Acton Invasives Wiki - User contributions [en]

Morrison Farm

2026-02-19T02:21:12Z

Watlington: 2025 work

[[File:MF Invasives Map 2024.png|thumb|883x883px]]
[https://trails.actonma.gov/morrison-farm/ Morrison Farm] is a town-owned property located on Concord Rd. between Icehouse Pond on Nashoba Brook and the Woodlawn Cemetery. It consists of both several large meadow areas, the pond shoreline, and a wooded area beyond the meadow which is contiguous with the wooded areas of Woodlawn Cemetery. The largest Acton Community Garden occupies part of one of the meadows, and there is both an unused house and a remaining barn which is used by the town for equipment storage. An attempt by the Town Recreation Dept. to take the land and build a Recreation center on it was defeated in the early 2000s. There is an ongoing attempt to obtain an agricultural restriction on this land.

The Land Stewards (LSC) have been officially watching over Morrison Farm since 2018 (unofficially since its purchase by the town). The pumphouse for the Community Garden doubles as the storage shed for the LSC.

While a small parking lot and boat ramp access to Icehouse Pond had long been present on Concord Rd., the town greatly improved this area starting in 2019. They enlarged the parking lot, and added a handicap accessible trail along the western edge of Icehouse pond, including two long-needed bridges across the rivulet/swamps draining into the pond. As part of this improvement, in 2019 the Wet Meadow (the meadow between areas L and K in the map) was professionally mowed for the first time in decades, re-establishing it as a meadow.

Note that a whole separate page is needed for work along the eastern side of Icehouse Pond (not discussed here).

== Pam Resor Orchard ==
The Pam Resor Orchard needs occasional work clearing the mulched areas around the trees, and also adding new mulch. In dry times, the younger trees can use some water from the Community Garden.

The real work here is in keeping the invasives down in the "meadow" area at the edge, and under the adjacent Cherry and Crabapple trees.

The adjacent meadow is supposed to be mowed by the town every fall, but it is frequently "missed". The areas around the bird-nests need manual cutting/clearing every year regardless.

The area under the large Cherry tree in the southwest corner was first cleared in 2016, and years later continues to provide copious [[Asian Bittersweet]] regrowth. The Crabapple trees (really part of Area L) followed a year later, then the area in between (once a [[Bush Honeysuckle]]/Asian Bittersweet thicket preventing an view of the Wet Meadow!)

In 2025, these areas still require yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

== Area A - The Horse Paddock ==
This is the old horse paddock, which since 2019 contains the Community Garden pump and pump house/LSC storage shed. It drops off to the south into a low-land between it and Concord Rd. which continues back to the swamp separating it from the Icehouse Pond parking lot.

Since 2019, there has been an attempt to keep a path mowed back through the paddock to the back gate, partially to help with invasive plant removal. Starting in 2021, there has been regular use of a footpath coming in from Concord Rd. along the eastern edge of the paddock and joining with the Yellow Path. This has been encouraged by removing the invasives along the path.

As of 2024, the paddock still has a lean-to in the back which has lost its corrugated tin roof and is falling off of its foundation. The town has been asked multiple times to please remove it. In 2017, before there was a Community Garden pump & pump-house, Joe Holmes got several Land Stewards to pull the Asian Bittersweet off, then realized that the roof was falling off.

The path through the paddock, and the area under the trees next to the fence have been mowed once or twice a year since 2020. They were mowed in June 2024.

Along the Concord Rd. side, the fence is starting to lose boards (they are longer than the normal fence boards). It was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in 2023.

== Area B - The Blackberry Patch ==
There had long been a blackberry patch in this area, but starting in 2019 the invasive plants (Asian Bittersweet) were manually removed and signs put up to prevent mowing of this area in the fall. The result is a gorgeous patch of blackberries which are enjoyed by Acton residents, both feathered and not.

Long term maintenance of this patch will require occasional mowing to help w. the invasives and prevent any woody growth. The idea is to split the patch into two areas, and allow one area to be mowed every fourth year (alternating to ensure there are always blackberries to pick!). Due to fallen down signage, this patch was mowed in fall 2025.

== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==
[[File:White Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|left|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
[[File:Pink Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
There is a stand of Crabapple trees between the meadow and the trail, which creates stunning visuals in the spring (there are several different Crabapple varieties, w. various flower colors).

The Crabapple Orchard itself is in relatively good shape (although always in need of deadwood pruning). The western (meadow) edge is the big problem. A serious attempt to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet on this edge began in 2022. It was continued in 2023 (and partially in 2024). In 2025, the entire patch was cleared, including girding a couple of large Glossy Buckthorn trees and cutting (but not clearing) a large cluster of MF Rose in the Northwest corner.

The opposite side of the trail from the Crabapple orchard is a combination of Dogwood, [[Multiflora Rose|MF Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], and [[Glossy Buckthorn]], which is being gradually cleaned up. It is actually better thought of as [[Morrison Farm#Area L - The Sump|Area L]].

== Area D - The Oaks ==
[[File:Morrison Farm Barn.jpg|thumb|The Barn in its heyday]]
This area is the hedge row between Morrison Farm and the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery. It has a couple of large Oak trees w. a Spruce and Cherry trees in between, then transitions to Eastern White Pine closer to Concord Rd.

The trees were being overtaken by [[Asian Bittersweet]] when first approached in 2019. This was cleared from the trees, but the town had left equipment along the edge preventing mowing. In 2022 the town moved the equipment, allowing mowing of that area.

It was completely mowed (to the fence row) in 2022 and 2023. Note that the opposite side (in the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery) was also mowed w. the field mower, in order to deter regrowth.

In 2024, that area desperately needs mowing, but the town has once again parked equipment (tractor accessories) there. A farm structure which previously delimited this area and was used for equipment storage was removed in 2023 after self-destructing in the elements (roofing flying off, walls dropping).

There are a number of [[Common Buckthorn|common buckthorn]] trees in that hedge row. This was awaiting positive ID, then NR approval. Girding started in June 2024.

A corollary to this area is the Asian Bittersweet vines growing along the back edge of the barn, and the Glossy Buckthorn thicket supporting them. These were last cleared in June 2024. Due to the age of the adjacent structure, Grape, Nightshade, and Virginia Creeper vines are all cut in that area.

== Area E - Cemetery Border ==
The woodlands between the meadows and Woodlawn Cemetery are not officially part of Morrison Farm. Past the stone wall it is all Cemetery Land, but the trail network is contiguous with that of Morrison Farm, and the town allows removal of invasive species on all town land.

The main invasive in this area is [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]]. It has been occasionally swept since 2016, and still needs clearing of regrowth and new growth.

== Area F - The Meadow Border ==
The northern and western borders of the large meadow are where the invasive plants explode. Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet are the main culprits.

A large concern is removing any trees which fall into the meadow, as invasives will quickly take hold in any area not getting its yearly mowing. In October of 2019, three large trees which had fallen into the meadow over the previous couple of years (including one which caused a re-routing of the trail which is still maintained as an option five years later) were cleared by a work party with three sawyers and a number of volunteers.

Another concern is that due to overhanging branches, the town doesn't mow very close to the edge, meaning that the edge advances into the meadow every year. A regular effort is needed to cut back branches that intrude too far into the meadow.

The western border was initially cleared of invasives at the end of 2025. It will need re-clearing in 2026.

The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024.

== Area G - The Wooded Area ==
This is a huge area, which faces the same problems as Area E: [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]].

== Area H - The Causeway ==
This is a causeway going out to the site of an old bridge across Nashoba Brook. The Acton Historical Society believes that it was built in the early 1800s, to connect the John Robbins house at 144 Great Rd. with farmland across Nashoba Brook. In the early 2020s, the bridge site was the location of a beaver dam.

The causeway needs regular clearing to remain passable. It was cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Across Nashoba Brook from the causeway is another causeway, which was also cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

== Area I - The Jungle ==
This area is a thicket of Glossy Buckthorn, gradually being taken over by Asian Bittersweet. The marshy area closer to the pond has lots of Glossy Buckthorn but is in better shape.

In Jan. 2026, there was attempt to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of the remaining trees in the area.

== Area J - Old Icehouse Pond Trail ==
This is a well-worn path along the edge of Icehouse pond, including a place where dogs frequently go for a swim on the northern end. It was well used before the town added the bridges and created the Yellow loop trail.

The vegetation between the trail and the pond edge has been cleared of invasive plants (mostly Glossy Buckthorn) yearly since 2020. It still needs a yearly sweep to cut regrowth from existibng roots (done in 2024).

The vegetation between the trail and the meadow is another story. It is a mess of large [[Autumn Olive]], [[Glossy Buckthorn]], and [[Multiflora Rose]], adorned with [[Asian Bittersweet]]. This was bush-hogged somewhat in 2018, and has seen occasional attempts at clearing, but remains as an active work area. The adjacent meadow itself has a large amount of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn, and could probably benefit from mowing twice yearly.

A 40' section right to the south of the dog access was moved inland by 6' in 2022, due to path erosion preventing any growth along the pond edge.

== Icehouse Pond ==
[[File:Icehouse Pond Maple Trees across the pond.jpg|thumb|Fall View of Eastern side of Icehouse Pond]]
This area has great potential, but the town dedicates very little to its maintenance, other than a regular mowing. The enlarged parking lot meets the needs of both Bruce Freeman bike path access and access to Morrison Farm/Icehouse pond. There is a great kiosk describing the use of Icehouse pond in the past two-hundred years. The accessible trail is built of a stabilized engineered wood product, which has held up relatively well over its first decade.

The town ignores any vegetation that isn't lawn. This means there are plenty of invasive plants, and maintenance needed. There was a collapsed wood beam wall along the path for six years, which was finally moved to the trash and the town hauled the wood away in 2025.

The vegetation around the parking lot is mostly Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet, although there is a promising Aspen colony which might eventually crowd it out. This malaise extends into the swamp next to the parking lot.

The vegetation between the Accessible trail and the pond near the parking lot has largely been cleared since 2021, with one final section cleared in June 2024. The trail then winds away from the pond and continues north. This section experienced serious trail widening, and had brush piles placed in 2022/2023/2024 to keep walkers on the path. The area around the path in this section had a serious Glossy Buckthorn infestation, which is starting to come under control (cleared yearly since 2022, last in Aug. 2025).

The native vegetation along Icehouse pond has been trimmed back in the 2023/2024 period by a beaver active in the area. This should improve the viewing, but encourages the invasive plants.

== Area K - The Fishing Trail ==
This is another trail that was maintained by fisherman and intrepid walkers, long before the town opened it up to everyone. Originally accessed either by a series of logs laid through the bog from the old Icehouse Pond parking area, or by mucking through the sump draining Area L between the two wet meadows, this trail goes parallel to the yellow accessible trail, closer to the pond. The vegetation along the trail is in pretty good shape, with lots of Highbush Blueberries. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn.

The trouble area is on the northern edge, where it approaches the sump. There is lots of Asian Bittersweet in this area.

Swept to clear regrowth in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (except for the trouble area).

== Area L - The Sump ==
Morrison Farm has a highland, which includes the house, barn, Pam Resor Orchard, Community Garden, Paddock and the large meadow. There is also a lowland: two "wet meadows" which can be quite muddy for large parts of the year. There is a ditch separating the highlands from the wet meadows, in an early attempt at improving the drainage in the wet meadows. This ditch runs north/south to the east of the Blue trail, and has a drainage ditch running between the two wet meadows (covered by a large accessible bridge).

The ditch is lined with Dogwoods, Crabapples, Birches, Cherries and other trees. It is also home to a long term Asian Bittersweet infestation, and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an old concrete pump-house (directly uphill from the drainage ditch draining the sump into Icehouse pond, behind the Blackberry patch.

The southern end was worked, starting in 2019, as part of clearing the edge of the Pam Resor Orchard, and the northern end has been worked starting about the same time as part of the Crabapple orchard. The entire length was worked to cut Asian Bittersweet in 2023, and again in 2025. It needs regular sweeps to clear regrowth from root. In 2025 an effort was made to either cut or gird all the Glossy Buckthorn and cut off the Bush Honeysuckle at the base.

The area around the meadow edges, especially where the Yellow trail bridge crosses the sump, has Glossy Buckthorn infestations. Around the Yellow trail bridge over the sump, these have been worked yearly since 2020: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

== Area M - Concord Rd. Boundary ==
This area is also not legally part of Morrison Farm, but is otherwise ignored by the town. There are vigorous Oaks here, and the only attention required is to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Norway Maple saplings trying to crowd them out. This includes both sides of the stone wall along Concord Rd.

Cleared in 2023, and the town cut everything close to the road in 2024.

== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==
This is not legally part of Morrison Farm, but this is a very visible part of Acton: the backdrop to the Joseph Robbins homesite, and the end piece of the Concord Rd. playing fields. Due to this ambiguity, permission was obtained (Oct. 2022) from the Cemetery commission to allow invasives removal here.

Black plastic, covered in wood chips, was used in under the Spruce tree, and also under one of the Cedars, to smother the Asian Bittersweet. It should be up for removal in Fall, 2026.

This area was mowed of regrowth in late June 2024 and August 2025.

The beautiful, large crabapple tree was cleared out of Asian Bittersweet, Common Buckthorn, and Bush Honeysuckle in 2022, and the town has kept it clear, mowing underneath it.

Morrison Farm

2026-02-19T01:59:05Z

Watlington: Described work done in late 2025.

[[File:MF Invasives Map 2024.png|thumb|883x883px]]
[https://trails.actonma.gov/morrison-farm/ Morrison Farm] is a town-owned property located on Concord Rd. between Icehouse Pond on Nashoba Brook and the Woodlawn Cemetery. It consists of both several large meadow areas, the pond shoreline, and a wooded area beyond the meadow which is contiguous with the wooded areas of Woodlawn Cemetery. The largest Acton Community Garden occupies part of one of the meadows, and there is both an unused house and a remaining barn which is used by the town for equipment storage. An attempt by the Town Recreation Dept. to take the land and build a Recreation center on it was defeated in the early 2000s. There is an ongoing attempt to obtain an agricultural restriction on this land.

The Land Stewards (LSC) have been officially watching over Morrison Farm since 2018 (unofficially since its purchase by the town). The pumphouse for the Community Garden doubles as the storage shed for the LSC.

