Trail closed due to protected species

As you're out and about on Nick's Woods, you'll see that we've closed a side trail just after the culvert crossing. This is due to the presence of smooth rockcress (Boechera laevigata), which is a Massachusetts State Species of Concern. We ask that you help us keep this native plant around by staying off the closed trail. Thanks!

snow Dec 27

This spring/summer/fall I did my usual infrequent visits to Nicks Woods, mostly on holidays, clearing small amounts of trash, mostly from near the hydrant. Conditions haven't changed much from my last reports. Today I ski-ed there, protected by slopes and trees from strong winds. The stream was not frozen enough to ski across, so I ski-ed across our former aluminum gate I found lieing across the stream at the new trail north of the water line. Farther along, that trail is obstructed by brush that I could easily remove when the snow melts. I'll be leading ski trips from Smith Lane for anyone at 9 a.m. on Jan 1, 8, 17, and 22.

Where are the legal walking entrances to Bovenzi Conservation Area, besides Maravista? Many other streets abut it. Most cities, if not Worcester, have through trails (not just loops) in their parks, even if legal parking areas are lacking.

winter to spring 2010

This winter I offered ski trips in Nicks Woods on January 2, 9, 18, 30, and skied there on those dates and Dec 20, Feb 14, 20, 27, and hiked on March 19 (with volunteer coordinator Mary Caulway) and March 20. Trash and other abuse appeared to be very light. After snowmelt and the heavy rains of March 13 - 15, erosion on many areas of the trails seemed worse than usual, but unrelated to negligible motorized vehicle use, and streams were clear with no obvious siltation. The ATV trails west of Richard Nietsche's house were covered with leaves, preventing erosion. The concrete blocks from the previous year's maple sugaring area were thrown around. We hauled broken bottles from the party fire area near the hydrant. Mary and I recommend a trash can and labeled recycling container there. The stone causeway at the water line trail was barely passable without getting wet feet. The City does not appear to have made any effort to clear the large trees that fell in the December 2008 ice storm on their water line trail. Should we help or call them, or do we prefer to keep that trail blocked to vehicles unless the City needs access? The only other fallen tree I couldn't remove from a trail by myself the previous winter is on the diagonal trail from the water line to the breached dam.

Red Cutlass Sierra

A Board member sighted what looked to be a red cutlass sierra down along the cart road in Nick's Woods from Rte. 122A.

The call was sent out to the Volunteers and Rangers and Ranger Kim took up the charge and headed out.

Kim's Report:

Viewing from most cart roads, I find no cars in Nicks Woods or Sargents Brook parcel. I collected about 20 beers cans and 60-80 cups and some trash, mostly at the fire pit near the hydrant. Some partially burned old railroad ties were there, with no obvious creosote now, and probably not much when they were burned. The gate near the RR was gone, and the gate near the power line was still mangled on the ground, but all 4 posts seemed fine. As usual for 24-hours after a storm peak in summer, all streams were very clear. There were some (recent?) backhoe ruts on the roads near the sewer meter box, but no obvious excavation. Someone had lost a 5x8" spiral notebook climbing under a fallen tree on the water-line easement. It had general strategic planning notes, like from a class, apparently not project-specific, and it was ruined by rain, so it's in my basement trash can until pickup Monday (Tuesday?). The washouts in the road at and east of the Esta Brook culvert looked worse, but probably still passable in a zigzaging 4WD (not a cutlass sierra, even before the storms).

Thanks to the passing by board member for looking, and to Ranger Kim for the report!

Bancroft School Help

The Bancroft Middle School were out on the Nick's Woods property this past Thursday the 8th.
They were cutting trail west of the Sargent's Brook running south from the dam and brook crossing. They got as far as the north-north-east corner of the boulder field, which ic a whole lot farther than I would have thought they could have cleared.

On the way out we caught sight of a giant "have a hart trap." It was large enough for a coyote, or possibly a deer, or a squatter. The paper sign on it said that there was an escapee from the Worcester Animal Rescue League and they were trying to get it back. Run, boy, run!

The Bancroft kids were great, did great work, and the trail they were working on is presently flagged with orange flagging tape.

Additional work to complete the trail length will hopefully come this spring.

Sugaring

GWLT staff were out at Nick's Woods today, setting up a small sugaring operation with some middle school students from the Bancroft School. Taps are set up in the big maple grove, and will be checked by staff and volunteers over the next few weeks. Periodical boils will take place as people are available.

If you're interested in being a part of it, contact anne@gwlt.org

This may be the last sugaring for some time, as the USDA will be treating maples up at this end of the city with insecticide to prevent infestation by the Asian Longhorn Beetles, thus making the sap unfit for human consumption. Enjoy it whist you can!

skiing

See http://sevenhillswheelmen.org/index.php?a=currentschedule for ski dates.
Woods are beautiful. Trails are reasonably clear of storm damage, except many large trees accross steep unskiable water line easement, and 1 tree across trail sloping from water line down to breached dam. Snowmobiles made crusty snow a little more skiable by Jan 31, 2009. Most of our new fences are down, and a few of our trail markers are damages.

Possible Bear?

This past weekend a family headed out to Nick's Woods to take a Sunday hike and look around.

Their thoughts?
"The place was awesome!"

And that was despite the beer party trash at the northern end of the property.

