hardwood forests awash in sunset colors.

STROLLER HEAVEN

Lowell Holly in Mashpee is perfect for parents with off-road and jogging strollers. “It’s a peninsula that juts out into Wakeby Pond and Mashpee Pond with just over two miles of trails that pass by various specimens of holly planted over the decades,” says Francis. Another stroller-friendly peninsula is World’s End in Hingham, with 4.5 miles of grassy cart paths. Push your little one(s) to the top of Planter’s Hill for stunning views over Boston Harbor and its islands.

NOANET WOODLANDS DOVER ©TRUSTEES

ARMSTRONG-KELLEY PARK OSTERVILLE

PHOTO BY KRISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

FRANCIS WILLIAM BIRD PARK WALPOLE

PHOTO BY JONATHAN BELLER

Rochester’s East Over Reservation offers 1.5 miles of flat routes leading through fields and woodlands marked with 18th-century houses and stone walls. In Hamilton and Ipswich on the North Shore, Appleton Farms Grass Rides yields nearly ten miles of flat, grassy carriage paths with easy pushing past forests, open fields, and wetlands.

WHEELCHAIRS WELCOME

Armstrong-Kelley Park in Osterville on Cape Cod, the Trustees’ newest public garden, reopened this June after extensive renovations to its flower beds, water garden, and plantings. New features to this familyfavorite reservation include improved parking and wheelchair-friendly pathways. Other wheelchair-friendly spots include many of the Trustees’ traditional parks and estates, like Francis William Bird Park in Walpole with its concrete and stucco pavers, compact gravel and compact dirt pathways, and Governor Oliver Ames Estate in Easton has a paved driveway passing the property’s lawns, fields, and ponds.

Also, along with others mentioned in A Warmer Welcome (pages 4-7), Mary Cummings Park in Burlington has a wheelable .8-mile loop, Doyle Community Park in Leominster has a 1.5-mile loop,

and Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover has a crushed bluestone pathway throughout the grounds and a ramp up to the home’s terrace with accessible railings.

“The myriad of outdoor opportunities on our properties is something I am really proud of,” said Jen Klein, The Trustees’ Director of Outdoor Experience. “The Trustees is continuously thinking about all the different ways that people want to experience our properties and doing all we can to make our visitors’ aspirations a reality.”

Whatever your wheels of choice for exploring a Trustees reservation, there’s

nothing better than spending time in these special places. Breathe in that crisp air, soak in the reverence of the changing seasons, and enjoy the company of those around you. And, as the classic song goes, let the good times roll! For more information on accessibility and activities permitted at these and our other properties, visit us online at thetrustees.org/places-to-go

Victoria Abbott Riccardi is a Newton-based freelance travel, food, and lifestyle writer, and author of Untangling My Chopsticks: A Culinary Sojurn in Japan (Broadway).

STEVENS-COOLIDGE HOUSE & GARDENS NORTH ANDOVER

PHOTO BY COCO MCCABE

The Power of Art in the Workplace

ART & EXHIBITIONS

DECORDOVA’S CORPORATE ART LOAN PROGRAM CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

BY GABRIELLA

Beginning in 1973, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum started lending artwork from its collection to select corporate donors as small extensions of its exhibitions. Over the decades, the program has grown into what is now the Corporate Art Loan Program (CALP)—a robust annual rotating art loan program that highlights the talent and work of the New England artist community while providing companies in the Greater Boston area with original artworks for their lobbies, conference rooms, offices, and public workspaces.

With more than 70 corporate members, 150+ participating lending artists, and over 1,500 artworks in the program collection, CALP, at 50, is thriving. Revenue from the

program directly supports deCordova’s general operations, ongoing exhibition schedule, and extensive slate of programs.

The Corporate Art Loan Program works directly with artists from across the six New England states who represent a diversity of medium, aesthetic, career stage, and cultural background, and provides these artists with opportunities to showcase their work in spaces and to audiences that they otherwise may not be able to access. It has been a career steppingstone for many on deCordova’s artist roster. Celebrating 50 years of this important endeavor, The Trustees looks forward to CALP’s continued success and growth in the coming decades. Learn more at thetrustees.org/calp

“There’s real value in having original artwork in the workspace. To see people interacting with the art on an everyday basis made this job a joy.”

CALP Director

Maria Lockheardt,

1998-2004

“What I loved about the corporate program was that it brought artwork to day-to-day environments, making art more a part of employees’ daily lives.”