While a small parking lot and boat ramp access to Icehouse Pond had long been present on Concord Rd., the town greatly improved this area starting in 2019. They enlarged the parking lot, and added a handicap accessible trail along the western edge of Icehouse pond, including two long-needed bridges across the rivulet/swamps draining into the pond. As part of this improvement, in 2019 the Wet Meadow (the meadow between areas L and K in the map) was professionally mowed for the first time in decades, re-establishing it as a meadow.

Note that a whole separate page is needed for work along the eastern side of Icehouse Pond (not discussed here).

== Pam Resor Orchard ==
The Pam Resor Orchard needs occasional work clearing the mulched areas around the trees, and also adding new mulch. In dry times, the younger trees can use some water from the Community Garden.

The real work here is in keeping the invasives down in the "meadow" area at the edge, and under the adjacent Cherry and Crabapple trees.

The adjacent meadow is supposed to be mowed by the town every fall, but it is frequently "missed". The areas around the bird-nests need manual cutting/clearing every year regardless.

The area under the large Cherry tree in the southwest corner was first cleared in 2016, and years later continues to provide copious [[Asian Bittersweet]] regrowth. The Crabapple trees (really part of Area L) followed a year later, then the area in between (once a [[Bush Honeysuckle]]/Asian Bittersweet thicket preventing an view of the Wet Meadow!)

In 2025, these areas still require yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

== Area A - The Horse Paddock ==
This is the old horse paddock, which since 2019 contains the Community Garden pump and pump house/LSC storage shed. It drops off to the south into a low-land between it and Concord Rd. which continues back to the swamp separating it from the Icehouse Pond parking lot.

Since 2019, there has been an attempt to keep a path mowed back through the paddock to the back gate, partially to help with invasive plant removal. Starting in 2021, there has been regular use of a footpath coming in from Concord Rd. along the eastern edge of the paddock and joining with the Yellow Path. This has been encouraged by removing the invasives along the path.

As of 2024, the paddock still has a lean-to in the back which has lost its corrugated tin roof and is falling off of its foundation. The town has been asked multiple times to please remove it. In 2017, before there was a Community Garden pump & pump-house, Joe Holmes got several Land Stewards to pull the Asian Bittersweet off, then realized that the roof was falling off.

The path through the paddock, and the area under the trees next to the fence have been mowed once or twice a year since 2020. They were mowed in June 2024.

Along the Concord Rd. side, the fence is starting to lose boards (they are longer than the normal fence boards). It was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in 2023.

== Area B - The Blackberry Patch ==
There had long been a blackberry patch in this area, but starting in 2019 the invasive plants (Asian Bittersweet) were manually removed and signs put up to prevent mowing of this area in the fall. The result is a gorgeous patch of blackberries which are enjoyed by Acton residents, both feathered and not.

Long term maintenance of this patch will require occasional mowing to help w. the invasives and prevent any woody growth. The idea is to split the patch into two areas, and allow one area to be mowed every fourth year (alternating to ensure there are always blackberries to pick!). Due to fallen down signage, this patch was mowed in fall 2025.

== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==
[[File:White Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|left|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
[[File:Pink Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
There is a stand of Crabapple trees between the meadow and the trail, which creates stunning visuals in the spring (there are several different Crabapple varieties, w. various flower colors).

The Crabapple Orchard itself is in relatively good shape (although always in need of deadwood pruning). The western (meadow) edge is the big problem. A serious attempt to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet on this edge began in 2022. It was continued in 2023 (and partially in 2024). In 2025, the entire patch was cleared, including girding a couple of large Glossy Buckthorn trees and cutting (but not clearing) a large cluster of MF Rose in the Northwest corner.

The opposite side of the trail from the Crabapple orchard is a combination of Dogwood, [[Multiflora Rose|MF Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], and [[Glossy Buckthorn]], which is being gradually cleaned up. It is actually better thought of as [[Morrison Farm#Area L - The Sump|Area L]].

== Area D - The Oaks ==
[[File:Morrison Farm Barn.jpg|thumb|The Barn in its heyday]]
This area is the hedge row between Morrison Farm and the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery. It has a couple of large Oak trees w. a Spruce and Cherry trees in between, then transitions to Eastern White Pine closer to Concord Rd.

The trees were being overtaken by [[Asian Bittersweet]] when first approached in 2019. This was cleared from the trees, but the town had left equipment along the edge preventing mowing. In 2022 the town moved the equipment, allowing mowing of that area.

It was completely mowed (to the fence row) in 2022 and 2023. Note that the opposite side (in the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery) was also mowed w. the field mower, in order to deter regrowth.

In 2024, that area desperately needs mowing, but the town has once again parked equipment (tractor accessories) there. A farm structure which previously delimited this area and was used for equipment storage was removed in 2023 after self-destructing in the elements (roofing flying off, walls dropping).

There are a number of [[Common Buckthorn|common buckthorn]] trees in that hedge row. This was awaiting positive ID, then NR approval. Girding started in June 2024.

A corollary to this area is the Asian Bittersweet vines growing along the back edge of the barn, and the Glossy Buckthorn thicket supporting them. These were last cleared in June 2024. Due to the age of the adjacent structure, Grape, Nightshade, and Virginia Creeper vines are all cut in that area.

== Area E - Cemetery Border ==
The woodlands between the meadows and Woodlawn Cemetery are not officially part of Morrison Farm. Past the stone wall it is all Cemetery Land, but the trail network is contiguous with that of Morrison Farm, and the town allows removal of invasive species on all town land.

The main invasive in this area is [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]]. It has been occasionally swept since 2016, and still needs clearing of regrowth and new growth.

== Area F - The Meadow Border ==
The northern and western borders of the large meadow are where the invasive plants explode. Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet are the main culprits.

There has been no concentrated effort to remove invasives along the border since 2000, only irregular ones.

A large concern is removing any trees which fall into the meadow, as invasives will quickly take hold in any area not getting its yearly mowing. In October of 2019, three large trees which had fallen into the meadow over the previous couple of years (including one which caused a re-routing of the trail which is still maintained as an option five years later) were cleared by a work party with three sawyers and a number of volunteers.

Another concern is that due to overhanging branches, the town doesn't mow very close to the edge, meaning that the edge advances into the meadow every year. A regular effort is needed to cut back branches that intrude too far into the meadow.

The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024.

== Area G - The Wooded Area ==
This is a huge area, which faces the same problems as Area E: [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]].

== Area H - The Causeway ==
This is a causeway going out to the site of an old bridge across Nashoba Brook. The Acton Historical Society believes that it was built in the early 1800s, to connect the John Robbins house at 144 Great Rd. with farmland across Nashoba Brook. In the early 2020s, the bridge site was the location of a beaver dam.

The causeway needs regular clearing to remain passable. It was cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Across Nashoba Brook from the causeway is another causeway, which was also cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

== Area I - The Jungle ==
This area is a thicket of Glossy Buckthorn, gradually being taken over by Asian Bittersweet. The marshy area closer to the pond has lots of Glossy Buckthorn but is in better shape.

In Jan. 2026, there was attempt to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of the remaining trees in the area.

== Area J - Old Icehouse Pond Trail ==
This is a well-worn path along the edge of Icehouse pond, including a place where dogs frequently go for a swim on the northern end. It was well used before the town added the bridges and created the Yellow loop trail.

The vegetation between the trail and the pond edge has been cleared of invasive plants (mostly Glossy Buckthorn) yearly since 2020. It still needs a yearly sweep to cut regrowth from existibng roots (done in 2024).

The vegetation between the trail and the meadow is another story. It is a mess of large [[Autumn Olive]], [[Glossy Buckthorn]], and [[Multiflora Rose]], adorned with [[Asian Bittersweet]]. This was bush-hogged somewhat in 2018, and has seen occasional attempts at clearing, but remains as an active work area. The adjacent meadow itself has a large amount of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn, and could probably benefit from mowing twice yearly.

A 40' section right to the south of the dog access was moved inland by 6' in 2022, due to path erosion preventing any growth along the pond edge.

== Icehouse Pond ==
[[File:Icehouse Pond Maple Trees across the pond.jpg|thumb|Fall View of Eastern side of Icehouse Pond]]
This area has great potential, but the town dedicates very little to its maintenance, other than a regular mowing. The enlarged parking lot meets the needs of both Bruce Freeman bike path access and access to Morrison Farm/Icehouse pond. There is a great kiosk describing the use of Icehouse pond in the past two-hundred years. The accessible trail is built of a stabilized engineered wood product, which has held up relatively well over its first decade.

The town ignores any vegetation that isn't lawn. This means there are plenty of invasive plants, and maintenance needed. There was a collapsed wood beam wall along the path for six years, which was finally moved to the trash and the town hauled the wood away in 2025.

The vegetation around the parking lot is mostly Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet, although there is a promising Aspen colony which might eventually crowd it out. This malaise extends into the swamp next to the parking lot.

The vegetation between the Accessible trail and the pond near the parking lot has largely been cleared since 2021, with one final section cleared in June 2024. The trail then winds away from the pond and continues north. This section experienced serious trail widening, and had brush piles placed in 2022/2023/2024 to keep walkers on the path. The area around the path in this section had a serious Glossy Buckthorn infestation, which is starting to come under control (cleared yearly since 2022, last in Aug. 2025).

The native vegetation along Icehouse pond has been trimmed back in the 2023/2024 period by a beaver active in the area. This should improve the viewing, but encourages the invasive plants.

== Area K - The Fishing Trail ==
This is another trail that was maintained by fisherman and intrepid walkers, long before the town opened it up to everyone. Originally accessed either by a series of logs laid through the bog from the old Icehouse Pond parking area, or by mucking through the sump draining Area L between the two wet meadows, this trail goes parallel to the yellow accessible trail, closer to the pond. The vegetation along the trail is in pretty good shape, with lots of Highbush Blueberries. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn.

The trouble area is on the northern edge, where it approaches the sump. There is lots of Asian Bittersweet in this area.

Swept to clear regrowth in 2023 and 2024 (except for the trouble area).

== Area L - The Sump ==
Morrison Farm has a highland, which includes the house, barn, Pam Resor Orchard, Community Garden, Paddock and the large meadow. There is also a lowland: two "wet meadows" which can be quite muddy for large parts of the year. There is a ditch separating the highlands from the wet meadows, in an early attempt at improving the drainage in the wet meadows. This ditch runs north/south to the east of the Blue trail, and has a drainage ditch running between the two wet meadows (covered by a large accessible bridge).

The ditch is lined with Dogwoods, Crabapples, Birches, Cherries and other trees. It is also home to a long term Asian Bittersweet infestation, and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an old concrete pump-house (directly uphill from the drainage ditch draining the sump into Icehouse pond, behind the Blackberry patch.

The southern end was worked, starting in 2019, as part of clearing the edge of the Pam Resor Orchard, and the northern end has been worked starting about the same time as part of the Crabapple orchard. The entire length was worked to cut Asian Bittersweet in 2023, and again in 2025. It needs regular sweeps to clear regrowth from root. In 2025 an effort was made to either cut or gird all the Glossy Buckthorn and cut off the Bush Honeysuckle at the base.

The area around the meadow edges, especially where the Yellow trail bridge crosses the sump, has Glossy Buckthorn infestations. Around the Yellow trail bridge over the sump, these have been worked yearly since 2020: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

== Area M - Concord Rd. Boundary ==
This area is also not legally part of Morrison Farm, but is otherwise ignored by the town. There are vigorous Oaks here, and the only attention required is to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Norway Maple saplings trying to crowd them out. This includes both sides of the stone wall along Concord Rd.

Cleared in 2023, and the town cut everything close to the road in 2024.

== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==
This is not legally part of Morrison Farm, but this is a very visible part of Acton: the backdrop to the Joseph Robbins homesite, and the end piece of the Concord Rd. playing fields. Due to this ambiguity, permission was obtained (Oct. 2022) from the Cemetery commission to allow invasives removal here.

Black plastic, covered in wood chips, was used in under the Spruce tree, and also under one of the Cedars, to smother the Asian Bittersweet. It should be up for removal in Fall, 2026.

This area was mowed of regrowth in late June 2024 and August 2025.

The beautiful, large crabapple tree was cleared out of Asian Bittersweet, Common Buckthorn, and Bush Honeysuckle in 2022, and the town has kept it clear, mowing underneath it.

Morrison Farm

2025-11-19T01:52:18Z

Watlington: Updated Areas B, F, and L

[[File:MF Invasives Map 2024.png|thumb|883x883px]]
[https://trails.actonma.gov/morrison-farm/ Morrison Farm] is a town-owned property located on Concord Rd. between Icehouse Pond on Nashoba Brook and the Woodlawn Cemetery. It consists of both several large meadow areas, the pond shoreline, and a wooded area beyond the meadow which is contiguous with the wooded areas of Woodlawn Cemetery. The largest Acton Community Garden occupies part of one of the meadows, and there is both an unused house and a remaining barn which is used by the town for equipment storage. An attempt by the Town Recreation Dept. to take the land and build a Recreation center on it was defeated in the early 2000s. There is an ongoing attempt to obtain an agricultural restriction on this land.

The Land Stewards (LSC) have been officially watching over Morrison Farm since 2018 (unofficially since its purchase by the town). The pumphouse for the Community Garden doubles as the storage shed for the LSC.

While a small parking lot and boat ramp access to Icehouse Pond had long been present on Concord Rd., the town greatly improved this area starting in 2019. They enlarged the parking lot, and added a handicap accessible trail along the western edge of Icehouse pond, including two long-needed bridges across the rivulet/swamps draining into the pond. As part of this improvement, in 2019 the Wet Meadow (the meadow between areas L and K in the map) was professionally mowed for the first time in decades, re-establishing it as a meadow.

Note that a whole separate page is needed for work along the eastern side of Icehouse Pond (not discussed here).

== Pam Resor Orchard ==
The Pam Resor Orchard needs occasional work clearing the mulched areas around the trees, and also adding new mulch. In dry times, the younger trees can use some water from the Community Garden.

The real work here is in keeping the invasives down in the "meadow" area at the edge, and under the adjacent Cherry and Crabapple trees.

The adjacent meadow is supposed to be mowed by the town every fall, but it is frequently "missed". The areas around the bird-nests need manual cutting/clearing every year regardless.

The area under the large Cherry tree in the southwest corner was first cleared in 2016, and years later continues to provide copious [[Asian Bittersweet]] regrowth. The Crabapple trees (really part of Area L) followed a year later, then the area in between (once a [[Bush Honeysuckle]]/Asian Bittersweet thicket preventing an view of the Wet Meadow!)