The Saturday night rains had swollen the Sargents Brook to a roaring torrent.

The sun was out, the breeze was nice, and it was a perfect late summer day.

Now, rhyming with beer.... is steer?

No, no.

Bear.

Ok, it doesn't rhyme.

On the way back they came across a fresh print and it looked to big and too wide to be a dog, so they came home and looked it up on-line. Sure enough the print looked quite stronly bearish.

Now admittedly, we don't have photos of the print, and

no one saw the bear directly,

But....

There was a print much like this on the way back that wasn't there on the way up.

Folks in the neighborhood should keep an eye out!

Thanks Shelia!

Asian Longhorned Beetles

Meeting tonight at Quinsigamond Community College on the beetles in general.

Moving forward we are going to NEED volunteers to identify the beetles.

Like it says.... Contact Anne!

Trash is gone, some abuse at fire ring

On the positive side, the dumped furniture and trash were all removed from Nick's Woods the day after the police visited. The dumper was truly "motivated."
This is a rare coup, and we ought to savor this for a whiles yet.

On the negative side, there has been excessive debris left from use of the fire ring at the northern most section of the property in the area we refer to as Sargent's Brook.
While less onerous than a house full of debris, it still requires time, attention, and work.

The property is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility and we need to get all users on-board with this management of our shared resource.

Dumping..... Busted!

On July 1st during a particularly heavy rainfall a blue chevy pickup from Sterling went barreling down Smith Lane and drove deep into Nick's Woods heavily ladden with household waste.

When the truck returned to Smith Lane it was empty.

Not only was the dumping immediately noted and photographed by a ranger, but the truck's comings and goings were noted by others (Board members and staff were getting reports in all the while) and the Worcester Police Department is presently resolving the matter.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all involved.

Dumping occurs on open space (I am not going to go off on the irresponsibility, the laziness, or the work required as a result) and we deal with it as best as we are able.

This spring has seen numerous projects and lots of volunteers working to get Nick's Woods up and in better shape.

Instead of a temporary set back, we have a huge victory, and for that we are all grateful this 4th of July.

Thank you again to the team of people watching over Nick's Woods.

(Apologies to anyone who has to see the dumping in the mean time.)

Rock bridge across the brook

As is true on much of the land locally, there are a lot of rocks in Nick's Woods. Two people spent the morning in the brook moving them to form a rock crossing of Sargent's Brook.

Trail clearing photos

Several new trails were cleared by volunteers on Saturday.

(I realize this one is like "Where's Waldo?" but it really was pretty thick there.)

Ancient apple tree next to the brook being trimmed by Ranger Kim McCoy

Car number two is gone!

(mostly)


Here are our intrepid welders, torch at the ready, breaking apart car #2!
Thanks, guys! We couldn't have done it without you!

Toad!

desperately trying to get away from me by hurtling himself down the slope from Rt. 122A at Saturday's National Trails day

National Trails Day

Happy National Trails Day! We hope you're getting a chance to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather on some local trails.
As of today, Worcester boasts several new trails, due to the hard work of twenty or so volunteers of all ages who showed up at Nick's Woods at 8:30 this morning. Should you head over there, you'll now find the main cart path (the old 122A) blazed with blue rectangles. There is a loop you can make if you break off onto yellow rectangles and yellow triangles (yes, they need names!), coming back down the hill and by the brook.
Also, many thanks to our torch-wielding crew, who have now made Nick's Woods car-free! Nice job, guys.

We will post pictures once we get them downloaded.

Getting Ready! National Trails Day

Tomorrow, the 7th of June is National Trails Day.
Those of us local will be celebrating by cutting/slashing/blazing new trail at Nick's Woods.

The Greater Worcester Land Trust event will run from 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and we will be congregating at the end of Smith Lane and then heading north into the property.
(Folks can park across the street from Smith Lane at the St. John's Episcopal Church so long as you park away from the doors and the building.)

Bring some gloves or clippers or loppers or a bow saw!
Join us.

* * * * * * * *

As an update, GWLT met with the Massachusetts Environmental Police yesterday regarding the gates and illicit motorized use of the property and we have a game plan for moving forward!

Followup on Gates Damaged

Looks like motorized off-road vandals struck Nick's Woods this weekend.
Our report came in on Saturday late.
Wednesday afternoon the gates were up and in fine shape.

One gate, to the NE on the railroad tracks, was cut apart to be opened.
One gate, to the N, was taken down and mangled.

Ideas are being tested, approaches are bouncing around, and calls are being made.
Stay tuned!

Anyone with information or tips can email: gwlt@gwlt.org or call 508-795-3838 ext 601.

Broken Gate Report

Report just in from the field a few minutes ago.

The property gate along the railroad tracks in the NE corner of the property has been broken.

A note has been dispatched to the crew, a thank you to the notifier, and we hope to get a handle on the damage and a possible fix tomorrow. We are looking for a description of the damage, a digital photo if possible, and possible fixes. Any assistance is most welcome at gwlt@gwlt.org

Building the Nick's Woods Trail System

Today Volunteer Ranger Bob Quevilon and I were out at Nick's Woods and Sargent's Brook hanging flagging tape for the upcoming National Trails Day work project on Saturday June 7th from 8:30am-11:00am.

We will be meeting at the end of Smith's Lane off of Holden Street.