Beth Conrad McLaughlin, CALP Director 1996-98

LEVY, CORPORATE ART LOAN PROGRAM MANAGER

The School of Nature

Growing school partnerships bring the next generation to Trustees’ living classrooms

BY VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI

When Naumkeag’s thousands of tulips and daffodils burst into bloom last spring, 140 second graders from five Pittsfield elementary schools flooded the property. They arrived to partake in Botany Buds, a hands-on learning experience in which they became scientists with Naumkeag’s gardens serving as their laboratory.

“One of the activities we did was a flower dissection focusing on tulips and their bulbs,” says Kendra Knisley, Naumkeag Visitor Services Manager, who manages the program. “The students took apart the tulip to see all the elements inside and were able to connect what they were learning in the classroom—about the parts of a plant—to what they were seeing in front of them, such as the flower’s roots and how the water travels up through the stem.”

This immersive student experience at Naumkeag is a new partnership with Pittsfield Public Schools, which will include all eight elementary schools this coming spring. Like other partnerships The Trustees has formed with local schools over the years, it forwards the organization’s education mission to provide pre-K-12

students with authentic nature-based learning experiences. Programs, which range from a one-time field trip to multivisit sessions, complement Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and focus on four critical areas: Farms, Coastal, Public Gardens, and Cultural. Each reservation tailors its programs around its natural, historical, and cultural assets, while integrating important STEM principles.

Branching Out

“Currently, we have 14 properties working with 300 schools and youth programs,” says Julie Bernson, Director of Learning. “In the past year, we’ve hosted over 500 visits from schools and youth programs for nearly 12,000 students and 2,200 teachers and chaperones.” 2022-2023 saw pilot programs at three Trustees public gardens, Stevens-

Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover and Long Hill in Beverly, as well as Naumkeag in Stockbridge.

“We have developed three garden lessons to be customized for each public garden, which we plan to introduce in spring 2024,” says Bernson. “They include How Does Your Garden Grow: Exploring Plant Diversity Through the Senses for Grades 1-2, Adapted to Survive: Exploring Plant Adaptations and Cultivation for Grade 3 and From Sun to You: Flowing Matter in the Garden for Grades 4-5.”

From Gardens to Farms

This fall, Appleton Farms initiated a partnership with Beverly School for the Deaf. “The school’s learning theme for the coming school year is discovering where your food comes from,” says Appleton’s Education Manager Joe Karr. “This fall and next spring, we are sharing what we do on the farm, how we grow food, and even offer some cooking and nutrition lessons. Many kids think food comes from a store, so we have a program where students grind their own wheat and they’re like, ‘Oh, this is flour, right? Awesome!’” In 2022-2023, Karr expanded his work with Salem Public Schools—a partnership that has been in place for ten years—to offer five schools of fifth graders (up from one school) multiple farm-based sessions on soil decomposition.

Last year, a single field trip to the farm by Beverly’s Harborlight Montessori proved so successful Karr will offer expanded programming this fall. “The entire school is going to come to Appleton to learn about composting since the school plans to

implement composting on its campus,” says Karr. “We’ll be looking at decomposers in the forest, our composting system at the farm and the science behind that. The middle school students will come once a month throughout the year for various activities to support their project-based learning.”

Real-World Experiences

Using Trustees properties as living classrooms draws on staff expertise across the organization and immerses students in real-world experiences of the science curriculum. These nature-based teachings forward the organization’s educational goal to inspire the next generation of conscientious land stewards. By visiting coastal reservations, farms, and gardens, youth come to appreciate these fragile and changing environments, while learning about resiliency, sustainability, and climate change. These learnings will also be seen through the lens of the Indigenous peoples who have sustainably stewarded these lands for millennia.

“The feedback from the partnership schools and students has been tremendous,” says Bernson. “Field trips have grown exponentially since relaunching them post-COVID and local school partnerships have increased despite the unpredictability of school budgets and priorities.” Moving forward, she adds, “Our challenge is to meet the growing interests from schools, continue to develop curriculum rooted to our reservations and train enough educators in our experiential, place-based practice to meet this demand.”

Trustees School & Youth Programs

The Trustees is currently partnering with schools at the following reservations and locations. For more information, visit thetrustees.org/ schoolprograms

Farms

Appleton Farms, Ipswich

Chestnut Hill Farm, Southborough

The FARM Institute, Edgartown

Powisset Farm, Dover

Weir River Farm, Hingham

Urban Gardening

Boston Community Gardens, Boston

Coast

Crane Coastal Education, Ipswich

Martha’s Vineyard

World’s End, Hingham

Arts, Culture, and History

Crane Estate, Ipswich

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

The Old Manse, Concord

Public Gardens

Long Hill, Beverly

Naumkeag, Stockbridge

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover

Left page and above, middle: Second grade students from Morningside Community School in Pittsfield and their teachers taking part in Botany Buds at Naumkeag in Stockbridge. Above left and right: Salem’s Witchcraft Heights School fifth graders enjoying a day at Appleton Farms in Ipswich and Hamilton.