In 2025, these areas still require yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

== Area A - The Horse Paddock ==
This is the old horse paddock, which since 2019 contains the Community Garden pump and pump house/LSC storage shed. It drops off to the south into a low-land between it and Concord Rd. which continues back to the swamp separating it from the Icehouse Pond parking lot.

Since 2019, there has been an attempt to keep a path mowed back through the paddock to the back gate, partially to help with invasive plant removal. Starting in 2021, there has been regular use of a footpath coming in from Concord Rd. along the eastern edge of the paddock and joining with the Yellow Path. This has been encouraged by removing the invasives along the path.

As of 2024, the paddock still has a lean-to in the back which has lost its corrugated tin roof and is falling off of its foundation. The town has been asked multiple times to please remove it. In 2017, before there was a Community Garden pump & pump-house, Joe Holmes got several Land Stewards to pull the Asian Bittersweet off, then realized that the roof was falling off.

The path through the paddock, and the area under the trees next to the fence have been mowed once or twice a year since 2020. They were mowed in June 2024.

Along the Concord Rd. side, the fence is starting to lose boards (they are longer than the normal fence boards). It was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in 2023.

== Area B - The Blackberry Patch ==
There had long been a blackberry patch in this area, but starting in 2019 the invasive plants (Asian Bittersweet) were manually removed and signs put up to prevent mowing of this area in the fall. The result is a gorgeous patch of blackberries which are enjoyed by Acton residents, both feathered and not.

Long term maintenance of this patch will require occasional mowing to help w. the invasives and prevent any woody growth. The idea is to split the patch into two areas, and allow one area to be mowed every fourth year (alternating to ensure there are always blackberries to pick!). Due to fallen down signage, this patch was mowed in fall 2025.

== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==
[[File:White Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|left|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
[[File:Pink Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
There is a stand of Crabapple trees between the meadow and the trail, which creates stunning visuals in the spring (there are several different Crabapple varieties, w. various flower colors).

The Crabapple Orchard itself is in relatively good shape (although always in need of deadwood pruning). The western (meadow) edge is the big problem. A serious attempt to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet on this edge began in 2022. It was continued in 2023 (and partially in 2024). In 2025, the entire patch was cleared, including girding a couple of large Glossy Buckthorn trees and cutting (but not clearing) a large cluster of MF Rose in the Northwest corner.

The opposite side of the trail from the Crabapple orchard is a combination of Dogwood, [[Multiflora Rose|MF Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], and [[Glossy Buckthorn]], which is being gradually cleaned up. It is actually better thought of as [[Morrison Farm#Area L - The Sump|Area L]].

== Area D - The Oaks ==
[[File:Morrison Farm Barn.jpg|thumb|The Barn in its heyday]]
This area is the hedge row between Morrison Farm and the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery. It has a couple of large Oak trees w. a Spruce and Cherry trees in between, then transitions to Eastern White Pine closer to Concord Rd.

The trees were being overtaken by [[Asian Bittersweet]] when first approached in 2019. This was cleared from the trees, but the town had left equipment along the edge preventing mowing. In 2022 the town moved the equipment, allowing mowing of that area.

It was completely mowed (to the fence row) in 2022 and 2023. Note that the opposite side (in the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery) was also mowed w. the field mower, in order to deter regrowth.

In 2024, that area desperately needs mowing, but the town has once again parked equipment (tractor accessories) there. A farm structure which previously delimited this area and was used for equipment storage was removed in 2023 after self-destructing in the elements (roofing flying off, walls dropping).

There are a number of [[Common Buckthorn|common buckthorn]] trees in that hedge row. This was awaiting positive ID, then NR approval. Girding started in June 2024.

A corollary to this area is the Asian Bittersweet vines growing along the back edge of the barn, and the Glossy Buckthorn thicket supporting them. These were last cleared in June 2024. Due to the age of the adjacent structure, Grape, Nightshade, and Virginia Creeper vines are all cut in that area.

== Area E - Cemetery Border ==
The woodlands between the meadows and Woodlawn Cemetery are not officially part of Morrison Farm. Past the stone wall it is all Cemetery Land, but the trail network is contiguous with that of Morrison Farm, and the town allows removal of invasive species on all town land.

The main invasive in this area is [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]]. It has been occasionally swept since 2016, and still needs clearing of regrowth and new growth.

== Area F - The Meadow Border ==
The northern and western borders of the large meadow are where the invasive plants explode. Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet are the main culprits.

There has been no concentrated effort to remove invasives along the border since 2000, only irregular ones.

A large concern is removing any trees which fall into the meadow, as invasives will quickly take hold in any area not getting its yearly mowing. In October of 2019, three large trees which had fallen into the meadow over the previous couple of years (including one which caused a re-routing of the trail which is still maintained as an option five years later) were cleared by a work party with three sawyers and a number of volunteers.

Another concern is that due to overhanging branches, the town doesn't mow very close to the edge, meaning that the edge advances into the meadow every year. A regular effort is needed to cut back branches that intrude too far into the meadow.

The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024.

== Area G - The Wooded Area ==
This is a huge area, which faces the same problems as Area E: [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]].

== Area H - The Causeway ==
This is a causeway going out to the site of an old bridge across Nashoba Brook. The Acton Historical Society believes that it was built in the early 1800s, to connect the John Robbins house at 144 Great Rd. with farmland across Nashoba Brook. In the early 2020s, the bridge site was the location of a beaver dam.

The causeway needs regular clearing to remain passable. It was cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Across Nashoba Brook from the causeway is another causeway, which was also cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

== Area I - The Jungle ==
This area is a thicket of Glossy Buckthorn, gradually being taken over by Asian Bittersweet.

There has been no attempt to work it since 2000.

== Area J - Old Icehouse Pond Trail ==
This is a well-worn path along the edge of Icehouse pond, including a place where dogs frequently go for a swim on the northern end. It was well used before the town added the bridges and created the Yellow loop trail.

The vegetation between the trail and the pond edge has been cleared of invasive plants (mostly Glossy Buckthorn) yearly since 2020. It still needs a yearly sweep to cut regrowth from existibng roots (done in 2024).

The vegetation between the trail and the meadow is another story. It is a mess of large [[Autumn Olive]], [[Glossy Buckthorn]], and [[Multiflora Rose]], adorned with [[Asian Bittersweet]]. This was bush-hogged somewhat in 2018, and has seen occasional attempts at clearing, but remains as an active work area. The adjacent meadow itself has a large amount of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn, and could probably benefit from mowing twice yearly.

A 40' section right to the south of the dog access was moved inland by 6' in 2022, due to path erosion preventing any growth along the pond edge.

== Icehouse Pond ==
[[File:Icehouse Pond Maple Trees across the pond.jpg|thumb|Fall View of Eastern side of Icehouse Pond]]
This area has great potential, but the town dedicates very little to its maintenance, other than a regular mowing. The enlarged parking lot meets the needs of both Bruce Freeman bike path access and access to Morrison Farm/Icehouse pond. There is a great kiosk describing the use of Icehouse pond in the past two-hundred years. The accessible trail is built of a stabilized engineered wood product, which has held up relatively well over its first decade.

The town ignores any vegetation that isn't lawn. This means there are plenty of invasive plants, and maintenance needed. There was a collapsed wood beam wall along the path for six years, which was finally moved to the trash and the town hauled the wood away in 2025.

The vegetation around the parking lot is mostly Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet, although there is a promising Aspen colony which might eventually crowd it out. This malaise extends into the swamp next to the parking lot.

The vegetation between the Accessible trail and the pond near the parking lot has largely been cleared since 2021, with one final section cleared in June 2024. The trail then winds away from the pond and continues north. This section experienced serious trail widening, and had brush piles placed in 2022/2023/2024 to keep walkers on the path. The area around the path in this section had a serious Glossy Buckthorn infestation, which is starting to come under control (cleared yearly since 2022, last in Aug. 2025).

The native vegetation along Icehouse pond has been trimmed back in the 2023/2024 period by a beaver active in the area. This should improve the viewing, but encourages the invasive plants.

== Area K - The Fishing Trail ==
This is another trail that was maintained by fisherman and intrepid walkers, long before the town opened it up to everyone. Originally accessed either by a series of logs laid through the bog from the old Icehouse Pond parking area, or by mucking through the sump draining Area L between the two wet meadows, this trail goes parallel to the yellow accessible trail, closer to the pond. The vegetation along the trail is in pretty good shape, with lots of Highbush Blueberries. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn.

The trouble area is on the northern edge, where it approaches the sump. There is lots of Asian Bittersweet in this area.

Swept to clear regrowth in 2023 and 2024 (except for the trouble area).

== Area L - The Sump ==
Morrison Farm has a highland, which includes the house, barn, Pam Resor Orchard, Community Garden, Paddock and the large meadow. There is also a lowland: two "wet meadows" which can be quite muddy for large parts of the year. There is a ditch separating the highlands from the wet meadows, in an early attempt at improving the drainage in the wet meadows. This ditch runs north/south to the east of the Blue trail, and has a drainage ditch running between the two wet meadows (covered by a large accessible bridge).

The ditch is lined with Dogwoods, Crabapples, Birches, Cherries and other trees. It is also home to a long term Asian Bittersweet infestation, and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an old concrete pump-house (directly uphill from the drainage ditch draining the sump into Icehouse pond, behind the Blackberry patch.

The southern end was worked, starting in 2019, as part of clearing the edge of the Pam Resor Orchard, and the northern end has been worked starting about the same time as part of the Crabapple orchard. The entire length was worked to cut Asian Bittersweet in 2023, and again in 2025. It needs regular sweeps to clear regrowth from root.

The area around the meadow edges, especially where the Yellow trail bridge crosses the sump, has Glossy Buckthorn infestations. Around the Yellow trail bridge over the sump, these have been worked yearly since 2020: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

== Area M - Concord Rd. Boundary ==
This area is also not legally part of Morrison Farm, but is otherwise ignored by the town. There are vigorous Oaks here, and the only attention required is to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Norway Maple saplings trying to crowd them out. This includes both sides of the stone wall along Concord Rd.

Cleared in 2023, and the town cut everything close to the road in 2024.

== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==
This is not legally part of Morrison Farm, but this is a very visible part of Acton: the backdrop to the Joseph Robbins homesite, and the end piece of the Concord Rd. playing fields. Due to this ambiguity, permission was obtained (Oct. 2022) from the Cemetery commission to allow invasives removal here.

Black plastic, covered in wood chips, was used in under the Spruce tree, and also under one of the Cedars, to smother the Asian Bittersweet. It should be up for removal in Fall, 2026.

This area was mowed of regrowth in late June 2024 and August 2025.

The beautiful, large crabapple tree was cleared out of Asian Bittersweet, Common Buckthorn, and Bush Honeysuckle in 2022, and the town has kept it clear, mowing underneath it.

Morrison Farm

2025-09-28T02:20:50Z

Watlington: Updated to reflect recent work

[[File:MF Invasives Map 2024.png|thumb|883x883px]]
[https://trails.actonma.gov/morrison-farm/ Morrison Farm] is a town-owned property located on Concord Rd. between Icehouse Pond on Nashoba Brook and the Woodlawn Cemetery. It consists of both several large meadow areas, the pond shoreline, and a wooded area beyond the meadow which is contiguous with the wooded areas of Woodlawn Cemetery. The largest Acton Community Garden occupies part of one of the meadows, and there is both an unused house and a remaining barn which is used by the town for equipment storage. An attempt by the Town Recreation Dept. to take the land and build a Recreation center on it was defeated in the early 2000s. There is an ongoing attempt to obtain an agricultural restriction on this land.

The Land Stewards (LSC) have been officially watching over Morrison Farm since 2018 (unofficially since its purchase by the town). The pumphouse for the Community Garden doubles as the storage shed for the LSC.

While a small parking lot and boat ramp access to Icehouse Pond had long been present on Concord Rd., the town greatly improved this area starting in 2019. They enlarged the parking lot, and added a handicap accessible trail along the western edge of Icehouse pond, including two long-needed bridges across the rivulet/swamps draining into the pond. As part of this improvement, in 2019 the Wet Meadow (the meadow between areas L and K in the map) was professionally mowed for the first time in decades, re-establishing it as a meadow.

Note that a whole separate page is needed for work along the eastern side of Icehouse Pond (not discussed here).

== Pam Resor Orchard ==
The Pam Resor Orchard needs occasional work clearing the mulched areas around the trees, and also adding new mulch. In dry times, the younger trees can use some water from the Community Garden.

The real work here is in keeping the invasives down in the "meadow" area at the edge, and under the adjacent Cherry and Crabapple trees.

The adjacent meadow is supposed to be mowed by the town every fall, but it is frequently "missed". The areas around the bird-nests need manual cutting/clearing every year regardless.

The area under the large Cherry tree in the southwest corner was first cleared in 2016, and years later continues to provide copious [[Asian Bittersweet]] regrowth. The Crabapple trees (really part of Area L) followed a year later, then the area in between (once a [[Bush Honeysuckle]]/Asian Bittersweet thicket preventing an view of the Wet Meadow!)

In 2024, these areas still require yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet and Bush Honeysuckle regrowth.

== Area A - The Horse Paddock ==
This is the old horse paddock, which since 2019 contains the Community Garden pump and pump house/LSC storage shed. It drops off to the south into a low-land between it and Concord Rd. which continues back to the swamp separating it from the Icehouse Pond parking lot.

Since 2019, there has been an attempt to keep a path mowed back through the paddock to the back gate, partially to help with invasive plant removal. Starting in 2021, there has been regular use of a footpath coming in from Concord Rd. along the eastern edge of the paddock and joining with the Yellow Path. This has been encouraged by removing the invasives along the path.

As of 2024, the paddock still has a lean-to in the back which has lost its corrugated tin roof and is falling off of its foundation. The town has been asked multiple times to please remove it. In 2017, before there was a Community Garden pump & pump-house, Joe Holmes got several Land Stewards to pull the Asian Bittersweet off, then realized that the roof was falling off.

The path through the paddock, and the area under the trees next to the fence have been mowed once or twice a year since 2020. They were mowed in June 2024.

Along the Concord Rd. side, the fence is starting to lose boards (they are longer than the normal fence boards). It was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in 2023.

== Area B - The Blackberry Patch ==
There had long been a blackberry patch in this area, but starting in 2019 the invasive plants (Asian Bittersweet) were manually removed and signs put up to prevent mowing of this area in the fall. The result is a gorgeous patch of blackberries which are enjoyed by Acton residents, both feathered and not.

