2019 Calendar of Events
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Sunday |
Who Made Those Tracks?
Tracking expert Paul Wanta will introduce us to this fun and fascinating hobby.
We may see evidence of beaver, deer, coyote, red fox, bobcat, and many other animals. Meet at the MassWildlife headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd., Westborough. This will be a slow walk of 1-2 miles with frequent stops, on uneven ground with one small hill. Dress for the weather. Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
Atlantic Puffins and Other Birds of Downeast Maine
Photo courtesy of Garry Kessler
In this slide talk, longtime WCLT member and respected nature photographer Garry Kessler shares his insights and images from Downeast Maine. This area offers birding experiences that range from boreal forests and lakes to rocky shores. Garry has made multiple trips to the region to take close photos of birds such as spruce grouse and Atlantic puffins. This year Garry received rare permission to land at Machias Seal Island, home to thousands of nesting puffins which were once hunted almost to extinction. The island is the only offshore location where visitors can land and photograph them and other nesting alcids (birds of the Auk family) up close. Program location: Westborough Public Library meeting room, 55 W. Main St., Westborough MA. No reservation needed. Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Saturday |
Live Animal Show: Raptors, Masters of the Sky
Get up close and personal with live eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls from around Massachusetts and around the world at this free event!
Learn about the many impressive raptors 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 Tom Ricardi of Mass Birds of Prey Rehab Facility. No reservation required. Free; donations gratefully accepted at the door. Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Saturday |
Earth Day Town-Wide Cleanup with Online Signup and Volunteer Picnic Lunch!
Join the annual town-wide litter clean-up sponsored by WCLT, and enjoy a drop-in 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 from 11:30-12:30, volunteers will be treated to a drop-in picnic of pizza, healthy side dishes, beverages, and dessert at the Bay State Commons Green gazebo, courtesy of Arturo’s Ristorante, Roche Bros., and both Westborough Stop & Shop stores. Volunteers will also get free flowers, courtesy of Mugford’s Flower Shoppe! For the cleanup, wear gloves, long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes. Trash bags, some rubber gloves provided. Contact: earthday@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Tuesday |
Family Walk: Chauncy Lake to Little Chauncy Pond and Beyond!
Get outdoors! Get some fresh air and exercise on this family-friendly hike.
What animals, plants, and birds will we see? Nature always has something new to teach us! This event is being offered in conjunction with Westborough Screen Free Week sponsored by Westborough Connects, Westborough Recreation, and Westborough Youth and Family Services. Meet at the Westborough State Hospital Property: Take Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street, then take the road along the lake shore. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road. There is info about other events during the week of April 29th - May 5th at the the Westborough Unplugs Facebook page. Trail Map: https://www.svtweb.org/sites/default/files/CraneSwamp.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
New England Wildflower Walk
Westborough’s Libbey/Wile Forest comes alive with beautiful wildflowers every May.
Join us as we hunt for and identify flowering plants. Learn which are native and a little bit about what challenges these plants face. Feel free to bring your favorite wildflower book. No reservation needed. Kids accompanied by an adult are welcome, if they are able to stay on the trail to avoid trampling the flowers. Meet at the Gilmore Pond Trail entrance, GPS address approximately 19 Quick Farm Rd. Westborough. From Gilmore Pond we will cross Adams Street into the Libbey/Wile Forest; walk length approximately 2 miles on woodland trails. 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 |
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Monday |
Invisible Worlds (Speaker: Scott Chimileski) And WCLT Annual Meeting
When most people think of nature, they think of plants and animals they can see. But the overwhelming majority of life is visible only through a microscope.
Microbes live everywhere, from under polar ice, to geothermal ocean vents, to your own back yard--one gram of soil can contain billions of living creatures. And microbes affect our lives: They can protect us from disease; boost access to nutrients in our food; help us make wine, cheese, and yogurt; and only rarely cause illness. Harvard Medical School-based microbiologist and science photographer Scott Chimileski will open the door for us to see into the secret lives of microscopic creatures: How they hunt, travel, and communicate. His beautiful photographs of microbe colonies will illustrate the talk. With Roberto Kolter, Scott has recently published a fascinating and lavishly illustrated book, Life at the Edge of Sight, which will be available after the talk. Program will run from 7-8 pm; reception and Annual Meeting to follow. Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Wednesday |
Concert at the Willows to Benefit WCLT
Free outdoor concert by the Wolverine 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 |
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Sunday |
Hocomonco Pond: Past, Present, and Future
Visit a little-known Westborough site on this informational walk.
Discover how Hocomonco Pond, a “great pond,†was formed by melting glacier ice 11,000 years ago. You’ll then hear about use of the pond by Native Americans, and learn the legend explaining why it is named for a Wamesit Indian evil spirit. Finally, find out about a period of industrial use, when telephone poles were treated with creosote at this site to make them resistant to rot and insects, contaminating the soil, the groundwater, and the bottom of Hocomonco Pond. We’ll enter the Hocomonco Pond Superfund Site, the area between the pond and the MBTA train station surrounded by a chain link fence which is usually locked. We’ll tour the site with Andy Koenigsberg, where he will discuss the geology, history, and cleanup process here, and what the land’s future will be. Meet at the Otis Street gate, GPS address approximately 24 Otis St., Westborough. The gate will be open so we can park on site. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: email events@westboroughlandtrust.org Trail Map: http://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/mill_pond_map.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Monday |
Early October Monday Morning Bird Walk
Look for birds during the peak of fall migration on this first of three Monday morning walks in the fields of the Westborough Wildlife Management area near Lake Chauncy.
