Blog Posts

Cronk's Rocky Woodland Open Gardens, Sunday June 9th, 3PM

5/21/2019

The Wellesley Conservation Council
invites you to join your neighbors
for Spring Open Open Gardens at
Cronk’s Rocky Woodland

Sunday, June 9th at 3-4:30PM
20 Crown Ridge Road

Come enjoy the spring flowers among music,
explore the charming moss-covered Hansel and Gretel cottage,
and learn how you can help “Cronk’s” continue as the
wildflower garden that Gertrude Cronk established
in the 1930s for all our neighborhoods to enjoy in perpetuity.

The Wellesley Conservation Council is our local 501(c)(3) non-profit land trust that protects 14 sanctuaries across more than 45 acres of natural land in Wellesley and bordering lands in Needham and Weston. More information about our mission, the sanctuaries and membership can be found at www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Guernsey Brothers Help Conservation Council Open 21stC Nature Trail

5/20/2019

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PRESS RELEASE
May 20th, 2019. Wellesley Conservation Council
Judy Barr, j.barr@northeastern.edu, 781.234.8224
Thomas Wolfe said “You can’t go home”, but Richard Guernsey (81, South Wellfleet), David Guernsey (79, Kingfield ME), and Robert Guernsey (75, Dunstable MA) weren’t listening. The three Guernsey brothers returned to their homestead to help the Wellesley Conservation Council (WCC), Wellesley’s non-profit land trust, help celebrate the opening of its 21st Century Nature Trail on its Guernsey Sanctuary Friday May 17.

Left to Right: Bill Giezentanner (WCC naturalist), Jonathan Gillim (Wellesley Turkey Trot Foundation Treasurer), David Guernsey, Richard Guernsey, Robert Guernsey, Fred Fortmiller (WCC President), Judy Barr (WCC Board Member and Project Manager) (Photo courtesy of Jim Barr)

The brothers joined WCC board members, Wellesley Natural Resources Commission staff and commissioners, and Wellesley College and Wellesley Turkey Trot Foundation representatives in a ribbon cutting celebration at the trailhead to the sanctuary. The land for the 25-acre nature sanctuary was the gift of their parents, Janet and William Guernsey, through four gifts in the early 1960s.

The 21st century nature trail uses QR-code (like a bar code, but 2-dimensional) technology to enrich the learning experience along the 1-mile circular Guernsey trail. With support from the Wellesley Turkey Trot Foundation, two naturalists (Bill Geizentanner of Wellesley and Ted Elliman of Sherborn) conducted a botanical inventory of the area and identified 72 specimens or special places along the trail to be featured.
Now each has a QR-code metal marker that identifies common and scientific names of the selected specimens and places. These codes can be read by smart phones and be connected to descriptive narratives and photos of the specific plant that are maintained in “the cloud”.

The 21st Century Guernsey Nature trail updates the 1972 booklet, Guernsey Sanctuary: Self-Guiding Nature Trail, which has been out of print for many years. The new trail guide provides an interactive experience for the user. As guests follow the trail, they read the markers to identify the name of each specimen. If they wish for more information, they can use their smart phones to “read” the plant-specific QR-code and connect via internet to narrative and photographic information.

After the ribbon cutting, guests walked the nature trail. A reception followed at St. Andrew’s Church, the home church of the Guernseys when they lived in Wellesley. Yes, Richard, David, and Robert...you can go home again.
The Council’s Guernsey Sanctuary is a 25-acre pine forest and wetlands located on the western shores of Lake Sabrina in the southwest corner of Wellesley and bordering in Needham. A series of Guernsey-based events is scheduled to re-introduce the people of Wellesley and Needham to this wonderful 25-acre jewel.
The Wellesley Conservation Council is Wellesley’s private, non-profit, land trust since 1958. Guernsey as well as its other nine sanctuaries is open to the public. Additional information about the QR-code project and a map of the QR-code nature trail can be found at http://www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org/guernsey-sanctuary.html WCC Board member Judy Barr (mailto:j.barr@northeastern.edu) is the Project Manager and lead author/photographer.

The Wellesley Conservation Council, Wellesley's non-profit land trust since 1958, protects 14 sanctuaries across more than 45 acres of natural land in Wellesley and bordering lands in Needham and Weston. More information about our mission, the sanctuaries and membership can be found at www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org or email to info@wellesleyconservationcouncil.org.

(L to R) Brothers Richard, David, and Robert Guernsey. Photo courtesy Dan Gee.

A screenshot of a smart phone example of Station #2 after scanning the QR code.

Judy Barr demonstrates scanning a QR code on the new Guernsey Trail. (Photo courtesy Dan Gee)

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Wellesley Nature Challenge Guided Walks - April 26-29, 2019

4/16/2019

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"Community Conservation: Health, Climate, and Economic Benefits"

3/10/2019

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Wellesley Conservation Council Spring Lecture
Co-sponsored with the Natural Resources Commission and the Wellesley Free Library
Speaker: Dr. Spencer Meyer, Sr. Conservationist

Monday, April 22nd, 2019 – 7:00pm
Wakelin Room, Wellesley Free Library

Dr. Spencer Meyer, Sr. Conservationist from Highstead Foundation and the Harvard Forest will discuss how local conservation is a key component of the "Wildlands and Woodlands" vision for the future of New England. He will share lessons from successful conservation collaboratives around New England and talk about new research showing that protected open space is not only critical to preserving critical ecosystems, but also provides health, climate, and economic benefits to our communities. There will be ample time to discuss current conservation efforts in Wellesley, how our community can expand our initiatives, and how our work fits into a larger connected landscape.

This event kicks off a series of local conservation activities this spring including Wellesley's own bio-blitz nature inventory April 26-29th. For the latest information: wellesleyconservationcouncil.org/upcoming-events

The Wellesley Conservation Council Annual Meeting for the election of officers and board members will precede the program at 6:30pm.

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January Newsletter and Join or Renew your 2019 Membership

12/28/2018

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Join or Renew Your Membership for 2019
You can help preserve, protect, and maintain Wellesley’s open spaces by joining or renewing your membership for $35 now for 2019. As the Wellesley Conservation Council is a 501(c)(3) organization, your membership and donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

Individual or Family Membership ($35.00)
Club or Business Membership ($50.00)
Supporter ($70.00)
Steward ($100.00)
Daily Sustainer ($365.00)
Patron ($500.00)
Protector ($1,000.00)
Life Membership ($2,500.00)

www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org/donate

wcc_newsletter_jan_2019_final.pdf
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Individual or Family Membership ($35.00)
Club or Business Membership ($50.00)
Supporter ($70.00)
Steward ($100.00)
Daily Sustainer ($365.00)
Patron ($500.00)
Protector ($1,000.00)
Life Membership ($2,500.00)

www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org/donate

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"Monarch Butterflies – Beauty on the Wing" Spring Lecture April 24th

3/25/2018

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Wellesley Conservation Council and Wellesley Free Library present:
Monarch Butterflies - Beauty on the Wing
Kim Smith, Naturalist and Award-winning Photographer

How can Wellesley help Monarchs throughout Their Life Cycle?
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 – 7:00pm
Wakelin Room, Wellesley Free Library

The Monarch’s life story is one of nature’s most incredible examples of adaptation and survival. But the Monarch migration is in great peril. Learn how you can help. Through photographs and discussion, Beauty on the Wing tells the life story of the Monarch Butterfly, the state of the butterflies’ migration and why they are in sharp decline, and the positive steps we can take as individuals and collectively to help the Monarchs recover from devastating effects of habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides.

Kim Smith is an award winning nature author, documentary filmmaker, native plant landscape designer, and naturalist. She specializes in creating pollinator habitat gardens utilizing primarily North American native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and vines.

The Wellesley Conservation Council Annual Meeting for the election of officers and board members
will precede the program at 6:30pm.

www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org info@wellesleyconservationcouncil.org

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January Newsletter and Join or Renew your 2018 Membership

12/24/2017

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Join or Renew Your Membership for 2018
You can help preserve, protect, and maintain Wellesley’s open spaces by joining or renewing your membership for $35 now for 2018. As the Wellesley Conservation Council is a 501(c)(3) organization, your membership and donations are tax-deductible. www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org/become-a-member
Download January 2018 Newsletter

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Hot Cider and Donuts at Cronk's Sunday, November 5th

10/15/2017

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The Wellesley Conservation Council
invites you to join your neighbors
for hot cider and donuts at
Cronk’s Rocky Woodland

Sunday, November 5th at 3 PM
18 Crown Ridge Road

Come enjoy an open fire, explore the charming Hansel and Gretel cottage,
and learn how you can help “Cronk’s” continue as the
wildflower garden that Gertrude Cronk established
in the 1930s for all our neighborhoods to enjoy in perpetuity.

Cronk’s Rocky Woodland
http://tiny.cc/cronks

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Open Gardens at Cronk's Rocky Woodland, June 11th, 2-4PM

6/4/2017

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The Wellesley Conservation Council announces an Open Garden at Cronk's Rocky Woodland on Sunday, June 11th from 2-4PM, across from 21 Crown Ridge Road. See marked native plants and flowers and explore the moss covered "Hansel and Gretel" garden house built by the Cronk family out of recycled materials over 50 years ago.

Come visit this sanctuary garden and learn more about the family who donated it to the Council in 1977 for the enjoyment of all the residents of Wellesley to be maintained as a native wooded garden.

We also thank Tony Czubarow who organized volunteers for his Eagle Scout project from Wellesley Boy Scout Troop 185 for a sanctuary clean up in preparation for the event. On June 4th, a dozen young men picked up scores of bags of loose leaves to help the native plants and flowers flourish.
More information can be found at http://www.wellesleyconservationcouncil.org/cronks-rocky-woodland.html

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"Why New England Has the Most Interesting Weather on Earth" Lecture - Tuesday, April 4th

3/12/2017

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Wellesley Conservation Council and Wellesley Free Library present:
Tim Kelley, NBC Boston/NECN Meteorologist
WHY NEW ENGLAND HAS THE MOST INTERESTING
WEATHER ON EARTH

Tuesday, April 4th, 2017
Wellesley Main Library Wakelin Room
7:00 PM
Meet Tim Kelley, a meteorologist with NECN since 1992 and now NBC Boston. His keen intuition and strong grasp of diverse meteorological tools have translated over the years into the delivery of consistently accurate weathercasts. A Cape Cod native, Tim's interests include cultural and climate history, geology and gardening. An experienced public speaker, at this presentation he will discuss the idiosyncrasies of our local climate and answer your questions.

Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Wellesley Conservation Council and the Wellesley Free Library.

The Wellesley Conservation Council Annual Meeting for the election of officers and board members
will precede the program at 6:30pm

Like and share this event on Facebook

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