View the vernal pool from the new boardwalk recently built by the Natural Resources Commission and Wellesley Conservation Council, and explore the trails in the North 40 with the Wellesley Trails Committee on a guided walk to take place Sept. 28 from 10-11am. This easy and enjoyable walk will take trails adjacent to the Crosstown Trail along the Cochituate Aqueduct, through woodlands and a pine forest to the vernal pool and the community gardens. Meet at the gate to the town beach, located at the end of Turner Road, 0.3 mile west of Weston Road. Please park on the wooded side of Turner Road.

Activities take place unless it pours rain or there are high winds. For more info: www.wellesleytrails.org, or call Miguel Lessing at 781-431-2411 or Denny Nackoney at 781-237-5174. Please like us too on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/WellesleyTrailsCommittee.

north 40 wellesley college — North 40 pine trees

Bio Blitz on Sept. 29

The Natural Resources Commission and Wellesley Conservation Council are looking for citizen scientists of all ages to help them inventory the bio-diversity at the North 40 from 1-2pm on Sept. 29. Bring your smart phone and download the free iNaturalist app ahead of time (recent observations).

Meet at the gate to the town beach at Morses Pond, located at the end of Turner Road, 0.3 miles west of Weston Road. Please park on the wooded side of Turner Road.

More on the North 40

The Community Preservation Committee, which makes recommendations to the town on how to spend Community Preservation Act funds, recently had the North 40 on its meeting agenda (see minute 34 on Wellesley Public Media recording).

Wellesley acquired the 46-acre property from Wellesley College about 5 years ago.

CPC Chair Barbara McMahon said “The North 40 is on our agenda because it is our goal to have the deed restriction put in place on a portion of the land equal in value to the amount of CPA funding used in the purchase of the North 40. The CPC’s goal is to have that deed restriction in place by the end of the fiscal year, so we have begun conversations with Town Hall/Board of Selectmen about that.”

This amounts to the CPC fulfilling its legal obligation regarding what’s currently about 18 acres of the North 40. (though note that the amount and location of the acreage could change).

Once this and appraisal of the deed-restricted land is settled, the CPC would like to use its administrative funds to bring in a consultant to look at potential uses for this property. Possibilities raised include a bike trail, to help reduce bike traffic on Weston Road, a walking trail, or even a parkour course.

However, doing anything elaborate on the North 40 “is not on anyone’s horizon,” McMahon said during the meeting, citing discussions with town officials.

More: North 40 vernal pool boardwalk opens