Trail Adopters
Our Trail Adopters have submitted 460 individual reports this year about trail usage, downed trees, missing trail blazes, erosion issues, and more. DCR has been hard at work responding to these issues and cleaning up the trails, especially after our more frequent microbursts and brief heavy rainfalls. For the Trail Adopters who have reported the large, leaning, and fallen tree in Lawrence Woods by B5-11, DCR is working with an outside contractor to strategically and safely remove that tree. Thank you for all your reports!
Invasive Plant Management
Volunteers finished prep-cutting the Japanese knotweed at Greenwood Park and Bellevue Pond in June. In September, a DCR-licensed contractor will administer a foliar spray to the regrown knotweed. The spray is applied during a window called the “FFFF” or “final flower, first frost” window. This is the most effective time to apply herbicide to the plant, for this is when the plant pulls its energy and resources back into the rhizomes to prepare for winter. The prep-cut is critical because it reduces the height of the plant and allows the contractors to apply herbicide at a safe height and not above their heads.
Buckthorn, bittersweet, multiflora rose, and porcelain berry continue to be removed at multiple sites. These four plants tend to be targets year-round for our volunteers, as they are easier to identify without their leaves and easier to access in the winter. Volunteers have made significant progress against porcelain berry in Greenwood Park and by the Tudor Barn. You can check out our progress over at Tudor Barn over the past year by viewing our slideshows here and here.
Hikes
Volunteer hike leaders have guided over 15 outings across the Fells so far this summer. The hikes have explored wildflowers at Long Pond, birds at the North Reservoir, and the length of the Cross Fells Trail. Check out our full lineup of more events later this summer and into fall here.
Trail closures
The three unofficial trails that were closed at Greenwood Park in December of 2024 remain closed! We are thrilled with the success of these trail closures and look forward to continuing this work at other locations across the Fells. Three more unofficial trails will be closed near the Bear Hill Parking Lot later in the fall. Pre-closure signs have been posted with a survey link to ask trail users their thoughts on the trail closures.
Why are we closing these trails? To reduce our impact on the Fells and to restore sensitive habitats for our plant and wildlife species. Learn more about unofficial trails and our work here. We want to hear your thoughts about closing unofficial trails. Tell us here!
Thank you!
We’d like to thank the following groups who have joined us since the early summer and have made a big impact in helping us remove invasive plants, pick up trash, and work on trails:
AMC 20s and 30s Group
Be Biopharma
Cadence & Goodera
Church of Ladder Day Saints North Shore Youth Group
Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
Earthwise Aware (EwA)
Gay for Good
Google Serve
Team Rubicon
Interested in assisting these efforts? Apply to volunteer here!
Want to volunteer with your group, company, school, or team? Learn more about our group volunteering opportunities here.
Reach out to friends@fells.org if you have any questions or if you’d like to get more involved in these efforts.