For the Birds!

Earlier this month, father-and-son duo Keith and Peter Knearem delivered ten hand-built birdhouses that they created together for Greenbelt. These Bluebird boxes will be installed at various Greenbelt properties throughout the county, just in time for the spring nesting season. Thank you, Keith and Peter, for this wonderful contribution! For more information about birdbox building contact Dave Rimmer at dwr@ecga.org

News and Happenings

Coming Together at MassLand Conference

Greenbelt staff and board members attended—and represented—at the Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference held in Worcester on March 25. The annual conference returned in-person for the first time in three years. Chris LaPointe, Vanessa Johnson-Hall, Rachel Horgan, and Abby Hardy-Moss were among the presenters and panelists who shared their expertise. Conference sessions offered a range of topics from climate change challenges, to partnering with indigenous communities, to applied urban forestry and more. This was an energizing opportunity for land trust staff from across the state to meet and collaborate on the future of conservation here in Massachusetts.

Team Haverhill's Possible Dreams

Since 2022, Greenbelt has partnered with the volunteer action group, Team Haverhill, for a series of hikes on different conserved lands within the city. Earlier this month, Greenbelt joined Team Haverhill to participate in the Possible Dreams Community Visioning event. During this event, community members presented proposed projects or events for enhancing the City of Haverhill, and engaging its community members. Greenbelt is excited to support three environmentally-themed proposals shared: the creation of pollinator pocket-gardens, increased public awareness of the Haverhill trails network, and the exploration of footbridge construction options at the Meadow Brook Conservation Area. Stay tuned for more updates from Haverhill.

Welcome, Jeannette!

Jeannette Miranda recently joined Greenbelt's Conservation Technology & Planning Division as a GIS Intern. Jeannette is a graduate student in Salem State University's Geography and Sustainability program. She will be working with the team on a number of projects during the spring and summer terms, including open space planning and Greenbelt’s Conservation Prioritization project. Please join us in welcoming Jeannette! 

Volunteers Get Their Hands Dirty

Sixteen volunteers spent last Saturday at the Elizabeth & Echo How Reservation in Ipswich for Greenbelt's first invasive plant removal day. After cutting back some of the ever-invasive Glossy Buckthorn, volunteers were glad to discover native Highbush and Lowbush Blueberry plants that had been crowded out by the relentless Buckthorn. Many thanks to all who participated, with a special thank you to Invasive Plant Specialist Mary-Ellen Dixon who volunteered her time, expertise and energy to make the day a success!

It's that Time of Year... the OspreyCam is Back!

Tune-in to see one of our favorite Osprey pairs, Annie and Squam, as they return from their southern wintering grounds to their summer home on the Greenbelt saltmarsh in Gloucester. The OspreyCam offers live-feed of their nest which is located near Lobstaland Restaurant. Annie and Squam will spend April through August nesting and, hopefully, raising their fifth set of chicks. They are one of the 75 reported breeding pairs in Northeastern Massachusetts in 2022, a dramatic and celebrated increase from just one known breeding pair in 1985.

Remembering Preston Rogers

We are saddened by the passing of Preston Rogers. The land we now call Artichoke River Woods in West Newbury was purchased from Preston and his wife, Debora in 2021. The land belonged to Preston's grandfather, and was part of the family dairy. Preston deeply loved and cared for these woodlands. Greenbelt's new trail system on this land is based upon trails that he created to enjoy the forest and wildlife. Preston very much wanted to see this land preserved for present and future generations to cherish as he did. We're so grateful to have been able to work with Preston and Debora to see his wishes realized. 

There's always a lot going on at Greenbelt! If you're interested in learning about volunteer opportunities, join our monthly Volunteer E-Newsletter list.