UPDATE: It's official! We are hiking to Cedar Swamp Pond on Sunday. Traction devices for walking on ice are HIGHLY recommended! See everyone at St. Luke's Cemetery at 1:30! It's magical out there!

Check before coming to this hike; if the weather has been too warm we will do the alternate hike below.

If the ice is solid enough, we will hike to Cedar Swamp Pond, which can only be accessed by paddling in spring or by walking across frozen Cedar Swamp in winter.

Hikers may want to bring snowshoes or traction devices depending on snow and ice cover. Hiking poles, cameras, and binoculars are also a plus.

If the weather has been very cold, we may be able to venture onto the pond. Animal tracks may be in evidence: red squirrels, deer, and fisher abound.

Dress to stay warm and dry!

This 2.5 mile walk over level but uneven terrain will be led by Marge Fisher.

Meet in the rear of St. Luke's Cemetery, 24 Hopkinton Road, Westborough, MA.

NOTE: Check back here or the WCLT Facebook page before the walk. If the weather has been too warm for safely walking on the Cedar Swamp Pond ice, we will substitute the following alternate hike:
Explore the Headwaters Conservation Area in Winter
Mill Pond, the Headwaters of the Assabet River, is surrounded by one of Westborough’s most beautiful conservation areas. Enjoy a wintry walk of exploration and discovery led by Marge Fisher; 2.5 miles on slightly hilly trails.
Meet at the far side of the Mill Pond School parking lot, 6 Olde Hickory Path, Westborough MA.

Trail Maps:
http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/south_cedar_swamp_trail_map.pdf
http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/mill_pond_map.pdf

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Dr. Martha Gach of MassAudubon’s Broad Meadow Brook will give a slide talk on Massachusetts pollinators.

Learn about colorful hummingbirds and the many fascinating types of native bees and butterflies, why they are important, and what you can do to help them thrive in Westborough.

No pre-registration required. Event will take place in the Westborough Public Library meeting room, 55 West Main St.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

What do a flying squirrel, a woodchuck, and a porcupine have in common? They are all native to Westborough, and you can meet them, plus many more live local animals, at this free event! Come learn about some creatures that live right here in Westborough and the surrounding area, though they may not be frequently seen.

Bring the family--our popular spring live animal show is always a big hit with the young and the curious of all ages!

Plan to arrive early as seating is limited.

Location: Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow St., Westborough MA; parking lot in rear. Overflow parking is in Arturo’s parking lot, 54 East Main St., and walk around behind the Arturo’s building to cross directly into the KofC parking lot. There is no parking along Willow Street.

Presented by The Creature Teachers. No reservation required. Free; donations gratefully accepted at the door.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join the annual town-wide litter clean-up sponsored by WCLT, and enjoy an Earth Day picnic lunch afterwards!

Early birds meet at 6:30 am at West Meadow Plaza or Bellows Road.

Families are invited at 9:30 am to check in at the Bay State Commons Green.

Back this year: Optional online signup! Visit westboroughlandtrust.org/earth-day-signup to choose your cleanup location in advance and avoid the lines. (Online signup is not required)

Come on your own, or rally your family, co-workers, or neighbors and form a team to beautify our town!

Then at noon, volunteers will be treated to pizza, healthy side dishes, beverages, and dessert at the Bay State Commons Green gazebo.

For the cleanup, wear gloves, long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes. Trash bags, some rubber gloves provided.

WCLT thanks our donors: Arturo's Ristorante, Mugford's Flower Shoppe, Roche Bros. Supermarkets, Route 9 Dunkin' Donuts, Tavolino Italian Gourmet, and both Westborough Stop & Shop stores.

Contact: earthday@westboroughlandtrust.org

Join our new Stewardship Chair, Keith Martin, in a springtime ramble through WCLT’s Libbey/Wile Forest, starting at lovely Gilmore Pond.

Keith will give us some insights into how WCLT’s trails are created and maintained, and how WCLT land is managed for nature preservation and for the enjoyment of all. Celebrate the beauty of spring while learning a bit about this area’s past, present, and future!

This woodland walk will be about 3 miles on uneven terrain with some small hills. No pre-registration required.

Meet at the Gilmore Pond trail entrance. GPS address: 19 Quick Farm Road, Westborough.
Trail Maps:
http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/upperjackstraw_trail_map.pdf
http://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/libbeywile_trail_map.pdf

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

How can you help the environment while creating beautiful gardens and landscapes in your own yard? Learn what to plant, and what not to plant, in order to save energy, use less water, help pollinators, and live sustainably in many other ways.

Speaker Mark Richardson oversees the New England Wild Flower Society’s botanic garden, Garden in the Woods, and its native plant nursery operation, Nasami Farm. He studied ornamental horticulture at University of Rhode Island while helping to run an ornamental plant nursery before finding his true passion in public horticulture. He led undergraduate programs at Longwood Gardens, where he overhauled the curriculum of the Professional Gardener Program, and oversaw adult education at Brookside Gardens. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Delaware’s Longwood Graduate Program.

Program will run from 7-8 pm; reception and Annual Meeting to follow.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Free outdoor concert: Riverboat Stompers Jazz Band; donations will be collected to benefit WCLT.

1 Lyman St.

Westborough. Volunteer collectors should arrive at 6:15; contact us to volunteer.

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

[Date changed: Event now scheduled for October 14.]

Come on a kid-length hike where youngsters will explore nature with their parents, followed by a fun scavenger hunt for ages 6 and up to practice what you have learned.

Prizes will be awarded!

Parents/Guardians must supervise their children; this is not a drop-off event.

Pencil or pen, camera, long pants, closed shoes, and insect repellent recommended.

Meet at the Gilmore Pond Trail Entrance, GPS address approximately 19 Quick Farm Rd. Westborough.

Trail Map:
http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/upperjackstraw_trail_map.pdf

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Enjoy the sunset across Lake Chauncy, then take a walk by the light of the nearly-full moon to get in the Halloween spirit.

Will we hear owls?

Take Fuller Way/Hospital Road off Lyman St. to the old State Hospital land and bear left. Park and meet at the lake edge, at the yellow gate between Hospital land and the Fish and Wildlife land, past the Chauncy Soccer Fields.

Walk will be 1-2 miles on wide, mostly level, unpaved trails, with one small hill.

Bring a flashlight, but we plan to keep them off most of the time.

Trail Map:
https://www.svtweb.org/sites/default/files/CraneSwamp.pdf

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

Ice Age isn’t just a Disney movie!

Learn how rocky, hilly, pond-filled New England was sculpted by a mile-thick sheet of ice over 20,000 years ago.

This will be a two-part informational walk. We will start with an orientation at Haskell Street and a walk down the Crane Esker Trail. We will then drive across Lyman Street to the State Hospital access into the MassWildlife area, where we will explore the area north of Lake Chauncy and look at some other glacial features.

The walk will be on woodland trails at an easy pace, led by geologist Andy Koenigsberg. No Reservation required.

Meet at the Haskell Street Ball Fields upper (eastern) parking lot, GPS approximate location: 42 Haskell St, Westborough.

Trail Map:
https://www.svtweb.org/sites/default/files/CraneSwamp.pdf

Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org