Long term maintenance of this patch will require occasional mowing to help w. the invasives and prevent any woody growth. The idea is to split the patch into two areas, and allow one area to be mowed every fourth year (alternating to ensure there are always blackberries to pick!). This will hopefully start with the fall mowing in 2024.

== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==
[[File:White Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|left|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
[[File:Pink Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
There is a stand of Crabapple trees between the meadow and the trail, which creates stunning visuals in the spring (there are several different Crabapple varieties, w. various flower colors).

The Crabapple Orchard itself is in relatively good shape (although always in need of deadwood pruning). The western (meadow) edge is the big problem. A serious attempt to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet on this edge began in 2022. It was continued in 2023 (and partially in 2024). There is still a serious cluster of MF Rose which needs removal in the Northwest corner of the orchard.

The opposite side of the trail from the Crabapple orchard is a combination of Dogwood, [[Multiflora Rose|MF Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], and [[Glossy Buckthorn]], which is being gradually cleaned up. It is actually better thought of as [[Morrison Farm#Area L - The Sump|Area L]].

== Area D - The Oaks ==
[[File:Morrison Farm Barn.jpg|thumb|The Barn in its heyday]]
This area is the hedge row between Morrison Farm and the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery. It has a couple of large Oak trees w. a Spruce and Cherry trees in between, then transitions to Eastern White Pine closer to Concord Rd.

The trees were being overtaken by [[Asian Bittersweet]] when first approached in 2019. This was cleared from the trees, but the town had left equipment along the edge preventing mowing. In 2022 the town moved the equipment, allowing mowing of that area.

It was completely mowed (to the fence row) in 2022 and 2023. Note that the opposite side (in the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery) was also mowed w. the field mower, in order to deter regrowth.

In 2024, that area desperately needs mowing, but the town has once again parked equipment (tractor accessories) there. A farm structure which previously delimited this area and was used for equipment storage was removed in 2023 after self-destructing in the elements (roofing flying off, walls dropping).

There are a number of [[Common Buckthorn|common buckthorn]] trees in that hedge row. This was awaiting positive ID, then NR approval. Girding started in June 2024.

A corollary to this area is the Asian Bittersweet vines growing along the back edge of the barn, and the Glossy Buckthorn thicket supporting them. These were last cleared in June 2024. Due to the age of the adjacent structure, Grape, Nightshade, and Virginia Creeper vines are all cut in that area.

== Area E - Cemetery Border ==
The woodlands between the meadows and Woodlawn Cemetery are not officially part of Morrison Farm. Past the stone wall it is all Cemetery Land, but the trail network is contiguous with that of Morrison Farm, and the town allows removal of invasive species on all town land.

The main invasive in this area is [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]]. It has been occasionally swept since 2016, and still needs clearing of regrowth and new growth.

== Area F - The Meadow Border ==
The northern and western borders of the large meadow are where the invasive plants explode. Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet are the main culprits.

There has been no concentrated effort to remove invasives along the border since 2000, only irregular ones.

A large concern is removing any trees which fall into the meadow, as invasives will quickly take hold in any area not getting its yearly mowing. In October of 2019, three large trees which had fallen into the meadow over the previous couple of years (including one which caused a re-routing of the trail which is still maintained as an option five years later) were cleared by a work party with three sawyers and a number of volunteers.

Another concern is that due to overhanging branches, the town doesn't mow very close to the edge, meaning that the edge advances into the meadow every year. A regular effort is needed to cut back branches that intrude too far into the meadow.

The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024.

== Area G - The Wooded Area ==
This is a huge area, which faces the same problems as Area E: [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]].

== Area H - The Causeway ==
This is a causeway going out to the site of an old bridge across Nashoba Brook. The Acton Historical Society believes that it was built in the early 1800s, to connect the John Robbins house at 144 Great Rd. with farmland across Nashoba Brook. In the early 2020s, the bridge site was the location of a beaver dam.

The causeway needs regular clearing to remain passable. It was cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Across Nashoba Brook from the causeway is another causeway, which was also cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

== Area I - The Jungle ==
This area is a thicket of Glossy Buckthorn, gradually being taken over by Asian Bittersweet.

There has been no attempt to work it since 2000.

== Area J - Old Icehouse Pond Trail ==
This is a well-worn path along the edge of Icehouse pond, including a place where dogs frequently go for a swim on the northern end. It was well used before the town added the bridges and created the Yellow loop trail.

The vegetation between the trail and the pond edge has been cleared of invasive plants (mostly Glossy Buckthorn) yearly since 2020. It still needs a yearly sweep to cut regrowth from existibng roots (done in 2024).

The vegetation between the trail and the meadow is another story. It is a mess of large [[Autumn Olive]], [[Glossy Buckthorn]], and [[Multiflora Rose]], adorned with [[Asian Bittersweet]]. This was bush-hogged somewhat in 2018, and has seen occasional attempts at clearing, but remains as an active work area. The adjacent meadow itself has a large amount of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn, and could probably benefit from mowing twice yearly.

A 40' section right to the south of the dog access was moved inland by 6' in 2022, due to path erosion preventing any growth along the pond edge.

== Icehouse Pond ==
[[File:Icehouse Pond Maple Trees across the pond.jpg|thumb|Fall View of Eastern side of Icehouse Pond]]
This area has great potential, but the town dedicates very little to its maintenance, other than a regular mowing. The enlarged parking lot meets the needs of both Bruce Freeman bike path access and access to Morrison Farm/Icehouse pond. There is a great kiosk describing the use of Icehouse pond in the past two-hundred years. The accessible trail is built of a stabilized engineered wood product, which has held up relatively well over its first decade.

The town ignores any vegetation that isn't lawn. This means there are plenty of invasive plants, and maintenance needed. There was a collapsed wood beam wall along the path for six years, which was finally moved to the trash and the town hauled the wood away in 2025.

The vegetation around the parking lot is mostly Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet, although there is a promising Aspen colony which might eventually crowd it out. This malaise extends into the swamp next to the parking lot.

The vegetation between the Accessible trail and the pond near the parking lot has largely been cleared since 2021, with one final section cleared in June 2024. The trail then winds away from the pond and continues north. This section experienced serious trail widening, and had brush piles placed in 2022/2023/2024 to keep walkers on the path. The area around the path in this section had a serious Glossy Buckthorn infestation, which is starting to come under control (cleared yearly since 2022, last in Aug. 2025).

The native vegetation along Icehouse pond has been trimmed back in the 2023/2024 period by a beaver active in the area. This should improve the viewing, but encourages the invasive plants.

== Area K - The Fishing Trail ==
This is another trail that was maintained by fisherman and intrepid walkers, long before the town opened it up to everyone. Originally accessed either by a series of logs laid through the bog from the old Icehouse Pond parking area, or by mucking through the sump draining Area L between the two wet meadows, this trail goes parallel to the yellow accessible trail, closer to the pond. The vegetation along the trail is in pretty good shape, with lots of Highbush Blueberries. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn.

The trouble area is on the northern edge, where it approaches the sump. There is lots of Asian Bittersweet in this area.

Swept to clear regrowth in 2023 and 2024 (except for the trouble area).

== Area L - The Sump ==
Morrison Farm has a highland, which includes the house, barn, Pam Resor Orchard, Community Garden, Paddock and the large meadow. There is also a lowland: two "wet meadows" which can be quite muddy for large parts of the year. There is a ditch separating the highlands from the wet meadows, in an early attempt at improving the drainage in the wet meadows. This ditch runs north/south to the east of the Blue trail, and has a drainage ditch running between the two wet meadows (covered by a large accessible bridge).

The ditch is lined with Dogwoods, Crabapples, Birches, Cherries and other trees. It is also home to a long term Asian Bittersweet infestation, and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an old concrete pump-house (directly uphill from the drainage ditch draining the sump into Icehouse pond, behind the Blackberry patch.

The southern end was worked, starting in 2019, as part of clearing the edge of the Pam Resor Orchard, and the northern end has been worked starting about the same time as part of the Crabapple orchard. The entire length was worked to cut Asian Bittersweet in 2023. It needs regular sweeps to clear regrowth from root.

The area around the meadow edges, especially where the Yellow trail bridge crosses the sump, has Glossy Buckthorn infestations. Around the Yellow trail bridge over the sump, these have been worked yearly since 2020: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

== Area M - Concord Rd. Boundary ==
This area is also not legally part of Morrison Farm, but is otherwise ignored by the town. There are vigorous Oaks here, and the only attention required is to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Norway Maple saplings trying to crowd them out. This includes both sides of the stone wall along Concord Rd.

Last cleared in 2023.

== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==
This is not legally part of Morrison Farm, but this is a very visible part of Acton: the backdrop to the Joseph Robbins homesite, and the end piece of the Concord Rd. playing fields. Due to this ambiguity, permission was obtained (Oct. 2022) from the Cemetery commission to allow invasives removal here.

Black plastic, covered in wood chips, was used in under the Spruce tree, and also under one of the Cedars, to smother the Asian Bittersweet. It should be up for removal in Fall, 2026.

This area was mowed of regrowth in late June 2024.

The beautiful, large crabapple tree was cleared out of Asian Bittersweet, Common Buckthorn, and Bush Honeysuckle in 2022, and the town has kept it clear, mowing underneath it.

Main Page

2025-09-17T02:34:24Z

Watlington: Major overhaul of the landing page. I'm thinking of having actoninvasives.org point to this wiki, instead of having a separate web page.

Welcome to information about minimizing the impact of invasive plant species in the wild areas and yards around [[wikipedia:Acton,_Massachusetts|Acton, Massachusetts]].

The starting point is [[Invasive Plants Around Acton|'''Identifying Invasive Plants''']], and [[Common Practices|'''Common Practices''']] in removing them.

We try to maintain a [[Work Areas|'''History of invasive plant removal work done on conservation land''']] around town. These areas will need continued monitoring and removal work, if you want to help protect conservation lands. There are also some notes about [[Other Plants Around Acton|other plants of interest]].

===== Related Web Resources =====

* [https://trails.actonma.gov/ Acton Land Stewardship Committee]
* [https://actonconservationtrust.org/ Acton Conservation Trust]
* [https://actonma.mapgeo.io/ Acton Town GIS Database]
* [https://actoninvasives.blogspot.com/ Acton Invasives Blog]

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Morrison Farm

2025-08-22T14:33:35Z

Watlington: /* Area H - The Causeway */ Added historical description, but was unable to upload a PDF with the original info.

[[File:MF Invasives Map 2024.png|thumb|883x883px]]
[https://trails.actonma.gov/morrison-farm/ Morrison Farm] is a town-owned property located on Concord Rd. between Icehouse Pond on Nashoba Brook and the Woodlawn Cemetery. It consists of both several large meadow areas, the pond shoreline, and a wooded area beyond the meadow which is contiguous with the wooded areas of Woodlawn Cemetery. The largest Acton Community Garden occupies part of one of the meadows, and there is both an unused house and a remaining barn which is used by the town for equipment storage. An attempt by the Town Recreation Dept. to take the land and build a Recreation center on it was defeated in the early 2000s. There is an ongoing attempt to obtain an agricultural restriction on this land.

The Land Stewards (LSC) have been officially watching over Morrison Farm since 2018 (unofficially since its purchase by the town). The pumphouse for the Community Garden doubles as the storage shed for the LSC.

While a small parking lot and boat ramp access to Icehouse Pond had long been present on Concord Rd., the town greatly improved this area starting in 2019. They enlarged the parking lot, and added a handicap accessible trail along the western edge of Icehouse pond, including two long-needed bridges across the rivulet/swamps draining into the pond. As part of this improvement, in 2019 the Wet Meadow (the meadow between areas L and K in the map) was professionally mowed for the first time in decades, re-establishing it as a meadow.

Note that a whole separate page is needed for work along the eastern side of Icehouse Pond (not discussed here).

== Pam Resor Orchard ==
The Pam Resor Orchard needs occasional work clearing the mulched areas around the trees, and also adding new mulch. In dry times, the younger trees can use some water from the Community Garden.

The real work here is in keeping the invasives down in the "meadow" area at the edge, and under the adjacent Cherry and Crabapple trees.

The adjacent meadow is supposed to be mowed by the town every fall, but it is frequently "missed". The areas around the bird-nests need manual cutting/clearing every year regardless.

The area under the large Cherry tree in the southwest corner was first cleared in 2016, and years later continues to provide copious [[Asian Bittersweet]] regrowth. The Crabapple trees (really part of Area L) followed a year later, then the area in between (once a [[Bush Honeysuckle]]/Asian Bittersweet thicket preventing an view of the Wet Meadow!)

In 2024, these areas still require yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet and Bush Honeysuckle regrowth.

== Area A - The Horse Paddock ==
This is the old horse paddock, which since 2019 contains the Community Garden pump and pump house/LSC storage shed. It drops off to the south into a low-land between it and Concord Rd. which continues back to the swamp separating it from the Icehouse Pond parking lot.

Since 2019, there has been an attempt to keep a path mowed back through the paddock to the back gate, partially to help with invasive plant removal. Starting in 2021, there has been regular use of a footpath coming in from Concord Rd. along the eastern edge of the paddock and joining with the Yellow Path. This has been encouraged by removing the invasives along the path.

As of 2024, the paddock still has a lean-to in the back which has lost its corrugated tin roof and is falling off of its foundation. The town has been asked multiple times to please remove it. In 2017, before there was a Community Garden pump & pump-house, Joe Holmes got several Land Stewards to pull the Asian Bittersweet off, then realized that the roof was falling off.

The path through the paddock, and the area under the trees next to the fence have been mowed once or twice a year since 2020. They were mowed in June 2024.

Along the Concord Rd. side, the fence is starting to lose boards (they are longer than the normal fence boards). It was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in 2023.

== Area B - The Blackberry Patch ==
There had long been a blackberry patch in this area, but starting in 2019 the invasive plants (Asian Bittersweet) were manually removed and signs put up to prevent mowing of this area in the fall. The result is a gorgeous patch of blackberries which are enjoyed by Acton residents, both feathered and not.

Long term maintenance of this patch will require occasional mowing to help w. the invasives and prevent any woody growth. The idea is to split the patch into two areas, and allow one area to be mowed every fourth year (alternating to ensure there are always blackberries to pick!). This will hopefully start with the fall mowing in 2024.

== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==
[[File:White Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|left|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
[[File:Pink Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
There is a stand of Crabapple trees between the meadow and the trail, which creates stunning visuals in the spring (there are several different Crabapple varieties, w. various flower colors).