Everyone is welcome and new birders are encouraged to participate. Binoculars strongly recommended. Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club (Worcester County’s bird club since 1931) by expert birder Nick Paulson. Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way [formerly Hospital Road] off Lyman Street in Westborough. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water. For questions contact Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401). No registration needed. Trail Map: http://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Monday |
Mid-October Monday Morning Bird Walk
Look for uncommon sparrows and warblers in the fields north of Lake Chauncy.
Everyone is welcome and new birders are encouraged to participate. Binoculars strongly recommended. Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club (Worcester County’s bird club since 1931) by expert birder Nick Paulson. Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way [formerly Hospital Road] off Lyman Street in Westborough. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water. For questions contact Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401). No registration needed. Trail Map: http://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
Fascinating Fall Fungi
Discover mushrooms and other fall fungi with mycologist Larry Millman, author of “Fascinating Fungi of New England,†the first-ever guidebook devoted exclusively to New England species. He will focus on mushroom ecology and mushroom identification rather than on edibility.
Meet at the Walkup & Robinson property, GPS address approximately 400 Friberg Parkway, Westborough. Slow walk on woodland trails with mild hills. Space is limited to 18, REGISTRATION REQUIRED, email events@westboroughlandtrust.org Trail Map: https://www.svtweb.org/sites/default/files/Walkup.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
*** CANCELLED *** Introducing the Boroughs Loop Trail
The Boroughs Loop Trail is a new trail network connecting the hiking paths of Marlborough, Northborough, Southborough and Westborough, encouraging the exploration, enjoyment, and protection of the Boroughs’ natural resources.
The trail officially opens on October 5, and this walk, co-sponsored by the Sudbury Valley Trustees, is one of several introductory walks being held on various sections throughout October. This walk will highlight the section of the BLT which passes through Westborough, starting at SVT’s Sawink Farm property; GPS address approximately 30 Walker St., Westborough MA. Cancelled due to predicted heavy rain and wind. REGISTRATION REQUIRED at https://www.svtweb.org/programs/calendar Boroughs Loop Trail website: https://www.svtweb.org/BLT Trail Map: https://www.svtweb.org/sites/default/files/CraneSwamp.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Saturday |
Celebrate the Charm Bracelet’s 20th
Join WCLT for a fun afternoon!
Park at Minuteman Park, 90 Upton Rd, and meet BoD members to hike Charm Bracelet trails at the Bowman Conservation Area, 72 Bowman St, Westborough. You can choose to hike short loop trails at Bowman, or hike the longer 5.5 mile (approximately 2.5 hours) self-guided section of the Charm Bracelet ending at the Libbey-Wile property. Shuttles will be provided. The afternoon includes socializing around the fire pit and treats at Bowman. Bring headlamps or flashlights. No registration required. Trail Map: http://westboroughlandtrust.org/cal/extras/charm-bracelet-anniversary-hike.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Sunday |
Northborough/Westborough Bird Walk
Look for birds at ponds around Northborough and Westborough and at the Westborough Wildlife Management Area.
Everyone is welcome and new birders are encouraged to participate. Binoculars strongly recommended. Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club (Worcester County’s bird club since 1931) by expert birder Nick Paulson. Meet outside Casta Diva Restaurant, 35 Solomon Pond Rd, Northborough, MA (previously Guiseppe’s Grille) (Exit 25A off I-290.) For questions: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401) Trail Map: http://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Wednesday |
All About Monarchs
Monarch butterflies are popular seasonal visitors with a fascinating story. Join us to see their incredible transformation from egg to butterfly, and learn how this prepares them to undertake the journey to their winter home in Mexico. Learn about the challenges they are facing, how conservation efforts are attempting to strengthen their numbers, and how you can make a difference in your own back yard.
Location: Westborough Public Library, 55 West Main St., Westborough. Presented in partnership with Sudbury Valley Trustees by Dan Stimson, SVT Assistant Director of Stewardship. SVT is a nonprofit, member-supported land trust that protects natural areas and farmland for wildlife and people in the region surrounding the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers. Please register at https://www.svtweb.org/calendar/all-about-monarchs-presentation-0 Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Monday |
November Monday Morning Bird Walk
Join us at the Westborough Wildlife Management Area to look for the wide variety of waterfowl stopping at Lake Chauncy during their migration.
Everyone is welcome and new birders are encouraged to participate. Binoculars strongly recommended. Presented in partnership with the Forbush Bird Club (Worcester County’s bird club since 1931) by expert birder Nick Paulson. Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way [formerly Hospital Road] off Lyman Street in Westborough. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water. For questions contact Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401). No registration needed Trail Map: http://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf Contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org |
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Westborough Community Land Trust, PO Box 838, Westborough , MA 01581
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