AcornBoxford Trails AssociationBoxford Open Land Trust

Natasha's Notes Natasha GriggHaving sent out our annual appeal letter, we are gratified by your generous response! I

would like to take the opportunity to share with you some of our plans for the upcoming year. As you may or may not know, BTA/BOLT maintains the trails in Boxford and also participates in the maintenance of not only our own properties, but those of the Town. Especially some of the more iconic ones such as Lockwood Field and Forest, Wildcat, and the Christmas Tree Lot on Main Street. We could not do this without the help of many volunteers, the Scouts and other interested folks. The Boxford Community Preservation Committee helps finance some of this as well. This year we have decided to hire Mike De Rosa, a wetland consultant, to draw up a Master Plan for trail maintenance in the wetlands, to present to the Conservation Commission for approval,

so that we can do the work necessary, with advance permission, saving time and energy for everyone. This is a procedure which is in place in most of Essex County, put there by the Essex County Trails Association, with Mr. De Rosa’s master plans for each town.

We will continue marking all the properties in town, ours and Boxford’s, with the elegant signs that you already see in so many places.

We are updating our volunteer list and hope that you will help us by signing up and letting us know what your interest is - trail/property maintenance, land steward, events helper or anything else that interests you! Please check our website for these possibilities. We are expecting to improve our communications with you on line, if you are connected. Otherwise it’s snail mail!

Our programs that so many of you participate in, will continue, starting with a Full Moon Hike in February, conducted at Windrush Farm, our Annual Meeting and Supper, with speaker to be announced, on May 5 at Lincoln Hall, the Dog Show, Horse Show, Apple Festival Booth, Trail Ride, Pumpkin Hunt and hopefully some “Boxford Explored” events, as well as our regular hikes, culminating with our participation in West Boxford’s Winterfest, promises a busy, fun and educational time. We hope that you will join us!

Winter 2015

One of the many trails in Lockwood Forest

Winter 2015 Page 2 the Acorn

BTA/BOLT, Inc. OfficersNatasha Grigg - PresidentAngela Steadman-VP, Administration/

AcquisitionsNancy Merrill - VP, TrailsNancy Walker - SecretaryDavid Ingalls - Treasurer

Board Members At LargeAlison Chase Bev Ingalls Steve Davis Bonnie Lucas Chris Delaney Andrew PlucinskiJudy Gore Barbara ShadeJessica Grigg Richard Tomczyk Priscilla Welch

BTA/BOLT, Inc. (Boxford Trails Association/Boxford Open Land Trust) is a member of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, the Land Trust Alliance, and the Bay Circuit Alliance. We are a volunteer, private, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to preserving and protecting natural and aesthetically important land and wildlife habitat, including fields, forests, wetlands, and trails to preserve the nature of Boxford. Founded in 1978, BTA/BOLT has helped protect over 100 miles of trails and over 1,200 acres of land and is supported by your membership and contributions. For more information, contact info@btabolt.org.

Stay connected with BTA/BOLT on Facebook and Meetup

visit our website for updated informationbtabolt.org

Is Your Membership Current?Please check the address label on this newsletter. If the number above your name and to the right reads 6/2015 or H, then your membership is good through June, 2015. Otherwise your dues are outstanding. Please bring your membership up to date by renewing on our website or by sending in a check. Mark 2015 membership on the check. Our membership year goes from July 1st to June 30th. Thank you for maintaining your membership!

Cool Creatures Quiz Alison ChaseQ: How do deer survive winter?A: They fatten up on acorns in fall, enough to supply 1/3 of the energy needed in winter. Their

metabolism slows so they use less energy and need less food, and circulation in the legs and ears reduces. They grow a thick coat, 10 times thicker than their summer coat. They hunker down under evergreens which protect them from snowfall and where the ground at the base of the tree is 10 degrees warmer than in the open. They pack down snow on trails to make it easier for them to walk around to forage and eat buds, bark, and twigs if need be.

Q: Why don’t ducks’ feet freeze in winter?A: Their leg veins and arteries are very close together. Because of this, cold venous blood rising

from the feet gets warmed as it passes the warm arterial blood, and warm blood descending is cooled somewhat by the veins. Thus their feet stay a constant cool, but not cold, temperature and their body temperature is not lowered by cold venous blood. However, it is possible for their feet to freeze if they stay in cold water too long.