The Crabapple Orchard itself is in relatively good shape (although always in need of deadwood pruning). The western (meadow) edge is the big problem. A serious attempt to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet on this edge began in 2022. It was continued in 2023 (and partially in 2024). There is still a serious cluster of MF Rose which needs removal in the Northwest corner of the orchard.

The opposite side of the trail from the Crabapple orchard is a combination of Dogwood, [[Multiflora Rose|MF Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], and [[Glossy Buckthorn]], which is being gradually cleaned up. It is actually better thought of as [[Morrison Farm#Area L - The Sump|Area L]].

== Area D - The Oaks ==
[[File:Morrison Farm Barn.jpg|thumb|The Barn in its heyday]]
This area is the hedge row between Morrison Farm and the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery. It has a couple of large Oak trees w. a Spruce and Cherry trees in between, then transitions to Eastern White Pine closer to Concord Rd.

The trees were being overtaken by [[Asian Bittersweet]] when first approached in 2019. This was cleared from the trees, but the town had left equipment along the edge preventing mowing. In 2022 the town moved the equipment, allowing mowing of that area.

It was completely mowed (to the fence row) in 2022 and 2023. Note that the opposite side (in the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery) was also mowed w. the field mower, in order to deter regrowth.

In 2024, that area desperately needs mowing, but the town has once again parked equipment (tractor accessories) there. A farm structure which previously delimited this area and was used for equipment storage was removed in 2023 after self-destructing in the elements (roofing flying off, walls dropping).

There are a number of [[Common Buckthorn|common buckthorn]] trees in that hedge row. This was awaiting positive ID, then NR approval. Girding started in June 2024.

A corollary to this area is the Asian Bittersweet vines growing along the back edge of the barn, and the Glossy Buckthorn thicket supporting them. These were last cleared in June 2024. Due to the age of the adjacent structure, Grape, Nightshade, and Virginia Creeper vines are all cut in that area.

== Area E - Cemetery Border ==
The woodlands between the meadows and Woodlawn Cemetery are not officially part of Morrison Farm. Past the stone wall it is all Cemetery Land, but the trail network is contiguous with that of Morrison Farm, and the town allows removal of invasive species on all town land.

The main invasive in this area is [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]]. It has been occasionally swept since 2016, and still needs clearing of regrowth and new growth.

== Area F - The Meadow Border ==
The northern and western borders of the large meadow are where the invasive plants explode. Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet are the main culprits.

There has been no concentrated effort to remove invasives along the border since 2000, only irregular ones.

A large concern is removing any trees which fall into the meadow, as invasives will quickly take hold in any area not getting its yearly mowing. In October of 2019, three large trees which had fallen into the meadow over the previous couple of years (including one which caused a re-routing of the trail which is still maintained as an option five years later) were cleared by a work party with three sawyers and a number of volunteers.

Another concern is that due to overhanging branches, the town doesn't mow very close to the edge, meaning that the edge advances into the meadow every year. A regular effort is needed to cut back branches that intrude too far into the meadow.

The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024.

== Area G - The Wooded Area ==
This is a huge area, which faces the same problems as Area E: [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]].

== Area H - The Causeway ==
This is a causeway going out to the site of an old bridge across Nashoba Brook. The Acton Historical Society believes that it was built in the early 1800s, to connect the John Robbins house at 144 Great Rd. with farmland across Nashoba Brook. In the early 2020s, the bridge site was the location of a beaver dam.

The causeway needs regular clearing to remain passable. It was cleared in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Across Nashoba Brook from the causeway is another causeway, which was also cleared in 2023 and again in 2024.

== Area I - The Jungle ==
This area is a thicket of Glossy Buckthorn, gradually being taken over by Asian Bittersweet.

There has been no attempt to work it since 2000.

== Area J - Old Icehouse Pond Trail ==
This is a well-worn path along the edge of Icehouse pond, including a place where dogs frequently go for a swim on the northern end. It was well used before the town added the bridges and created the Yellow loop trail.

The vegetation between the trail and the pond edge has been cleared of invasive plants (mostly Glossy Buckthorn) yearly since 2020. It still needs a yearly sweep to cut regrowth from existibng roots (done in 2024).

The vegetation between the trail and the meadow is another story. It is a mess of large [[Autumn Olive]], [[Glossy Buckthorn]], and [[Multiflora Rose]], adorned with [[Asian Bittersweet]]. This was bush-hogged somewhat in 2018, and has seen occasional attempts at clearing, but remains as an active work area. The adjacent meadow itself has a large amount of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn, and could probably benefit from mowing twice yearly.

A 40' section right to the south of the dog access was moved inland by 6' in 2022, due to path erosion preventing any growth along the pond edge.

== Icehouse Pond ==
[[File:Icehouse Pond Maple Trees across the pond.jpg|thumb|Fall View of Eastern side of Icehouse Pond]]
This area has great potential, but the town dedicates very little to its maintenance, other than a regular mowing. The enlarged parking lot meets the needs of both Bruce Freeman bike path access and access to Morrison Farm/Icehouse pond. There is a great kiosk describing the use of Icehouse pond in the past two-hundred years. The accessible trail is built of a stabilized engineered wood product, which has held up relatively well over its first decade.

The town ignores any vegetation that isn't lawn. This means there are plenty of invasive plants, and maintenance needed. There is a collapsed wood beam wall along the path which has been that way for five years.

The vegetation around the parking lot is mostly Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet, although there is a promising Aspen colony which might eventually crowd it out. This malaise extends into the swamp next to the parking lot.

The vegetation between the Accessible trail and the pond near the parking lot has largely been cleared since 2021, with one final section cleared in June 2024. The trail then winds away from the pond and continues north. This section experienced serious trail widening, and had brush piles placed in 2022/2023/2024 to keep walkers on the path. The area around the path in this section had a serious Glossy Buckthorn infestation, which is starting to come under control (cleared in June 2024).

The native vegetation along Icehouse pond has been trimmed back in the 2023/2024 period by a beaver active in the area. This should improve the viewing, but encourages the invasive plants.

== Area K - The Fishing Trail ==
This is another trail that was maintained by fisherman and intrepid walkers, long before the town opened it up to everyone. Originally accessed either by a series of logs laid through the bog from the old Icehouse Pond parking area, or by mucking through the sump draining Area L between the two wet meadows, this trail goes parallel to the yellow accessible trail, closer to the pond. The vegetation along the trail is in pretty good shape, with lots of Highbush Blueberries. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn.

The trouble area is on the northern edge, where it approaches the sump. There is lots of Asian Bittersweet in this area.

Swept to clear regrowth in 2023 and 2024 (except for the trouble area).

== Area L - The Sump ==
Morrison Farm has a highland, which includes the house, barn, Pam Resor Orchard, Community Garden, Paddock and the large meadow. There is also a lowland: two "wet meadows" which can be quite muddy for large parts of the year. There is a ditch separating the highlands from the wet meadows, in an early attempt at improving the drainage in the wet meadows. This ditch runs north/south to the east of the Blue trail, and has a drainage ditch running between the two wet meadows (covered by a large accessible bridge).

The ditch is lined with Dogwoods, Crabapples, Birches, Cherries and other trees. It is also home to a long term Asian Bittersweet infestation, and Glossy Buckthorn.

The southern end was worked, starting in 2019, as part of clearing the edge of the Pam Resor Orchard, and the northern end has been worked starting about the same time as part of the Crabapple orchard. The entire length was worked to cut Asian Bittersweet in 2023. It needs regular sweeps to clear regrowth from root.

The area around the meadow edges, especially where the Yellow trail bridge crosses the sump, has Glossy Buckthorn infestations. Around the Yellow trail bridge over the sump, these have been worked yearly since 2020: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

== Area M - Concord Rd. Boundary ==
This area is also not legally part of Morrison Farm, but is otherwise ignored by the town. There are vigorous Oaks here, and the only attention required is to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Norway Maple saplings trying to crowd them out. This includes both sides of the stone wall along Concord Rd.

Last cleared in 2023.

== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==
This is not legally part of Morrison Farm, but this is a very visible part of Acton: the backdrop to the Joseph Robbins homesite, and the end piece of the Concord Rd. playing fields. Due to this ambiguity, permission was obtained (Oct. 2022) from the Cemetery commission to allow invasives removal here.

Black plastic, covered in wood chips, was used in under the Spruce tree, and also under one of the Cedars, to smother the Asian Bittersweet. It should be up for removal in Fall, 2026.

This area was mowed of regrowth in late June 2024.

The beautiful, large crabapple tree was cleared out of Asian Bittersweet, Common Buckthorn, and Bush Honeysuckle in 2022, and the town has kept it clear, mowing underneath it.

Arboretum

2025-08-05T23:17:14Z

Watlington: Minor updates to several areas.

The [https://actonarboretum.org/ Acton Arboretum] ( [https://trails.actonma.gov/arboretum/ LSC webpage]) comprises both the well-manicured Orchard area, and a wilder wooded portion, with swamps, eskers, bogs, and inner meadows. Invasive plants are found throughout.
[[File:InvasivePlantAreas.png|right|frameless|761x761px]]

== Area A - The Orchard ==
Area A comprises the "Orchard Loop" plus the new China Garden. Invasives in this area are [[Multiflora Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Mugwort]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Garlic Mustard]]. The areas near the paths need regular weeding of invasives.

They were being continuously cleared in 2022/2023 (as Ruby got her daily constitutional.)

In fall 2022, all meadow areas in Area A were mowed (tractor). Yearly mowing is recommended.

There was no fall mowing of these areas in 2023. They were mowed on Oct. 11, 2024.

== Area B - Taylor Rd Border ==
Area B is the area between the sidewalk and Taylor Rd., in the area between the exit and the southern border of the Arboretum. Invasives in this area are largely Glossy Buckthorn and Mugwort, with some MultiFlora Rose, [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and Asian Bittersweet thrown in.

There is a beautiful (in early June) Carolina Rose bush about 15m north of the Arboretum entrance (marked by a fire hydrant on Taylor Rd.). It has a [[Black Walnut]] and a [[Bush Honeysuckle]] root system in it which need regular cuttings. There is also [[Mugwort]] growing throughout harming the Carolina Rose.

Cleared on 10/18/23 (although there is still a large Bush Honeysuckle at the southern end which hasn't been cut.) Cleared in June 2024, including cutting the large Honeysuckle.

The Catalpa trees growing right next to the sidewalk are not desired. Discussion started in 2024 about removing them, and they were removed early in 2025.

== Area C - Inside the WildFlower Trail ==
This is an area cleared in the past few years (2019 ?). There is still considerable regrowth from roots of Asian Bittersweet, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose which needs clearing. It was worked in October 2024.

A tree fell down into this meadow in early 2024. Normally it would be cleared to allow mowing, but 1) this area doesn't get mowed and 2) the area where the tree fell is too uneven/rocky to mow. Still, it is encouraging Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

The American Hazelnut cluster near the trail needs yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

The rock wall and trees along it need clearing yearly.

== Area D - The Neglected Area ==
[[Arboretum Area D|Area D]] starts at the parking lot and continues downhill between the Arboretum border and the maintained Arboretum lands. Infested with large Bush Honeysuckle overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Multiflora rose is also scattered throughout. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

== Area E - The Donald Land Crossing ==
Area E is the area around the start of the swamp trail. It is infested with large Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Lots of Poison Ivy and Raspberries as well, which while desired have a tendency to grow into the trail.

In 2022 (?), there was an effort by volunteers to cut back the encroaching vegetation, especially in the area close to Mary's Brook. There was a pass made a clearing regrowth in summer of 2023.

== Area F - The Taylor Rd. Swamp ==
This area is the Taylor Rd. side of the swamp at the northeast corner of the Arboretum. It has large clumps of Glossy Buckthorn and (supposedly) one scary infestation of [[Japanese Knotweed]].

The area at the north end of the Hosta Garden (where it meets the swamp) had Glossy Buckthorn cut in 2023, and again at the end of May, 2024.

The area under the Maple Tree was cleared of MF Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Glossy Buckthorn in June 2024.

The swamp itself had all Glossy Buckthorn cut in late July, 2025. This included reclearing the area north of the Hosta Garden.

== Area G - The new Garlic Mustard patch ==
In 2023, Jim Snyder-Grant discovered a new infestation of [[Garlic Mustard]] in this area, hidden among the Bush Honeysuckle.

== Area H - The Vulcan Ear Loop ==
This area is completely infested with invasive plants: Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There were also some Norway Maples, but they were girded and killed in the late 2000s.

The Blue path through this (the Vulcan Ear loop) requires mowing two - three times a year to keep it clear, along with at least one pass at cutting back the larger intruding bush invasives by hand.

There has been no attempt to deal with this area.

== Area I - The Inner Meadow ==
Bordering the Vulcan Ear Loop is the Arboretum Inner Meadow. This jewel has seen its mowing sadly neglected, which has resulted in an overgrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

The entire meadow was mowed in 2023.

The eastern half of the meadow got a good mowing in the fall of 2022. The western half hasn't been mowed since 2020.

The large trees at the trail junction died in the late 2010s. In 2024, there were two Black Walnut saplings and a number of Smooth Sumac plants still growing here. The goal is to kill the Black Walnuts.

== Area J - The Indian Mounds ==
This is forested area to the northeast of the intersection of the Billings trail and the Yellow Bog Loop trail. While the overgrowth restrains the growth of invasive plants, there is still Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet growth in this area. Note that any plant removal around the Indian rock mounds should avoid disturbing them.

Last cleared around 2021.

== Area K - Inside the Bog Loop ==
This area started seeing invasive plant clearing in 2017, and is now starting to stabilize with little remaining regrowth. The culprits were Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There was also one large Winged Euonymus which had spread to dozens of little Winged Euonymus plants.

The area was last walked through in 2023.

== Area L - The Swamp Trail ==
The continuation of the Swamp trail has lots of Glossy Buckthorn growing around it, with occasional Multiflora Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Japanese Barberry.

It is unclear when it was last completely cleared.

== Area M - Lower Bog Loop ==
This area is infested with Glossy Buckthorn, Multiflora Rose, Bush Honeysuckle, and Asian Bittersweet.

It shows sign of previous removal efforts, but needs lots of work.

The area immediately around the rock wall was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in Feb. 2024.

== Area N - The Wood Lane Meadow ==
This meadow sees infrequent mowing (should be yearly). It is infested with Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an cluster of Aspen Saplings growing in the northeast corner of that meadow, which should probably be encouraged instead of mowed (Despite mowing around it with a field mower, it was mowed in Fall 2023). Also in the north side of the meadow (near the trail) is an Valley Forge variant American Elm tree.

