Trail Adopters
Since June, we have trained eleven new Trail Adopters to help report issues out on the trails. Trail Adopters have submitted almost 800 individual reports about trash, downed trees, erosion, trail usage, dog waste, and missing trail blazes. We use this data not only to help inform DCR about issues that need attention, but also to determine where to direct our future volunteer efforts.
Invasive Plant Management
In June, we were joined by the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Google Serve, Live Like Becca, the City of Medford, TreesMedford, Wildescaping, and many members of the community to tackle porcelain berry and mugwort in the meadow near Greenwood Park and black swallowwort near Lawrence Woods. A Trail Crew cohort of ten volunteers worked on culverts near Bear Hill later in the same month.
In July, volunteers from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Waypoint Adventure, the Mystic River Watershed Association, and from the community continued working on the mugwort and porcelain berry around Greenwood Park. Volunteers persevered through our hot months to keep the meadow in check and continue to make space for our native plants to grow.
August brought committed volunteers from Tufts FOCUS, City of Medford, TreesMedford, and local Scout troops. Volunteers continued their efforts of porcelain berry removal, but we focused on the shoreline of Spot Pond and areas around Bellevue Pond instead of just Greenwood Park.
In September, fourteen volunteers from Gay for Good removed large piles of porcelain berry from near the Tudor Barn. They helped launch us into a very busy month of October. So far, we have hosted 113 volunteers to repair culverts by Greenwood Park and the 90mm site, remove even more porcelain berry from Dana’s Meadow in Greenwood Park, and pick up trash near Bellevue Pond. Volunteers from Braskem, Team Rubicon, the New England Aquarium, and Rewilding Massachusetts have come out in full force and helped us beat back the tides of invasives in Greenwood Park and prepare it for a successful 2027 season.
Invasive plant work will continue into November before quieting down as we head into winter. Weather permitting, additional volunteer opportunities will be posted in our colder season.
If you’re interested in getting more involved with invasive plant removal or even working on a project of your own, please contact Maddie here. You can also register for upcoming invasive plant removals here.
Fells Trail Crew
Our Trail Crew has been active in Bear Hill, Lawrence Woods, Greenwood Park, and the 90mm site since June. Charlie has led over 30 volunteers to address culvert issues, repair and maintain drainage channels, and restore shorelines of vernal pools.
Volunteer Jeopardy!
We were excited to host a volunteer appreciation event that featured Fells jeopardy! Volunteers tested their Fells knowledge and skills in teams while enjoying friendly chatter, some light fare, and getting to know volunteers from various parts of the organization.
Guided Outings
Since June, we have offered 65 guided outings led by FOF staff and volunteers. The programs have explored the Fells through a variety of lenses; whether it be observing the various wildflowers that bloom throughout the summer and even into fall, or learning about the various rock types that form our beloved Fells.
Our trail running series for women and non-binary folks has been going strong and will wrap up at the end of November. Our Senior Strolls had a successful run this year and wrap up for the season soon, and our Queer and Trans Hiking Fell-ows hikes continue on the last Sunday of every month. We also partnered with the Cambridge Health Alliance on a few programs that focused on Forest Bathing (led by Sue Novick, a Mindful Outdoor Guide) or just getting out in the Fells and exploring a variety of trails and habitats.
Thank you!
Thank you to the following groups who have joined us since June and have made a big impact in helping us remove invasive plants, pick up trash, and work on trails:
- Amazon
- Braskem
- Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
- City of Medford
- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA),
- Gay for Good
- Goodera
- Google Serve
- Live Blue, New England Aquarium
- Live Like Becca
- Mystic River Watershed Association
- Rewilding Massachusetts
- Team Rubicon
- TreesMedford
- Tufts FOCUS
- Waypoint Adventure
- Wildescaping, Inc.