• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Wellesley Square
  • Deland, Gibson Insurance Athlete of the Week
  • Camp
  • Private schools, sponsored by Riverbend
  • Business index
  • Contribute
  • Eat
  • Schools
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Embracing diversity
  • Kids
  • About us
  • Events
  • Natick Report
  • Seniors
  • Letters to the editor
  • Guidelines for letters to the editor
  • Live government meetings
  • Raiders sports schedules & results
  • Fire & police scanner
  • 2023 Town Election
 
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley outdoors: ‘Very robust’ lawn conversion plan taking shape; Conservation Land Trust updates

January 19, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Catching up on some of Wellesley’s outdoors-related news:

‘Very robust’ lawn conversion plan taking shape

The Natural Resource Commission this spring will begin expanding upon the lawn conversion pilot rolled out last year at Simons Park next to the main library branch on Washington Street. The effort is designed to show the beauty of ditching plain old lawn for a variety of native species in a habitat more friendly to at-risk critters, including bees and butterflies.

NRC Director Brandon Schmitt shared an update during the NRC’s Jan. 5 meeting (see Wellesley Media recording about 12 minutes in) and acknowledged being both excited and concerned about what he described as “a very robust plan” that will include a meadow, bee nesting strip, flowering grassland, and more. It sounds as though the ambitious project will be done in phases, with trees and “woodies” planted early in the process.

NRC Commissioner Michael D’Ortenzio said he’s excited about the project, which he described as a “see to believe” kind of concept that could win over people across town.

Among those likely to be most excited about the project are rabbits, who were all over the pollinator garden planted near the police station, said NRC Commissioner Laura Robert. So steps will be taken to ensure the bunnies don’t mess things up at Simons Park.

About 10,000 sq. ft. of the open space will be used for the project, leaving plenty of traditional grass for other uses.

Conservation Land Trust updates: Pickle Point work, leading guided walks, board openings

 

The Wellesley Conservation Land Trust seeks volunteers to help carve out a new entrance trail to Pickle Point Sanctuary from the Crosstown Trail on Morses Pond.  Some of the work will be heavy labor, and includes raking, brush removal, bench cutting, digging, and hauling. Weather permitting, the work is planned for Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 26-28, from 8am to 12pm each day. All tools will be provided, but bring appropriate work gloves.

2008wellspicklepointnov22_opt

The Land Trust is also launching a 4-session training program for Leading Guided Nature Walks. No prior experience or skills required—just an enthusiasm for nature and helping to share it with others. Upon completion, participants will be expected to volunteer to lead at least 2 future guided walks on Land Trust sites. Training will take place in Wellesley open space over the winter and spring.  Additional training programs (Invasive Removal training and How to Monitor Conservation Properties) are in development for 2023. Fill out this form if interested.

The Wellesley Conservation Land Trust has 2 openings on its 11-seat board. Members must attend monthly evening meetings (the second Tuesday of each month except July & August), volunteer on various committees, and perform activities between meetings. In you’re interested in joining the board or have questions, please email info@wellesleyconservationlandtrust.org.


  • If you like what we do and want to help, please consider making a completely non-deductible contribution
print

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Linden Square, Wellesley
Riverbend, Natick

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

 

Advertisements

Wellesley Square, Wellesley Merchants
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Beacon Hill Athletic Club, Wellesley
Fay School, Southborough
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Wellesley Theatre Project
Volvo
Cheesy Street Grill
Mature Caregivers
Admit Fit, Wellesley
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Click on Entering Natick sign to read our Natick Report

Entering Natick road sign

Most Read Posts

  • Sign up now for summer camp in Wellesley (and beyond)
  • Letters-to-the-editor day in Wellesley—important election-time updates
  • Wellesley Public Works news: A PFAS warning; Weston Road construction on tap for summer; Wood recycling hot, pricey; Town Meeting article preview
  • Wellesley business buzz: Board business liaison phased out; Help ID top business leaders of color; Hospital taps new president
  • Wellesley Cotillion makes a strong comeback

Upcoming Events

Jan 25
7:00 pm - 7:45 pm

Olin College Presents Connecting Communities 2023: Sustainability

Jan 26
9:00 am - 10:30 am

Select Board office hours—in-person or online

Jan 31
9:00 am - 11:00 am Recurring

Coffee and Conversation with the Wetlands Administrator and Staff

Jan 31
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Families Eat Together online presentation

Feb 1
11:59 pm

Deadline for Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club grants application

View Calendar

Popular pages

  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads

Recent Comments

  • LADY WELLESLEY on Wellesley police officer injured in crash at intersection of Grove and Benvenue
  • Peggy Heffernan on Wellesley police officer injured in crash at intersection of Grove and Benvenue
  • Beth Dublin on Wellesley police officer injured in crash at intersection of Grove and Benvenue
  • Erika on Where to buy the Wellesleyest stuff in Wellesley
  • Alice Roy on Inside Track has jewel of a Wellesley engagement scoop

Links we like

  • Danny's Place
  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (24)
  • 2023 Town Election (2)
  • Animals (428)
  • Antiques (49)
  • Art (592)
  • Beyond Wellesley (52)
  • Books (376)
  • Business (1,556)
  • Camp (11)
  • Careers/jobs (53)
  • Churches (82)
  • Clubs (236)
  • Construction (300)
  • Dump (130)
  • Education (3,189)
    • Babson College (252)
    • Bates Elementary School (18)
    • Dana Hall School (36)
    • Fiske Elementary School (11)
    • Hardy Elementary School (47)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (46)
    • MassBay (57)
    • Schofield Elementary School (26)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (2)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (11)
    • Upham Elementary School (35)
    • Wellesley College (613)
    • Wellesley High School (996)
    • Wellesley Middle School (204)
  • Embracing diversity (84)
  • Entertainment (814)
  • Environment (772)
  • Fashion (144)
  • Finance (15)
  • Fire (173)
  • Food (358)
  • Fundraising (641)
  • Gardens (164)
  • Government (604)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
    • 2022 Town Election (15)
  • Health (866)
    • COVID-19 (203)
  • Hikes (6)
  • History (399)
  • Holidays (440)
  • Houses (162)
  • Humor (47)
  • Kids (867)
  • Law (8)
  • Legal notices (10)
  • Letters to the Editor (71)
  • Media (72)
  • METCO (4)
  • Military (13)
  • Morses Pond (109)
  • Music (579)
  • Natick Report (30)
  • Neighbors (280)
  • Obituaries & remembrances (86)
  • Outdoors (655)
  • Parenting (63)
  • Police (778)
    • Crime (395)
  • Politics (554)
  • POPS Senior Profile (10)
  • RDF (6)
  • Real estate (344)
  • Religion (138)
  • Restaurants (340)
  • Safety (155)
  • Scouts (2)
  • Seniors (127)
  • Shopping (163)
  • Sponsored (6)
  • Sports (1,012)
    • Athlete of the Week (12)
  • STEM (108)
  • Technology (165)
  • Theatre (397)
  • Town Meeting (23)
  • Transportation (240)
  • Travel (17)
  • Uncategorized (1,244)
  • Volunteering (350)
  • Weather (179)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (280)
  • Wellesley Holiday Gift Guide (2)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (20)

© 2023 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login