In 2023, all edges of the meadow were cleared of invasive plants, and all trees in and along the meadow were cleared of Asian Bittersweet.

== Area O - The Billings Trail ==
This is the part of the Billing Trail leading out to Concord Rd. from the (current) end of Wood Lane. The edges of the trail are infested with Asian Bittersweet, Glossy Buckthorn, and Norway Maple.

A sweep was made all the way down the trail in 2023. The large number of girded Norway Maples will need another sweep to remove regrowth in early 2024.

In June 2024 a sweep was made to continue working the Norway Maples. There is still considerable regrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose from left-behind roots. There are still over a dozen Norway Maples which need girding.

== Area P - The Meadow at the Fish Pond ==
[[File:Golden Larch in Acton Arboretum 2024.jpg|link=http://ec2-44-218-8-154.compute-1.amazonaws.com/aiw/File:Golden%20Larch%20in%20Acton%20Arboretum%202024.jpg|thumb|Golden Larch sapling on the southern side of the Meadow w. the Fish Pond]]
This meadow has been receiving more attention since the addition of the Japanese Garden (and connecting trail) in the late 2010s, and the Fish Pond in 2023. The western edge of the meadow (along the yellow loop trail) has long been a source of Bush Honeysuckle incursions into the trail which needed cutting back. The southern and eastern edges were known for Multiflora Rose incursions into the trail which needed regular cutting back.

Starting in the late 2010s, more effort was put into cutting back the bushes along the western side, as well as the Asian Bittersweet growing over them. In 2024, the yearly field mower (bush hog) took a pass along that edge. This was followed by a manual pass, uprooting any remaining invasives within ten feet or so of the walkway.

The southern edge was mostly cleared of multiflora rose in 2024, but will need continual re-cutting for a while. The highlight here is an area previously cleared which has a Golden Larch Sapling. Growing in front of it are small examples (in 2024) of Virginia Rose.

The eastern edge was cleared early in 2025.

The brush pile at the southeastern corner was created when the mower moved a dead tree from the meadow into there, knocking over the large existing MF Rose bushes.

== American Elms ==
There are [https://www.elmpost.org/ Dutch Elm Disease Resistant American Elm trees] planted throughout the Arboretum. These should get special attention to keep them free from invasive plants. Their location is provided in this map (mirrored from [https://www.elmpost.org/arboretm.htm here)]: As of Nov. 2023, all of the ones indicated as living in that diagram were found alive.
[[File:Arboretm.jpg|thumb]][[Identifying Local Elm Trees|Identifying Local Elm Species]]

Discovery Museum Knotweed Patch

2025-08-05T23:09:13Z

Watlington: Created page with "On the southwest side of Great Hill, it adjoins the [https://www.discoveryacton.org/ Acton Discovery Museum]. When the Museum parking lot was expanded in 2020, they introduced Japanese Knotweed to the area around a small retention pond that was created between the parking lot and conservation land. This was noticed in spring 2022, but unfortunately nothing was done about it. 500x500px In Aug. 2025, a..."

On the southwest side of [[Great Hill]], it adjoins the [https://www.discoveryacton.org/ Acton Discovery Museum]. When the Museum parking lot was expanded in 2020, they introduced [[Japanese Knotweed]] to the area around a small retention pond that was created between the parking lot and conservation land. This was noticed in spring 2022, but unfortunately nothing was done about it.
[[File:Discovery Museum Japanese Knotweed Patch.png|thumb|500x500px]]
In Aug. 2025, as part of surveying the patch, the Knotweed on conservation land was cut and stacked, before it could go to seed.

File:Discovery Museum Japanese Knotweed Patch.png

2025-08-05T23:05:35Z

Watlington:

Discovery Museum Japanese Knotweed Patch

Great Hill

2025-08-05T22:51:17Z

Watlington: Added area N, the Discovery Museum Knotweed patch

[https://trails.actonma.gov/great-hill/ Great Hill] is one of Acton's larger conservation areas, w. over 200 acres. Acton started buying the parcels comprising Great Hill in 1975, and continues to this day, with the [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands|Magoun]] and [[Montague Land|Montague]] Lands being the latest additions (2020 and 2024). While there were originally plans to develop parts of Great Hill for recreation (e.g. a town pool off of Piper Rd), it is largely dedicated to woodland, with conservation easements on two portions (the Gaebel and Magoun additions). The town maintains (mows weekly) both a large Playing Field adjacent to the School St. parking lot, and a Little Playing Field close to Mill Corner. While in the past both have been used for organized youth sports, currently neither is used for that purpose.

Great Hill has two peaks, referred to as lesser Great Hill (w. the Acton Water Tower) and greater Great Hill (the east-most peak). A seasonal stream feeding the Dog Pond runs between them. Areas of Great Hill which are relatively clear of invasive plants are the top of greater Great Hill, parts of the eastern side of greater Great Hill, and a portion of old growth swamp to the northeast of the large Playing Field.
[[File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png|alt=A map showing the location on Great Hill of the areas where invasive plants are being addressed, or ignored. Each location is described in the following text.|right|frameless|596x596px|Great Hill Invasives Plant Areas]]
There are areas of Great Hill which have been worked for invasive plants in the past, which need varied amounts of regular attention:

* A: The [[Great Hill School St Swamp|School Street Swamp (low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond)]]
* B: The entire border of the [[Great Hill Dog Pond|Dog Pond]]
* C: The border of the [[Great Hill Large Playing Field|large Playing Field]], including the area to the west of the upper meadow and the Raspberry thickets to the east of the upper meadow
* D: The border of the [[Great Hill Little Playing Field|Little Playing Field]], including the [[Japanese Knotweed]] patch
* E: The south side of greater Great Hill has a large [[Winged Euonymus]] thicket, which has been attacked by brave volunteers starting in 2021. It also has a large [[Norway Maple]] infestation
* F: The area between the trail from the Pond to the Little Playing Field and Mill Corner Condominiums has a large [[Asian Bittersweet]] thicket growing in it (as well as [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Winged Euonymus]])
* G: The [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands]], with its [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* H: The Maple thicket around the [[Great Hill Northern Piper Rd. Entrance|northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail]], which includes a large patch of [[Garlic Mustard]] growing north of the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail
* J: The woods bordering the houses along Piper Rd. have an [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* K: The [[Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail|"unofficial" entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave]] has lots of every invasive plant!
* L: The area south of the Main Street parking lot. This has [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Winged Euonymus]], and also some [[Japanese Knotweed]], in between the two houses.
* M: The [[Montague Land]]
* N: A large patch of [[Japanese Knotweed]] [[Discovery Museum Knotweed Patch|spreading from the Discovery Museum]]
Invasives work areas adjacent to Great Hill (but not actually part of Great Hill Conservation area) include:

* [[13 Farmstead Rd]], town land which is downstream from Great Hill on Coles Brook

=== Previous Reports ===

* [[Great Hill Invasives Work 2016|2016 Invasives Work report]]
* John's [http://watlington.homelinux.org:8000/wad/greathill/ Journal of Great Hill work]

File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png

2025-08-05T22:45:40Z

Watlington: Watlington uploaded a new version of File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png

Map of areas of Great Hill Conservation Area which have been worked to remove invasive plants

Japanese Knotweed

2025-07-15T00:33:10Z

Watlington: Added list of approaches

[[File:Reynoutria japonica in Brastad 1.jpg|alt=Picture of Japanese Knotweed plants, with flowers|right|frameless|400x400px]]
'''''Fallopia japonica''''', a.k.a '''''Reynoutria japonica''''' and '''''Polygonum cuspidatum''''' ([https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/fallopia/japonica/ GoBotany], [[wikipedia:Reynoutria_japonica|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=FAJA2 USDA] -- [https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/japanese-knotweed NISIC]) is a very invasive species, which is very difficult to remove due to its large, deep, underground network of rhizomes. It is a perennial which can regrow to 10 ft. in height each year. It has a thick, hollow stem, and a distinctive heart shaped leaf.

== Removal ==
Removal is EXTREMELY difficult. The roots go very deep (up to ten feet), and spread horizontally. Any small piece of rhizome will sprout and regrow.

Some approaches are:

* Regular cutting/mowing can slow down its growth, but will not kill it and is not recommended as it will encourage the plant to spread horizontally. Care should be taken that the mower doesn't spread the material.
* Digging it out. This is impractical, as the rhizomes extend to far into the ground, although it is discussed as a way of weakening the plant so that chemical controls may be used.
* Chemical controls. The Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources has a [https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/invasive-species/JapaneseKnotweedBCP.pdf great Knotweed Best Control Practices]. They discuss how a herbicide that is capable of killing Japanese Knotweed will also kill any other plants and trees in the area. Glyphosate (Roundup) will only affect it for a year.
* Smothering.

The NH Dept. of Agriculture has a [https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/japanese-knotweed-bmps.pdf Japanese Knotweed Best Management Practices] which recommends smothering it:

* Allow it to start growing, then cut it flush to the ground at the beginning of June.
* Allow the cut material to dry out.
* Cover the area (including the cut material) with 4 to 6" of wood chips. The area should extend to at least two feet outside of any knotweed plants.
* Cover these wood chips with thick black plastic. 7 mil thickness is recommended, but hardware stores only stock 6 mil thickness as their "heavy duty" black plastic. A two foot overlap between sheets is recommended.
* Cover the black plastic with 4" of wood chips, to protect it. Be very careful not to puncture the plastic.
* If you do puncture the plastic, knotweed will find it and grow out. Remove the wood chips from that area. Remove any plant material and dry the plastic. Patch the hole, using more black plastic duct-taped down. Note that just patching a puncture with duct tape usually doesn't work, as the knotweed will push the duct tape off of the plastic. You need a bigger surface (the patch) weighed down with wood chips to contain it.

[[File:GreatHillLittlePlayingFieldJapaneseKnotweedRemoval.jpeg.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|Smothering Knotweed at Great Hill]]
An example of this smothering technique is along the north side of the Little Playing Field at Great Hill. Most of it was done in 2022, with a final portion being covered in 2023 (report).

== Common Mis-Identifications ==
'''Eastern Redbud''' (''[https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/cercis/canadensis/ Cercis Canadensis]'', [[wikipedia:Cercis_canadensis|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=CECA4 USDA] - [https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_ceca4.pdf Factsheet]) Redbud saplings have a similar leaf, and can even have a similar shape. Redbud is a woody plant, however, unlike the hollow stem of Japanese Knotweed. And Japanese Knotweed is rarely found growing as a single stalk.

Japanese Knotweed

2025-07-15T00:08:29Z

Watlington: Added link to Michigan DNR best practices, which includes a long description of herbicides which might work (glyphosate doesn't affect it).

[[File:Reynoutria japonica in Brastad 1.jpg|alt=Picture of Japanese Knotweed plants, with flowers|right|frameless|400x400px]]
'''''Fallopia japonica''''', a.k.a '''''Reynoutria japonica''''' and '''''Polygonum cuspidatum''''' ([https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/fallopia/japonica/ GoBotany], [[wikipedia:Reynoutria_japonica|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=FAJA2 USDA] -- [https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/japanese-knotweed NISIC]) is a very invasive species, which is very difficult to remove due to its large, deep, underground network of rhizomes. It is a perennial which can regrow to 10 ft. in height each year. It has a thick, hollow stem, and a distinctive heart shaped leaf.

== Removal ==
Removal is EXTREMELY difficult. The roots go very deep (up to ten feet), and spread horizontally. Any small piece of rhizome will sprout and regrow.

Regular cutting/mowing can slow down its growth, but will not kill it and is not recommended as it will encourage the plant to spread horizontally. Care should be taken that the mower doesn't spread the material.

The Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources has a [https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/invasive-species/JapaneseKnotweedBCP.pdf good Knotweed Best Control Practices]. They discuss how herbicides that are capable of killing Japanese Knotweed also kill any other plants and trees in the area.

The NH Dept. of Agriculture has a [https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/japanese-knotweed-bmps.pdf Japanese Knotweed Best Management Practices] which recommends smothering it:

* Allow it to start growing, then cut it flush to the ground at the beginning of June.
* Allow the cut material to dry out.
* Cover the area (including the cut material) with 4 to 6" of wood chips. The area should extend to at least two feet outside of any knotweed plants.
* Cover these wood chips with thick black plastic. 7 mil thickness is recommended, but hardware stores only stock 6 mil thickness as their "heavy duty" black plastic. A two foot overlap between sheets is recommended.
* Cover the black plastic with 4" of wood chips, to protect it. Be very careful not to puncture the plastic.
* If you do puncture the plastic, knotweed will find it and grow out. Remove the wood chips from that area. Remove any plant material and dry the plastic. Patch the hole, using more black plastic duct-taped down. Note that just patching a puncture with duct tape usually doesn't work, as the knotweed will push the duct tape off of the plastic. You need a bigger surface (the patch) weighed down with wood chips to contain it.

[[File:GreatHillLittlePlayingFieldJapaneseKnotweedRemoval.jpeg.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|Smothering Knotweed at Great Hill]]
An example of this smothering technique is along the north side of the Little Playing Field at Great Hill. Most of it was done in 2022, with a final portion being covered in 2023 (report).

== Common Mis-Identifications ==
'''Eastern Redbud''' (''[https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/cercis/canadensis/ Cercis Canadensis]'', [[wikipedia:Cercis_canadensis|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=CECA4 USDA] - [https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_ceca4.pdf Factsheet]) Redbud saplings have a similar leaf, and can even have a similar shape. Redbud is a woody plant, however, unlike the hollow stem of Japanese Knotweed. And Japanese Knotweed is rarely found growing as a single stalk.

File:5E2115D4-1EAE-4A83-8811-4EAC24B195D4 1 105 c.jpg

2025-05-17T02:27:29Z

Watlington:

View of the area west of the yellow trail immediately north of the Understory Garden. This is in late fall 2024, after it was cleared of invasives.

Arboretum Area D

2025-05-17T02:22:54Z

Watlington: Updated for spring 2025

The [[Arboretum|Acton Arboretum]] has an area adjacent to the parking lot which has long been ignored. An attempt to clear invasive plants from this area was started in 2022.
[[File:Arboretum Area D.png|thumb|637x637px]]

== Area 1 - Adjacent to Parking ==
This area adjacent to the parking lot, bounded by a boulder covered drop-off, was infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]], as well as [[Garlic Mustard]] underneath. Clearing was started in 2022.