Q: How do earthworms survive winter?A: Some stay in leaf litter, so die after laying their eggs in

sacs. Others, like Nightcrawlers, burrow below frost line (up to 6’ down) where the soil is a constant temperature and curl up in a slime covered sac to keep them moist. They sleep in a state called estivation, similar to hibernation, until the outside temp goes to 50 degrees, when they can safely surface to feed.

Page 3Winter 2015 the AcornMonitoring of Conservation Properties Barbara Shade

Recently, BTA/BOLT board members performed our yearly monitoring of conservation properties in Boxford--those owned by BTA/BOLT, town-owned properties that we hold conservation restrictions on, and those privately owned properties that we hold conservation restrictions on as well.

The inspections consist of a team of usually three or four board members walking the property in order to check for conservation restriction violations (e.g., ATV use, dumping of trash, etc.). On their report, they list the type of maintenance that is required--whether it has to be mowed, left natural or, if there is a trail, how it is to be maintained. In some cases, the owner of the property accompanies the inspectors. Violations and encroachments on the conservation restriction are noted. If the property is privately owned, they are notified by mail. If the town owns the property, the Conservation Commission is notified in a similar manner.

The reports include what follow-up is needed to rectify any problems. Present use of abutting properties, including the owner’s unrestricted lands, is included in the report. Unusual plant or animal life is also noted.

We encourage you to purchase the BTA/BOLT Trail Guide to familiarize yourself with the myriad of beautiful trails that we maintain across the town. Simply call our office at 887-7031 and one of our board members will connect with you.

Just a few photos from our annual monitoring of 23 properties in Boxford this fall.

The dead tree stump was intriguing. Anyone see a face here?

Winter 2015 Page 4 the Acorn

Would you like to get out and enjoy the beauty of the winter in Boxford? Then grab your cross-country skis or snowshoes and explore these easy trails. The trail descriptions below are excerpts from the Boxford Trail Guide which also has complete descriptions of all of our trails and their permitted activities. Want something a little more challenging? There are many properties in Boxford to meet everyone’s thrill level. Be sure to post some photos of your trek on our Facebook page.

Cleaveland Farms State Forest, Rowley Rd, Map 1. The trail description beginning on page 41 will take you around marshes and swamps, over glacial eskers and around a pond.

Lockwood Forest - Parcel A, Lockwood Ln, Map 6. Enjoy the winter

beauty of Fish Brook along one edge of this property and the wildlife in the wetlands on the other side as you traverse the many trails here.

Haynes and Lord Lands, Middleton Rd., Map13. These wide level trails are especially good for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing. The trail follows the circumference of the field and leads to a path through the woods that are forested with evergreens and hardwoods.

Nason Conservation Land, Rt 133. This newest property acquired by the Town of Boxford offers many wonderful trails for winter activities. Park in the new parking area across from Nason’s Stone House Farm and take the wide road past the power lines. One trail on the left will lead you to a scenic overlook of Hovey’s Pond. Bring a thermos of something warm to drink and some snacks to enjoy while you do search for some of the many birds who make their home here.

BTA/BOLT is in the process of updating its trail map. Unfortunately, some of the trails we would like to include have not been mapped out by GPS. We are in search of a few GPS savvy hikers, who would be willing to volunteer time to map out certain trails, and provide us with an electronic copy of the trail mapped out in GPX format, together with latitude and longitude of the trail heads. No knowledge of our local trails is required, as we can provide you with a guide. If you are a hiker who uses a hand held GPS (not a cell phone), but may not be familiar with the local trails, this would be a great way to learn about some trails. It is also a great way to help out and support your local trails organization.

Andrew Plucinski, a BTA/BOLT board member, will be holding a class on how to GPS. The class will be held at in Four Mile Village in Boxford, date and time to be announced on our website. Please contact Alison Chase at 978-887-3489, to volunteer on this project or want to attend Andrew’s class.

Looking For GPS Savvy Hikers Angela Steadman

Winter Wonderland Bonnie Lucas

Fish Brook in Lockwood Forest - Parcel A

Page 5Winter 2015 the Acorn

See one the area’s beautiful properties under the light of the

Full Moon!

Where: Windrush Farm, 479 Lacy Street, N. Andover (off Brookview Road, Boxford

What: 40 minute long, cross-country ski, snow shoe or hike (depending on conditions). We’ll finish with hot cider in the barn.

