Wellesley North 40 vernal pool over the seasons
We make it over to the North 40 often because it’s a great local area for walking, and because we like to check in on the vernal pool. Sometimes the pool is dry as can be, sometimes it’s full of water and the cacaphony of spring peepers or bullfrogs. We’ve spotted herons looking for a meal, and wood ducks just stopping by. Right now the vernal pool looks like a verdant meadow and will stay that way until we get some good, soaking rains.
Visitors can access the 400-foot vernal pool boardwalk from Turner Rd. (located off Weston Rd). A stonedust path from Turner Rd. leads to the accessible boardwalk that takes visitors to a lookout spot at the vernal pool, and to the North 40. The boardwalk project was completed in 2019 and funded via Community Preservation Act monies from the Wellesley Community Preservation Committee. The work was overseen by the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission (NRC), and was built by volunteers including from Wellesley Conservation Council (now the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust).
More here on the history of the vernal pool boardwalk.
Below, a pic of a very nice baby snapping turtle found in the area.
