Spring 2010 Program
Wednesday, April 28, 7:00 p.m.
Wellesley Community Center
219 Washington St.
Annual meeting at 7:00 pm will include a vote on the new Board of Directors
followed by two presentations at 7:30 pm
THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS:
THEIR MISSION PAST AND PRESENT
Presented by
MIKE FRANCIS
The Trustees of Reservations
Superintendent, Charles River Valley Management Unit
The Trustees are 100,000 people like you, from every corner of Massachusetts, who love the outdoors and the distinctive charms of New England, and believe in celebrating and protecting them for future generations.
Since its founding in 1891 by Charles Eliot, an open space visionary and protégé of the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, The Trustees’ mission has been to preserve, protect and care for properties of exceptional scenic, historic, recreational and ecological value in Massachusetts. As land is being developed and open space is being fragmented at a rapid pace of an estimated 40 acres per day around the state, The Trustees are working to mobilize and inspire a critical mass of people and partners who care about quality of life in their communities and will work to protect and enjoy them.
The Trustees of Reservations own and manage more than 100 reservations, all open for the public to enjoy, of which 37 properties are in the greater Boston area including: working farms such as Powisset Farm in Dover and Moose Hill Farm in Sharon; tranquil woodlands such as Rocky Woods and Rocky Narrows in Medfield and Noanet Woodlands in Dover; formal gardens and historic homesteads such as the Bradley Estate in Canton and the Old Manse in Concord; and beautiful landscapes such as World’s End in Hingham.
The Trustees of Reservations in the Charles River Valley
In the Charles River Valley, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) protect and manage more than 2700 acres, including Powisset Farm with a vibrant Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and 15 local reservations graced with over 50 miles of trails crossing tranquil woodlands and meadows.
In addition to owning and caring for 100 reservations, nearly 25,000 acres in more than 70 communities, The Trustees hold conservation restrictions on more than 16,000
acres of privately owned land and have worked with communities and other conservation partners to assist in the protection of an additional 16,000 acres. The Trustees’ affiliate, Boston Natural Areas Network, owns 39 community gardens and advocates for urban wilds and greenways in the city of Boston.
A member-, donor- and endowment-supported organization, The Trustees provide hundreds of year-round programs and events that inspire people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate and care for natural, scenic and cultural landscapes and landmarks across the Commonwealth.
We Can’t Do it Alone, and It’s More Fun Not To!
Volunteers have a long history with The Trustees and have played a critical role in the legacy of protected land and resources. Partnering with local land trusts is another integral solution to achieving shared goals. The Trustees also works with local communities and town governments to adopt the Community Preservation Act, Right-to-Farm bylaws, and establish agricultural committees. The Center for Community Conservation in Leominster offers year-round workshops and sponsors the annual Land Trust Conference. Establishment of an online community, ConservationCommon.org, has provided many nonprofits, volunteers, town committees, and government employees a means to further engage and share ideas and tools for land acquisition, management, and stewardship.
Engaging communities through volunteer opportunities creates a solid foundation for future conservation efforts while caring for existing resources. The more connected people are to the land, the more they will want to care for it and protect other threatened resources, while taking action in their own daily lives to live more sustainably with less impact on our planet.
Photograph credit: Diane Thomas
Followed by
THE WELLESLEY TRAIL SYSTEM
Presented by
PETER ROVICK
Member, Wellesley Trails Committee
www.wellesleytrails.org
Peter will inform us about Wellesley’s extensive trail system. The many woodland and interconnecting trails are carefully maintained for safe walking and biking by the committee and volunteers.

Miguel Lessing leading walk in Guernsey Sanctuary
To see previous WCC programs, please click here.
See News for details on Arbor Day celebration at Cronks' Rocky Woodlands on Friday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m.
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