When: February 6, 7:30 - 8:30What to bring: Small flashlight covered in

red cellophane (we’ll have some red cellophane there if you don’t have any)

This year we are partnering with Windrush Farm for our annual Full Moon Hike. (Yes, the full moon is actually on February 3 but a Friday night is easier for everyone.) We’ll start at their barn, walk for 40 minutes on one of their beautiful trails and return to the barn for some hot cider. This is a great family event - fun for all ages.

Conditions at this time of year can be unpredictable, so please check our website or our Meetup group for updates or call Bonnie Lucas at 978-979-1267 if in doubt.

Cold Weather TipsThe winter season is a great time to

explore the properties of Boxford. With no foliage to block the view, you can see the terrain of the eskers, the length of the beautiful rock walls and across every pond. To stay safe in cold weather (with or without snow) we have a few tips for hardy hikers: hydrate well, wear waterproof or at least water resistant boots (not sneakers) and either a ski jacket with good insulation or layers to include a wool sweater. Layering your clothing will allow you to peel off a layer as you heat up on your hike. A wool hat which covers forehead and ears is a must, with or without earmuffs, as well as insulated mittens (better) or gloves (leaves you with cold fingers). In very cold weather add a neck warmer or scarf or face mask to cover lower face. For longer hikes, take along some quick energy snacks like nuts and raisins and bits of candy. If conditions are icy consider yak tracks and if snow is deep consider gaiters and perhaps cross country skis or snow shoes.

Full Moon Cross-Country Ski/Snowshoe/Hike

Winter 2015 Page 6 the Acorn

Trail Buzz Nancy MerrillSince1978, BTA, now BTA/BOLT, has worked to protect and maintain trails for passive

recreation. Please refer to the Boxford Trail Guide, A Guide to the Bay Circuit Trail and Over 100 Miles of Trails in Boxford. This guide book, first printed in 1991, has been revised/updated four times. The Boxford Trail Map was printed in 2006. The trails in this guide book and map are multi varied and there are trails to suit many needs.

An example: Lockwood Forest trails were groomed by equestrians over many years to be safe for horse and rider to experience a safe, adventurous, competition ride. The Lockwood Forest trails are now well used by recreational equestrians, dog-walkers, joggers, bikers, walkers, and children.

The 25 Short Walks sheet is a good resource for short trail walks and runs.

The lovely abandoned rail bed between Georgetown and Topsfield town lines is currently ready for your use as a walking, jogging, dog-walking, biking, and equestrian trail. Several members of the Boxford Border to Boston Path Committee are mowing this path several times a year. This rail-trail is beautiful in the spring, wonderful for cross-country skiing during snow-time, and a beautiful trail at all times of the year for passive recreation for the entire family.

The following portions are available for enjoyment: Pye Brook Lane rail-bed trail head goes to the Topsfield Linear trail; parallel parking along

Pye Brook Lane at the trail head.Pond Street trail head opposite the National Grid electrical structure goes to the Georgetown

line; parallel parking on Pond Street. Prior to Kelsey Road, turn left to cross the drainage channel onto a privately owned 2 acre wooded lot with the Bay Circuit trail, exiting at the intersection of Hemlock Road and Kelsey Road. Cross Kelsey Road to the main Kelsey Arboretum entrance (please open and close the deer fence gate), follow the BC-Kelsey perimeter trail to the deer fence pedestrian gate, open & close, and proceed left on a former, Kelsey Nursery trail, then right to the rail-trail, crossing the drainage ditch and proceed left to and across Georgetown Road, continue pass Baldpate pond to the Georgetown rail-trail. A left turn past Baldpate Pond will take you to Camp Denison and then to Boxford/Baldpate Pond State Forest.

BTA/BOLT Now Accepts Credit CardsWe now accept all major credit cards at all of our events and on our website for memberships,

merchandise and donations. Renew your membership online using our secure service.

Page 7Winter 2015 the Acorn

Join Steve Davis for winter hikes in the area every Tuesday morning. Call a friend to carpool and meet at the trailhead at 9:15 am for a hike that lasts 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Most of the hikes are fairly easy although some can be challenging. If snow is on the ground bring cross country skis or snow shoes. (Heavy rain or snow cancels.) Bring water or snacks if desired and wear comfortable hiking shoes. Call BTA/BOLT office at 978-887-7031 for questions. Call leader Steve Davis at 978-352-2250 if uncertain about terrain or directions or contact him at least 1 day prior to the hike at sadmd1@verizon.net

January* 27 Phillips Andover Bird

Sanctuary. Turn off Route 28 by Andover Inn and go to end.