Regrowth was cleared in 2023, along with expanding the cleared area somewhat. Permission was obtained from NR and the Friends of the Arboretum to kill (gird) over a dozen small Black Walnut trees in this area, which were crowding out the Eastern Cedars. Clearing continued in 2024: pulling Asian Bittersweet regrowth and getting a volunteer group to pull the Garlic Mustard. Unfortunately, girding doesn't kill Black Walnut so lots of regrowth was cut on each tree being killed.

== Area 2 - Down the Hill ==
This area starts at the parking lot and continues down the hill (without a boulder covered drop-off, although it wraps around the bottom of one!) It is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]].

There are paths and clearing throughout this area -- in particular, one down to Area 3 --- which are gradually being expanded. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023 -- 2025.

The area right at the parking lot needs lots of attention to keep the Asian Bittersweet, Multiflora Rose, and Bush Honeysuckle from overtaking the Sumac and Cedars growing there. It was cleared in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Large Asian Bittersweet root systems still exist (mostly under the large Black Walnut), which will need more cutting back to kill.

== Area 3 - The Clearing over the Brook ==
This area is clearing on the west side of a bridge over the stream feeding through this part of the Arboretum. It was infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]].

Clearing started in 2021 (although there was certainly some clearing before that). The last clearing in 2023 also cleared the stream banks for 40 ft upstream/downstream of the bridge. Some Asian Bittersweet regrowth was pulled in 2024, but it wasn't given the good clearing it needed.

Garlic mustard was cleared from this area in spring 2025.

== Area 4 - The Redbud Glade ==
This area is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]] (surprise!). It is adjacent to a main (Yellow) Arboretum trail, yet presents an awful view of nature. The exception is in the spring, when the Eastern Redbud trees growing throughout flower.

It has been worked off and on for years. The main effort these days is to kill the Asian Bittersweet (to prevent it from killing the Redbud saplings.)

In late 2024, the invasives within a dozen feet of the yellow path were cleared (mostly Bush Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose, and Asian Bittersweet). In April 2025, regrowth from root fragments was cleared.

== Area 5 - Garlic Mustard ==
This area, while infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]] and [[Bush Honeysuckle]], is also listed by Jim Snyder-Grant as having a [[Garlic Mustard]] infestation.

== Area 6 - No Man's Land ==
This area is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]]. In 2022, paths were cut allowing access to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of trees in the area.

In 2023, these paths were expanded to allow access to all trees in the areas.

== Area 7 - MF Rose and Rock Piles ==
This area is infested with [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]]. In 2024, a path was cut from the yellow trail to allow access to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of trees in the area.

In late 2024, this was expanded to clear the entire area between the path and the rock wall of invasives. This was revisited in early May 2025 to cut regrowth.

The back area (farthest from the trail), kinda marked as wetlands on the map but not really, is a nice grassy glade under the pine trees. [[Glossy Buckthorn]] and [[Multiflora Rose]] are trying to get a foothold here (in 2024).

The rock wall between the grassy glade area and the Understory Study needs yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose. It was cleared in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Winged Euonymus

2025-04-29T23:45:24Z

Watlington:

[[File:Euonymus alatus 1.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|Winged Euonymus]]
[[File:Euonymus alatus kz04.jpg|thumb|224x224px|Euonymus Wings]]
'''Euonymus Alatus''' ([https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/euonymus/alatus/ GoBotany], [[wikipedia:Euonymus_alatus|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=EUAL13 USDA]) is a shrub growing up to twelve feet in height. It is distinctive for the corky "wings" growing along the older stems, at right angles to one another. It produces red berries in early fall (Sept.-Oct.), and if it gets enough sunlight, has leaves which will turn a brilliant red in the late fall -- hence its nickname: '''Burning Bush'''. In the woods, these are usually yellow instead.

It spreads by berry (birds) and also through tree-strike. Downed trees and branches which hit a Winged Euonymus bush will bury branches in the ground. As long as a branch isn't completely separated from the root system, it will proceed to root everywhere that it has root contact. Over time, this behavior produces thick thickets of Euonymus.

It is allelopathic, and prevents other shrubs and saplings (even other Winged Euonymus saplings) from growing underneath it.
[[File:Euonymus alatus kz02.jpg|left|frameless|200x200px|Winged Euonymus]]
[[File:Winged Euonymus berries.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Berries]]
It is found in many Acton Conservation Lands. There is a large infestation on the south side of greater [[Great Hill]] (within, and around the Yellow Trail there) which has been attacked since 2021 by a dedicated pair of volunteers.

== Removal ==
Winged Euonymus is difficult to remove.

Larger plants may be [[Girding|girded]] (although the multi-trunk nature of Winged Euonymus means having to gird multiple trunks). They may also be cut, and then have regrowth removed multiple times, in order to kill. This generates large amounts of plant material, which should be placed into [[Brush Piles|brush piles]].

Smaller plants may be uprooted. Note that removal of larger Winged Euonymus bushes is usually accompanied by a large regrowth of saplings (presumably from seed), which must then be pulled.

It is strongly recommended that if a tree falls in an area with Winged Euonymus, a visit be made to ensure that the downed tree isn't creating a thicket. If there are Winged Euonymus branches pinned under a recently fallen tree, simply cut them from the bush to prevent rooting.

== Common Mis-Identifications ==
'''Eastern Spindle-tree''' (''Euonymus atropurpureus'', [[wikipedia:Euonymus_atropurpureus|Wikipedia]]) This is a native plant which is a non-winged Euonymous. It is likely that there are hybrids of the two as well.

'''European Spindle-tree''' (''[https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/euonymus/atropurpureus/ Euonymus europaeus]'', [[wikipedia:Euonymus_europaeus|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=EUEU7 USDA]) This is a non-native plant which is much less invasive than the Winged Euonymous. It is likely that there are hybrids of the two as well.

Great Hill Dog Pond

2025-04-19T03:02:05Z

Watlington: Spring 2025 update

The [[Great Hill]] Conservation area has a small, shallow Skating/Dog Pond along one side of the large Playing Field off of School St. This pond was man-made, and is formed by a causeway along the southern side. There are three entry streams and one outlet through a drain pipe under the causeway. A small water gate at the entry of the drain pipe establishes the water level in the pond.

There is a fisherman's path along both sides of the pond, which sees regular use (especially the one on the east side).
[[File:Great Hill Dog Pond Invasives Map.png|right|frameless|600x600px]]
The border of the pond is roughly divided into five areas:

=== The Causeway ===
This is the dike that creates the pond. The side toward the pond is relatively clear of invasives, after years of cutting. The side away from the pond is still a work in progress, with plenty of Multiflora Rose, Glossy Buckthorn, and Asian Bittersweet.

In 2025, both sides of the Causeway are relatively clear of invasives, although there are still [[Multiflora Rose]] roots resprouting.

=== The Entry ===
This area has little to no overgrowth, and has had a serious infestation of Bush Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose, and Asian Bittersweet for decades. It is slowly being killed by regular cutting.

=== The Glade ===
This area has some relatively dry portions, which occasionally hosts legendary parties, from the trash left behind. An aggressive effort at removing the Glossy Buckthorn from this area started in 2017. There are still roots which need regular clearing. Asian Bittersweet is also a problem here, along the edge of the pond.

This was swept in 2025, mostly cutting Asian Bittersweet regrowth from roots.

=== The Swamp ===
This area is very wet. It is the delta of the stream coming from between the Great Hills. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn.

It has been worked in 2015, 2017, 2022, 2025 (lightly).

=== The Far Side ===
This area is best worked in winter, when the ground is frozen. Lots of Glossy Buckthorn.

An old hockey goal used 2005 - 2023 ended up here, and was removed by volunteers when the pond froze in 2025.

The part closest to the pond was cleared in Jan 2023, and Jan 2025.

Great Hill School St Swamp

2025-04-19T02:54:34Z

Watlington: 2025 Spring update

This page is about invasive plant species removal in the area of the Acton [[Great Hill|Great Hill Conservation Land]] near the School St. Parking Lot. This is a swampy area bounded by the Playing Field to the East, the path to the Little Playing Field (and the Dog Pond) to the North and West, and the Conservation Land boundary to the South. The path from the Parking Lot to the Little Playing Field goes through this area.

The invasive plants being removed are the Acton Trifecta: [[Glossy Buckthorn]], [[Multiflora Rose]], and [[Asian Bittersweet]], with an occasional outcropping of [[Winged Euonymus]], [[Japanese Barberry]], and [[Norway Maple]]. One special invasive in this area is [[European Privet Hedge]]. It doesn't help that the woods to the northeast (across the path from the Pond to the Little Playing Field) are infested with [[Asian Bittersweet|Asian Bittersweet.]]..
[[File:School St Swamp.png|thumb|500x500px]]
This area is broken up into multiple regions, due to the fragmented attempts at removing invasives from this area.

=== Area A ===
This was the first area treated (starting in 2014), and the most recovered. It was being threatened by Glossy Buckthorn, but is now back to a glade of Highbush Blueberry, Winterberry, ferns, swamp grasses, and various saplings. Little maintenance is needed in this area as of 2023.

Swept for invasives in 2025.

=== Area B ===
This area has seen treatment since 2013, and is starting to show signs of recovery. There are still patches of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose in the northern portion which need cutting at least once a year. This area had a large [[Common Buckthorn]] tree girded, and still has occasional saplings which need pulling.

=== Area C ===
This area was cleared in 2020, and is in recovery. There are still [[Asian Bittersweet]] and [[Multiflora Rose]] roots regrowing. It also had a number of [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[European Privet Hedge]] bushes.

This was largely cleared in Dec. 2023.

=== Area D ===
This is a large area which has seen regular clearing sweeps (the Acton Trifecta) since 2018. It is looking better, but still needs yearly sweeping. The northern part was last swept in 2022. The southernmost part was last worked in Oct/Nov 2023.

=== Area E ===
This area has a serious Glossy Buckthorn infestation. The good news is that it still has native plants spread throughout. It has been progressively cleared since 2016, with more and more being cut, and the previously cut plants being re-cut. It is very wet, and can only be approached in the dry or frozen seasons. Parts were worked in 2023.

The portion east of the stream was swept in Spring 2025.

=== Area F ===
This area is VERY wet, and can usually only be accessed when frozen. There are a number of Glossy Buckthorn trees and Multiflora Rose clusters here which were cut in 2022/2023. This was swept in Jan. 2025.

=== Area G ===
This is an area which is home to a Aspen colony, and also some Callery Pears. Multiflora Rose was cut back here in 2020. In 2023, it was realized that it has a major [[Garlic Mustard]] infestation. This was picked in 2024.

=== Area H ===
Area H is the area we don't want to talk about. It has several very old grapevines which dominate the local trees. It also has LOTS of Asian Bittersweet which is trying to climb the grapevine to victory. There are also some trees near the trail which are too dead to work around safely. In 2020, the success story was the large Maple tree at the corner in the trail which was cleared and is being kept clear of Asian Bittersweet. The push is to spread this through the whole area.

Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail

2025-04-19T02:47:21Z

Watlington: Added fall 2024 work

[[File:Mass Ave Entrance Map.png|right|frameless|500x500px]]
[[Great Hill]] has an entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave., which is currently unofficial (not shown on maps), although it sees a fair amount of use. This was an official entrance trail, and has a maintained wood footbridge over Coles Brook, which drains that side of Great Hill (eventually feeding into Fort Pond Brook, after looping around Rt. 2, merging with Mary's Brook, and going behind the "Woods" subdivision.) When the Victor School acquired the buildings between the trail head and Mass. Ave. they were supposedly initially in favor of granting access, but their legal counsel advised against it, so this Great Hill entrance trail is currently relegated to unofficial status (not shown on our maps).

Historical features in this area include a stone culvert underneath the path going to the footbridge, and an old stone-lined large well off the yellow path which allows access to water even in dry times. Further downstream on the small brook are several rock walls built to pass the stream through while controlling animal passage.

There are several areas around the path, with varying invasives and history of control.

== Area A ==
This area, adjacent to the Yellow trail, was initially cleared in 2012 or so, and repeatedly over the following years. The invasives here were mostly [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with some [[Asian Bittersweet]]. With repeated clearings, in 2023 this area was looking good with regards to invasives, although native undergrowth is lacking due to regular deer over-foraging.

== Area B ==
This area, along the sides of the entrance trail to the south of the footbridge, has had several sweeps since 2012 removing invasives. As of Spring 2024, it needs another.

The invasives in this area are mostly [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Winged Euonymus]], [[Multiflora Rose]], [[Glossy Buckthorn]], and [[Japanese Barberry]].

== Area C ==
This area, along the sides of the entrance trail to the north of the footbridge, but before the wall, has had several sweeps since 2012 removing invasives.

The invasives in this area are mostly the same as Area B (above), but also include several [[Autumn Olive]] trees.
[[File:Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Feb 17 2024.jpg|thumb|Area C, Winter 2024, after clearing]]
This area was cleared in Feb. 2024, but numerous Asian Bittersweet vines were cut 1 ft. above ground as root removal wasn't feasible due to frozen ground. Several large [[Glossy Buckthorn|Glossy Buckthorns]] were [[Girding|girded]], but others were doubtlessly left due to lack of positive identification. Several huge Multiflora Rose, and a few Japanese Barberry plants were also cut which will also require return trips to remove. A second clearing was done in Sept. 2024.
[[File:Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Feb 16 2024.jpg|left|thumb|Area C, Winter 2024, before removal]]

== Area D ==
This area, north of the rock wall, was ignored previous to 2024 due to a misconception that it was not included in the Great Hill conservation area.

== Area E ==
This area, to the west of the wood footbridge, is a wetland.

It is possible that there is an infestation of Phragmites here.

Great Hill

2025-04-19T02:41:39Z

Watlington:

[https://trails.actonma.gov/great-hill/ Great Hill] is one of Acton's larger conservation areas, w. over 200 acres. Acton started buying the parcels comprising Great Hill in 1975, and continues to this day, with the [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands|Magoun]] and [[Montague Land|Montague]] Lands being the latest additions (2020 and 2024). While there were originally plans to develop parts of Great Hill for recreation (e.g. a town pool off of Piper Rd), it is largely dedicated to woodland, with conservation easements on two portions (the Gaebel and Magoun additions). The town maintains (mows weekly) both a large Playing Field adjacent to the School St. parking lot, and a Little Playing Field close to Mill Corner. While in the past both have been used for organized youth sports, currently neither is used for that purpose.