You tag us. We you!

“Now over everything the autumn light is thrown And every line is sharp and every leaf is clear, Now without density or weight the airy sun Sits in the flaming boughs, an innocent fire That shines but does not burn nor wither. The leaves, light-penetrated, change their essence, Take on the gold transparence of the weather, Are touched by death, then by light’s holy presence.”

— May Sarton

find magic in the moment

#thetrustees | A big Thank You to our Instagram followers who posted these fall and winter photos, including (clockwise from top left): @l_walllly (Francis William Bird Park), @sokhos (Crane Estate), @gusthewonderpug (Rocky Narrows), @semper.drone (Weir Hill), @newenglandchickadee (Naumkeag), @snapshotzbysusan (Weir River Farm), @therealcst (Mary Cummings Park), @massachusetts351_jo_jenny (Jewell Hill), @camera_sandra (Long Hill), @kdonophotography (Gov. Oliver Ames Estate), @ronaldcpruettjr (Appleton Farms), @igbostonsouthshore & @greenflash (World’s End), @onespdtandem (Farandnear), @massdaytripping (Chapel Brook), @morethanthemountain (Peaked Mountain), @jennysiphoneography (Tully Lake Campground), @thatfrigonhiker (Long Hill), @thecfg (World’s End), @auldhouselove (Appleton Farms). To have your photo considered for our gallery, use #thetrustees and the name of the reservation when you post. Keep ‘em coming!

Many Members tell us how they enjoy visiting Trustees reservations to experience the dramatic colors of fall and then again to take in the views and new perspectives that winter brings.

We checked the data: here are your top 10 places to visit in fall and winter!

deCordova

2 Naumkeag

3 Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

4 World’s End

5 Crane Beach on the Crane Estate

6 Fruitlands Museum

7 Appleton Farms

8 Notchview

As seen on left and below, Fruitlands Museum’s trails are great for a hike or a snowshoe adventure!

1. Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough hosted U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) as part of his 7th Annual Massachusetts Farm Tour. Joining the Congressman are, from left: Trustees Chief Operating Officer Christine Morin, MA State Senator James Eldridge, Trustees Portfolio Director D.A. Hayden, McGovern, and MA State Representative Kate Donaghue. 1

2. Winthrop Community Garden in Roxbury celebrated its grand reopening in July, with guests that included Celtics legend Dana Barros and city officials. Last winter the garden was completely gutted and expanded into an adjacent vacant lot. It now features 30 individual plots including five raised beds.

3. On a Day of Service earlier this summer, the Trustees Stewardship team came together from across the state to build 250 feet of bog bridging on the North trail at Field Farm in Williamstown.

4. More than 100 tree specialists from around the state joined forces for the Massachusetts Arborists Association’s Arbor Day of Service in late April to prune and reinvigorate dozens of trees at Francis William Bird Park in Walpole. The Trustees is incredibly grateful for this wonderful donation of time and services, and for the tremendous efforts of all of the arborist companies’ crews!

5. The Waterfront Ambassadors—ten teens from a variety of Boston neighborhoods and suburbs—had an exciting summer, providing information to and programs for the East Boston community around The Trustees’ initiative to create a new waterfront park at Piers Park III. At their send-off event in mid-August, the teens were treated to a discussion with Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space for the City of Boston.

6. Trustees Camps were once again very popular this summer—summer day camps providing farm, art, coastal, and nature-based experiences are offered at nine of the organization’s iconic reservations. Here are a few images from (counter-clockwise from upper left) the summer camps at Rocky Woods in Medfield, Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich, and Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough.

Give the Gift of Membership

The Trustees is Massachusetts’ largest, and the nation’s first, conservation and preservation nonprofit. We are supported by members, friends, and donors. Explore more than 120 amazing places across Massachusetts, from beaches, farms and woodlands, to historic homes, museums, urban gardens, and more.

We invite your input, letters, and suggestions. Please send them to:

Special Places | The Trustees 200 High Street, 4th Floor Boston, MA 02110 tel 978.921.1944 email marketing@thetrustees.org

For information about becoming a Member please contact us at 978.921.1944, email us at membership@thetrustees.org, or visit our website at thetrustees.org.

If you need to find your Member code, account information, or look up ticket and registration status for specific programs, visit thetrustees.org/customerservice

Special Places, Fall/Winter 2023.

Volume 31, Issue Number 3. Special Places (ISSN 1087-5026) is published quarterly and distributed to members and donors of The Trustees of Reservations.

© 2023. All rights reserved. Photographers may retain copyrights.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN