Topic: School_News

Because school wil not reopen till Jan 4th we will extend the tree contest until then. With the break in the weather now is the time go go and get the last few or even start!

All photos must be in by Jan 5 at noon. Please send what you have so I iwll not be swamped.

Ok so I am an awful public speaker… That’s why I spend so much time in the woods… just me and my Chain saw. As I said last night if you are a small group and would like a tour of any of the open spaces I am happy to do so. E-mail me and we will set up a time. I will be doing a walk this Thursday at 3pm at Thanksgiving forest (Janet Road). I will cover basic history of the site, mail markings and point out some new trail work and how and why it was built. It a Scout walk but we have a bunch of extra people coming (16 scouts +10 adults).

To explore more of what we have to offer click the icon of the camera and explore the 5000 pictures of Chelmsford.

Here is the powerpoint from last night incase you want to take a closer look

Click here for slides

Thanksgiving Ground Forest

The Thanksgiving Ground Forest is a 45-acre Town Forest located adjacent to the Farms 1 neighborhood in South Chelmsford. It borders on Russell Mill Pond's west bank and the Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle to the South. The area gets its name from the historic annual gathering of the men of the Town at a mass of boulders each Thanksgiving Day for a fox hunt. Due to its pond frontage it offers great waterbased recreation potential. It is only a short carry with the canoe to get from the end of Janet Road to the edge of the pond. Access is also available from Gary Road and Kristin Drive. The trails also connect to Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, which is also discussed in this guidebook. The forest is a mix of hard and soft woods. There are also enormous outcroppings of ledge and massive boulders on the property. The extreme southern end of the Forest brings one to the upper end of Russell Mill Pond, where River Meadow Brook enters the pond from Carlisle.

Great news for the program Bob Giunta has agreed to be our advisor on trail issues and paperwork.

“LOWELL -- Whether it is the imprints of his mountain bike's tires or the orientation signs guiding hikers, bikers and walkers, Bob Giunta has left his mark on the Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro state forest.
The Chelmsford resident has embraced the forest's well-being and upkeep as a member of both the Friends of the Forest and the New England Mountain Bike Association. He estimates that this year alone, he has spent 175 hours in the woods.”

What does this mean to the program? Well in it can be described in two words experience and expertise. I spent quite a while with Bob yesterday in my office and his (Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro state forest and our Open spaces) and I learned more in those few hours than I have in years. Bob will help guide us on when and what paper work we need for a project. Different options for a project and most of all how to put this all together so we can give ConCom a professional presentation. As to the program expands it is important that we add this component. Bill was with us yesterday and he was impressed… and that says a lot right there.

So a big welcome from all us Stewards so as the snow falls and we have more free times expect to see plans forming for 2007.