February 3 Hovey’s Pond and Potters Farm trails. Park at intersection of Main St. and Silvermine

Rd. in west Boxford.*10 High Ridge Rd. trail (off Main St in east Boxford.) Park at #41 High Ridge Rd. 17 Lockwood Trail. Park in lot on Middleton Rd, Boxford by steel gate. *24 Den Rock Trail. Parking lot on Route 114, Lawrence just south of Interstate 495.

March 3 Goldsmith Reservation. In Andover, park in lot on southbound side of Route 28 just

north of 125 junction.*10 N. Andover Town Forest. Park by soccer fields on Dale St. 17 Harold Parker State Forest. Route 125 into Andover, south on Salem St. to park

headquarters and park.*24 Ward Reservation. Route 125 in Andover, turn south on Prospect St. to end.*31 Chapman Way. Next to cemetery in east Boxford center

*Steve Davis will be away these dates but others will take the lead.

Winter Hiking Schedule

Tuesday morning hikers were recently guided through the Georgetown/Rowley State Forest in the sub-freezing temps by Steve Davis. Braving the elements with him were Bill Moore, Dave Salt, Glenice Kelley and Judy Schneider (behind the camera).

Winter 2015 Page 8 the AcornChinese Praying Mantis Anna Tomczyk

If you have ever come face to face with a praying mantis, you may have mistaken it for a tiny green alien. It is actually a long, slender predatory insect that is beneficial in removing unwanted pests.

The Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridifolia sinensis) is a species that can be found in New England, but as the name suggests it is not native to this area. It is alien, but not in the extraterrestrial sense. The Chinese mantis was introduced to the northeast United States by entomologists for biological pest control in 1896. Today, adult Chinese mantids and egg cases are available for purchase as an organic alternative for garden pest control. If you’re lucky however, you can find one in your own back yard. They can be found hunting prey or blending in with small plants and shrubs in grasslands, agricultural areas and even in the vegetation around houses and gardens.

Adults reach up to four inches in length, the largest mantis species in North America. Their protective coloration consists of pale green to tan with a green lateral stripe on the edges of the fore wings.

Because they are not native, the mantids usually die off in the fall with the cold weather after laying the last of their eggs. The egg case or “ootheca” is able to survive through the winter and hatch in the spring, usually bearing between two to three hundred young. This last fall, while working in the field at Perkins Woods in Boxford, I came across two ooethcae attached to the branches of small crab apple shrubs. So when you are out in the woods or just walking around your own property keep your eyes open as you may come across an adult mantis or some egg cases.

Page 9Winter 2015 the AcornBookshelf and Other Pleasures Natasha Grigg

Books

Anthill by E.O. Wilson, a heavily autobiographical novel by the world’s leading expert on ants and a renowned biologist. This novel is not only a fascinating quasi autobiography, but is a spellbinding account of probably the, numerically, greatest species on earth!

Winner of the 2010 Heartland Prize, Anthill follows the thrilling adventures of a modern-day Huck Finn, enthralled with the “strange, beautiful, and elegant” world of his native Nokobee County. But as developers begin to threaten the endangered marshlands around which he lives, the book’s hero decides to take decisive action. Edward O. Wilson—the world’s greatest living biologist—elegantly balances glimpses of science with the gripping saga of a boy determined to save the world from its most savage ecological predator: man himself.

Movies

Rio and Rio 2 - These two animated films are funny and extremely well made cartoons, for children and adults alike (I love animated movies) pointing out the fragility and beauty of the rain forest in Brazil and how important it is to protect it and the spectacular birds that live in it.

The Imitation Game - Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, this is a wonderful movie based on the true story of how the Nazi code “Enigma” was broken in England, saving 2 years of war and many million lives . It is a tribute to the quirky, “illogical” and completely different way a scientific mind works.

Television

EARTH - A New Wild by M.Sanjayan on PBS. Season Premiere, Wednesday, February 4 @ 9:00 PM. M. Sanjayan was the lead scientist for the Nature Conservancy. I have heard him speak and he is riveting. This series should be amazing!

EARTH - A New Wild takes a fresh look at humankind’s relationship to the planet’s wildest places and most fascinating species. Produced by National Geographic

Studios in association with Passion Planet, the series takes viewers on a stunning visual journey to explore how humans are inextricably woven into every aspect of the planet’s natural systems.

Winter 2015 Page 10 the Acorn

Yes, it’s January and generally speaking, freezing cold, icy and dark, but, as Shakespeare wrote: “if Winter’s here, can Spring be far behind?” So, many old gentlemen’s thoughts (and some young one’s too) turn to lawns! This is an old conversation, but worth having again and again. What is with the poisoned, monochromatic rug that so many wish to have surrounding their homes? I used to think it was beautiful, but over the years it has come to represent green death, mega-suburbanization and a total

absence of nature. Our concept of lawns comes from England, land of rain and cool weather and sheep and groundskeepers. We don’t have any of that. Lawn grasses, as we like them in New England, are cool weather grasses with relatively shallow roots, requiring cool nights and plenty of moisture. They also need regular cutting to keep growing, hence the sheep; we have noisy machines, spewing pollutants. The Brits also incorporated lots of white (Dutch) clover in their lawn mixes, thereby fixing nitrogen to fertilize the stem grasses, and adding texture to the visual expanse. Sheep, on the large estates, cropped the grasses. As a matter of fact, Beatrix Potter, the beloved author of Peter Rabbit, introduced a particular kind of sheep into the Lake District, where she lived, wrote and illustrated her marvelous books. These sheep have sculpted the native shrubbery and kept the rolling fields “manicured”, creating one of the most spectacularly beautiful landscapes in the Western world, worth millions to the tourist industry that the region depends on. The houses in the Lake District actually don’t have lawns, they have flower gardens, something we have very little of, known as “cottage gardens”. It is the surrounding land that has the greenswards, requiring little time and care. Wouldn’t it be amazing, if some of our subdivisions attempted the experiment of replacing the lawns surrounding their houses with shrub and flower gardens, allowing a larger, common lawn, requiring so much less care, inter-planted with mixed grasses and clover, giving it texture? How much wonderful fodder would be provided to the bees, butterflies and other pollinators rather than hosting a green desert?

In the recently completed town wide survey conducted by the Boxford Opens Space and Recreation Plan Committee, over 85% of the respondents stated that protecting wetlands, watersheds and riparian corridors was their number one priority. How can we protect our drinking water by pouring poison into it? Have you ever seen a “drink me” suggestion on the label of any herbicide, pesticide or chemical fertilizer? Our wetlands are the home of many aquatic animals and amphibians that eat the dreaded mosquito larvae. Our birds, dragonflies and bats eat mature mosquitoes in the air; but there is a growing shortage as reported in the

Soap Box Natasha Grigg

What’s in your water?

Page 11Winter 2015 the Acorn

Mass. Audubon’s State of the Birds, published every 5 years, of birds, due to habitat loss and excessive agricultural and household use of chemicals. Our little brown bats are dying by the millions due to a mysterious fungus that affects them in hibernation. No one really knows why, but scientists are fairly sure that it’s the environment. The beloved Monarch butterfly is trending toward extinction due to appalling agricultural practices and the use of herbicides and pesticides in the home garden.

So, let’s consider going a little “wild” this Spring. Let’s let nature take its course. Don’t do anything to your lawn, just mow it when necessary; keep it on the long side, don’t water it. Think of the time and money you’ll save! Plant swaths of flowers and a few bushes. Less green, more color. It may even become more fun to be outside looking at all that new life??? Happy Spring!

Soap Box continued

The BTA/BOLT website at btabolt.org is the most convenient way to contact us regarding issues with membership, donations, trails issues, and activities. Since we now accept credit cards on our secure site, it’s easy to renew your membership and make donations. See a problem on a trail? Go to the “Report A Problem” form and someone will take care of it. Are you interested in volunteering? There’s a simple form for that as well.

Our Facebook page, Boxford Trails Association/Boxford Open Land Trust is a great way to connect with the rest of our community to see what’s happening on the trails and open space properties in Boxford and information on our upcoming activities. We encourage those hiking the trails to post photos and brief descriptions of your hike.

Have you joined Meetup? What is Meetup? Meetup is an online platform for organizing real world get-togethers. This social service lets you organize and join local, real-life “meetups” for people who share your interests - it’s not a dating site. It’s free to sign up with our group and we don’t bug you with endless emails. Simply go to meetup.com, type “hiking” in the search field and type within 1 mile of Boxford. After you

join our page you will receive updated information about all of our scheduled activities including last minute changes in time or location and post any questions.

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