We're going to be replacing the a bridge over the brook at Wright this Sunday (May 25th) starting at 10am. It's the oldest bridge on the trails and it's really showing its age. Keep following the trail to the right, it's the first bridge you cross.

We could use volunteers to help, especially if you have a battery powered saw.

BIG THANKS go to Moore's Lumber for giving an amazing discount on the materials.

Update: The build went well! Check out the results HERE.

This Saturday, the 17th, is Massachusetts Park Serve Day. The closest participating parks are Great Brook Farm State Park adjacent to Thanksgiving Forest, and Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest. Great Brook's cleanup is indicated as kid friendly. The Lowell-Dracut cleanup is a Friends of the Forest clean-up day in conjunction with the DCR Park Serve Day.

Full info is on the Park Serve Day website.

Chelmsford - The Chelmsford Garden Club will present a Spectacular House Tour on Sunday, June 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Monday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This always-popular event will be titled “A Prelude to Summer.” A great array of properties will be open for viewing, followed by a fabulous Tea at the All Saints Episcopal Church Hall, 10 Billerica Road, Chelmsford.

Thanks to Ben and his Dad from Scout troop 75 we had the site fully cleared within 24 hours. Not only did Ben and his dad help clean but they where the ones who called in the fire and help guide the Fire Department to the site. When they spotted the fire it was only about 40 feet across but within 15 minutes it covered close to an acre. It was quick thinking and cool heads of both of these residents that helped make this just an incident and not a major issue. Both Carlisle and Chelmsford FD responded amazing quickly. Our thanks go out to all who where involved.

Click here for Photos

If you wonder how long it took to build the culvert at Crooked Springs click the list below. Estimated donated labor is around 20K to the Town. That comes out to over 40 times the entire budget of the program!

We had a good size brush fire at Thanksgiving Forest late Sunday afternoon. It was down by the bridge. If you drive to the end of Kristen dr. it was way behind the last house on the right. There were no signs of any parties that CFD could find in the area. Fire officials spoke with some neighbors and they said that area is not a "active" party spot. CFD did check the Gary rd side and the Janet rd side and didn't find anything. CFD also drove into Carlisle down by great brook farm and talked with some people in that area and they reported they have not had any campfire problems on that side. The fire it ranged in the area of the bridge and it ran in all directions up the hill towards Kristen dr.

Thanks go out to CFD for catching and putting out this fire. We will send in a clean up crew and post photos. This is one of the major reasons we crack down on fires and “parties” on the sites.

Bob had a crew of 6 who worked on the new/new trail at Russell Mill this Sat.

Click here for Photos

Swing by the bank if you get a chance and see the cool display about the Stewardship. I have seen it and it is amazing!

So here is what has been up in the last two days.

Friday we re seeded the orchard at Red Wing
Click here pictures

Sat we got a donation of tools from Troop 74
Click here for photos

Pack 77 cleared a entire hay field!
Click here for Photos

And finally we completed the Butterfly Garden and built a stone bench to go along with it.
Click here for Photos

Ok where to start…. Its not been that we have not been doing anything but just way too much. I guess we will start at the top and do “the good, the bad and the ugly”

The Good:
Earth day was amazing and we where active on five sites. (you can see all those pictures on the story below). Russell Mill continues to move forward and we will be opening miles (yes I said miles ) of technical running trails and intermediate mountain bike trails. Crooked Spring has had some major clean up and the drainage\trail reconstruction is complete. Click here for all the pictures . Repair\rebuild of the crossing at Deep Brook as had great results and the brook is quickly returning to a “Deep Brook” I did get some great pictures during a driving rain storm Sunday May 4th Click here for pictures . Jones Farm,CBA and some private residents have all come forward to help the program in our hour of need so look for a story soon on all of this. The Chelmsford Garden , Girl Scouts and Jones Farm are on track to install a butterfly garden at Red Wing in a few weeks. Red wing has eaten up a lot of out time and check out the pictures Click here for pictures here and Click here for more here.

The Bad:
In a nut shell … jerks trashing open spaces. We are working with the Town, CPD and CFD to control this incidents. If you see any trouble call me at once and I will get it resolved. I will keep the source confidential if you like. If you want to see the dark side of what we clean up.
Click here for pictures of abuse

The Ugly:
Click here for the Ugly


Look for 3 walks in June and a Geo Cache event in July and a lot more! Want to help? Please e-mail me.

Wow! Earth Day weekend and we where everywhere and did everything! It will take me a few day to sort and post everything but here are the photos as I have them sofar.


Click here for Earth Day Quarry
Click here for Earth Day Wright
Click here for Earth Day Red Wing
Click here for Day After Earth day Red wing
Click here for Crooked Spring Eagle Scout Project
Click here for Day After Earth Day All Sites
Click here for Mulch Pick up for all sites

This Sunday, Phil will be speaking on choosing perennials for specific conditions in your yard. Discussions about deer-resistant perennials, dry-soil perennials, shade perennials, butterfly perennials and other perennials that are suited for particular conditions in your garden.
Don’t miss this great talk!

246 Acton Road, Rt. 27
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Well its earth day and we can allways use help. I will be at the Quarry 8am - 10 am and then over to Red Wing 10-12. We have other crews in place all over town and if you want to join us stop on over or call me at 978-273-1474

-Phil

Local Cable will start shooting a series on the Open Spaces in Town. This will start Weds April 30 at 4pm at Crooked Springs. If any Stewards are interested in being part of this please let me know.

Saturday, April 19th, 2008
50 Swain Road, North Chelmsford, MA
Open Shooting Competitions &
Spaghetti and Meatball Supper
Shooting Events:
Black Powder Lucky Target Shoot, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
(Muzzle-loading Long Arms & Pistols w/open sights only)
Trap (Shotgun) Shoot, Noon – 4:00 PM
.22 LR Plinking Fun Shoot – All day long – Bring the Kids!
Rain or Shine
Prizes will be awarded to the winners!
Loaner guns and instructions will be made available
Minimal entry fees for most events
Hot dogs and Hamburgers available for purchase at the Snack Shack
SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALL SUPPER
Join us for an evening of food, fun and entertainment!
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Cost: $7 for adults, $4 for children under 12
Includes: Soft drink, salad, garlic bread, meal and dessert
CONTACT: JIM M. @ 978-455-9694 TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR
THE SPAGHETTI SUPPER