Great Hill has two peaks, referred to as lesser Great Hill (w. the Acton Water Tower) and greater Great Hill (the east-most peak). A seasonal stream feeding the Dog Pond runs between them. Areas of Great Hill which are relatively clear of invasive plants are the top of greater Great Hill, parts of the eastern side of greater Great Hill, and a portion of old growth swamp to the northeast of the large Playing Field.
[[File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png|alt=A map showing the location on Great Hill of the areas where invasive plants are being addressed, or ignored. Each location is described in the following text.|right|frameless|596x596px|Great Hill Invasives Plant Areas]]
There are areas of Great Hill which have been worked for invasive plants in the past, which need varied amounts of regular attention:

* A: The [[Great Hill School St Swamp|School Street Swamp (low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond)]]
* B: The entire border of the [[Great Hill Dog Pond|Dog Pond]]
* C: The border of the [[Great Hill Large Playing Field|large Playing Field]], including the area to the west of the upper meadow and the Raspberry thickets to the east of the upper meadow
* D: The border of the [[Great Hill Little Playing Field|Little Playing Field]], including the [[Japanese Knotweed]] patch
* E: The south side of greater Great Hill has a large [[Winged Euonymus]] thicket, which has been attacked by brave volunteers starting in 2021. It also has a large [[Norway Maple]] infestation
* F: The area between the trail from the Pond to the Little Playing Field and Mill Corner Condominiums has a large [[Asian Bittersweet]] thicket growing in it (as well as [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Winged Euonymus]])
* G: The [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands]], with its [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* H: The Maple thicket around the [[Great Hill Northern Piper Rd. Entrance|northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail]], which includes a large patch of [[Garlic Mustard]] growing north of the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail
* J: The woods bordering the houses along Piper Rd. have an [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* K: The [[Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail|"unofficial" entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave]] has lots of every invasive plant!
* L: The area south of the Main Street parking lot. This has [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Winged Euonymus]], and also some [[Japanese Knotweed]], in between the two houses.
* M: The [[Montague Land]]
Invasives work areas adjacent to Great Hill (but not actually part of Great Hill Conservation area) include:

* [[13 Farmstead Rd]], town land which is downstream from Great Hill on Coles Brook

=== Previous Reports ===

* [[Great Hill Invasives Work 2016|2016 Invasives Work report]]
* John's [http://watlington.homelinux.org:8000/wad/greathill/ Journal of Great Hill work]

Great Hill

2025-04-18T23:52:23Z

Watlington: Added link for areas adjacent to, but not part of, Great Hill

[https://trails.actonma.gov/great-hill/ Great Hill] is one of Acton's larger conservation areas, w. over 200 acres. Acton started buying the parcels comprising Great Hill in 1975, and continues to this day, with the [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands|Magoun]] and [[Montague Land|Montague]] Lands being the latest additions (2020 and 2024). While there were originally plans to develop parts of Great Hill for recreation (e.g. a town pool off of Piper Rd), it is largely dedicated to woodland, with conservation easements on two portions (the Gaebel and Magoun additions). The town maintains (mows weekly) both a large Playing Field adjacent to the School St. parking lot, and a Little Playing Field close to Mill Corner. While in the past both have been used for organized youth sports, currently neither is used for that purpose.

Great Hill has two peaks, referred to as lesser Great Hill (w. the Acton Water Tower) and greater Great Hill (the east-most peak). A seasonal stream feeding the Dog Pond runs between them. Areas of Great Hill which are relatively clear of invasive plants are the top of greater Great Hill, parts of the eastern side of greater Great Hill, and a portion of old growth swamp to the northeast of the large Playing Field.
[[File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png|alt=A map showing the location on Great Hill of the areas where invasive plants are being addressed, or ignored. Each location is described in the following text.|right|frameless|596x596px|Great Hill Invasives Plant Areas]]
There are areas of Great Hill which have been worked for invasive plants in the past, which need varied amounts of regular attention:

* A: The [[Great Hill School St Swamp|School Street Swamp (low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond)]]
* B: The entire border of the [[Great Hill Dog Pond|Dog Pond]]
* C: The border of the [[Great Hill Large Playing Field|large Playing Field]], including the area to the west of the upper meadow and the Raspberry thickets to the east of the upper meadow
* D: The border of the [[Great Hill Little Playing Field|Little Playing Field]], including the [[Japanese Knotweed]] patch
* E: The south side of greater Great Hill has a large [[Winged Euonymus]] thicket, which has been attacked by brave volunteers starting in 2021. It also has a large [[Norway Maple]] infestation
* F: The area between the trail from the Pond to the Little Playing Field and Mill Corner Condominiums has a large [[Asian Bittersweet]] thicket growing in it (as well as [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Winged Euonymus]])
* G: The [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands]], with its [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* H: The Maple thicket around the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail, which includes a large patch [[Garlic Mustard]] growing north of the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail
* J: The woods bordering the houses along Piper Rd. have an [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* K: The [[Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail|"unofficial" entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave]] has lots of every invasive plant!
* L: The area south of the Main Street parking lot. This has [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Winged Euonymus]], and also some [[Japanese Knotweed]], in between the two houses.
* M: The [[Montague Land]]
Invasives work areas adjacent to Great Hill (but not actually part of Great Hill Conservation area) include:

* [[13 Farmstead Rd]], town land which is downstream from Great Hill on Coles Brook

=== Previous Reports ===

* [[Great Hill Invasives Work 2016|2016 Invasives Work report]]
* John's [http://watlington.homelinux.org:8000/wad/greathill/ Journal of Great Hill work]

Assisting on Conservation Land

2025-04-15T14:58:48Z

Watlington: Page for people who might eventually become LSC members

What you can do to help take care of Acton’s conservation lands?

When walking trails, you can “become the land steward”. This means:

* Pick up any trash you see (always carry some sort of trash bag)
* Sweep the trail by removing any twigs, branches, and loose rocks you find.
* Report any downed trees across the trail to lscsawyers@googlegroups.com
* Trim back any encroaching flora

Usually, when trimming back flora encroaching on a trail, you will find that that it is an [[Invasive Plants Around Acton|Invasive Plant species]]. Ideally these shouldn’t just be trimmed back, they should be removed!

As long as you are positive on your identification of an invasive species on conservation land, go ahead and remove it. If unsure, let it live.

Most, if not all, of our conservation lands have [[Work Areas|areas which need serious work on invasives removal]]. Pick your favorite conservation land, and ask the land stewards. and we can point you to an area where you can do serious good.

The meadows in conservation lands are special places. Examples are found at Stoneymeade, Grassy Pond, Nagog Hill, Heathen Meadow, Pratt’s Brook, Morrison Farm and Wetherbee,

They are (mostly) mowed yearly by the town, but need lots of additional work to stay “meadows”. This includes:

* Removing branches that fall into them (placing them into the adjacent woods)
* Removing invasive species growing in them.
* Removing invasive species growing in their perimeter.
* Report any downed trees into the meadows to lsc-sawyers@actontrail.org
* Pruning the trees in the meadow (this requires some training)
* Removing saplings growing in the meadows. Oak saplings tend to survive mowings, and require serious tap root extraction. Wetherbee and Pratt’s Brook have a lot of these.

If you do any work or monitoring of a conservation land, we strongly suggest contacting the appropriate land steward and keeping them informed.

Common Practices

2025-04-15T14:54:07Z

Watlington: Added "Assisting" link, and separated the Common Practices from the Acton Conservation information.

These are common practices used in dealing with invasive species:

* [[Brush Piles]]
* [[Girding|Girding to kill larger woody plants]]
* [[Critical Period Cutting|Critical Period Cutting (Deadheading)]]

Additional information about working on Acton Conservation Lands:

* [[Assisting on Conservation Land|Want to help]] ?
* [https://trails.actonma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Welcome-to-the-Acton-Land-Stewardship-Committee-A-Guide-for-Stewards.pdf LSC Steward's Guidebook]

Glossy Buckthorn

2025-03-28T02:55:24Z

Watlington: Added photo of bark

'''Frangula alnus''' ''a.k.a.'' '''Rhamus frangula''' ( [https://cisma-suasco.org/invasive/glossy-buckthorn/ CISMA], [http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=FRAL4 USDA], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_frangula Wikipedia], [https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/frangula/alnus/ GoBotany], [https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=5649 IPANE], [https://naturegroupie.org/field-notes-what-we-know-about-glossy-buckthorn UNH] )
[[File:Frangula alnus - wetland 2.jpg|alt=Glossy Buckthorn, with berries|left|thumb]]
[[File:Rhamnus frangula 05 ies.jpg|alt=Glossy Buckthorn stem, with berries|right|thumb]]

Glossy Buckthorn, a small tree or coarse shrub that grows up to 20 ft. tall, is one of the most common invasive plants in Acton. Its simple leaves leaves are 1 - 2.5 in. long, have untoothed edges and are usually arranged alternately although they may appear almost opposite near the branch tips. The leaves are dark green (in the summer) and glossy above, with either no hairs or slight hairs beneath. The leaves turn greenish-yellow to yellow late in the fall, and remain on the plant when most other species have already lost their leaves.

Young stems are greenish, often with soft fine hairs. Older bark is grayish-brown, with prominent light raised lenticels. Despite the name, it has no thorns. The heartwood (visible when cut) is pinkish to orange in growth over a couple of years old. The roots are deep red.

It flowers with clusters of one to eight 5-petaled yellow-green flowers after the leaves expand, from May to August. The berries are round and roughly 0.25 in diameter. They change from red to black as they ripen, from July to August. It should be noted that at any given time there can be flowers, partially ripened fruits (red) and fully ripened fruits (black) present on the same plant.

== Removal ==
Smaller Glossy Buckthorn saplings (up to around 1/2 inch in diameter) can be pulled. If larger saplings are pulled, the roots will break off and regrow (producing a ring of saplings in a year).

It is better to kill the root system of larger plants. For large trees (larger than 1 inch diameter), [[girding]] is recommended.

Intermediate sized plants may be killed by repeated cutting. This should NOT be done at ground level, or many shoots (a hydra!) will result. It is better to cut it about four feet up. The plant will concentrate its growth at the top of the cut stems instead of producing new shoots. On subsequent visits, the stem may be shortened to remove the new growth, eventually killing the plant.

There are other approaches:

* Using a cable tie to securely fasten a thick black plastic bag over a stem cut short. It is hard to prevent regrowth from the base of the stem. Otherwise, this works, but you have to go back and retrieve the bags/ties.
* Nailing a large can over a stem cut short. Here the can can be pressed into the ground to prevent regrowth from the base of the stem. Again, the can has to be removed afterwards (and you need lots of them).

== Common Mis-identifications ==

=== Identification by Leaf ===
Two plants that can be mistaken for buckthorn are sweet-pepperbush and winterberry. The best way to discriminate is to look at the underside of the leaves:
[[File:Buckthorn-leaf.png|alt=Buckthorn Leaf|left|thumb|Buckthorn]]
[[File:Sweet-pepperbush-leaf.png|alt=Sweet Pepperbush Leaf|thumb|none|Sweet Pepperbush]]
<br clear='all'>

Buckthorn and Sweet Pepperbush have well defined veins that curve toward the leaf tip (mature buckthorn has 8-9 veins). But Sweet Pepperbush leaves have teeth and buckthorn leaves do not.
[[File:Winterberry-leaf.png|alt=Winterberry Leaf|thumb|left|Winterberry]]
Winterberry leaves do NOT have 8-9 well defined veins, and have teeth as well. For small plants, buckthorn and low bush blueberry can sometimes be confused when viewed from above, but the underside of low bush blueberry leaves do not have well defined veins. Generally, plants that might be confused with buckthorn, other than sweet pepperbush, do not have well defined veins when the underside of the leaf is viewed.
<br clear='all'>

=== Identification by Bark ===
[[File:Atlas roslin pl Kruszyna pospolita 4479 7007.jpg|alt=This photos shows the lenticels in the bark of Glossy Buckthorn|thumb|400x400px|Lenticels in Bark]]
The bark of Glossy Buckthorn has lenticels, or horizontal white marks, which is distinctive. One very similar native bark which might get confused with Glossy Buckthorn is Black Cherry (when there are no leaves, as the Black Cherry leaf has jagged edges).

=== Identification by Buds In Winter ===

TBD

=== Identification by Twigs ===

TBD

Critical Period Cutting

2025-03-19T03:14:29Z

Watlington:

This is a technique for mechanical removal of many woody invasive plants (e.g. Glossy Buckthorn, Winged Euonymus, and Bush Honeysuckle). It is also known as [https://fmr.org/updates/conservation/how-and-when-use-critical-period-cutting-method-remove-invasive-buckthorn Critical Period Cutting].

The basic idea is to immediately remove most of the plant (removing its throwing shade on its surroundings, and preventing seed generation that year), but retaining a single (tall) stem for new growth to favor. This may be done either in the spring or in the fall.

The critical period is re-cutting the regrowth five or six months later, then one and two years later.

It drains the energy out of the root system, instead of breaking it up and then having to deal with root fragments re-sprouting. It minimizes the “Hydra” problem, by focusing the plant’s regrowth on the single high stem.

It also makes re-clearing an area easy (clear differentiation between new saplings to pull and regrowth from old roots to cut.

Critical Period Cutting

2025-03-19T03:12:32Z

Watlington: Created page with "This is a technique for mechanical removal of many woody invasive plants (e.g. Glossy Buckthorn, Winged Euonymus, and Bush Honeysuckle). It is also known as [https://fmr.org/updates/conservation/how-and-when-use-critical-period-cutting-method-remove-invasive-buckthorn Critical Period Cutting]. The basic idea is to immediately remove most of the plant (removing its throwing shade on its surroundings, and preventing seed generation that year), but retaining a single (ta..."

Common Practices

2025-03-19T03:03:56Z

Watlington: Added a link to a technique that I use all the time, which I found other people using...

These are common practices used in dealing with invasive species:

* [[Brush Piles]]
* [[Girding|Girding to kill larger woody plants]]
* [[Critical Period Cutting|Critical Period Cutting (Deadheading)]]
* [https://trails.actonma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Welcome-to-the-Acton-Land-Stewardship-Committee-A-Guide-for-Stewards.pdf LSC Steward's Guidebook]

Nagog Hill

2024-11-08T15:55:52Z

Watlington: Created page with "Nagog Hill Invasive Areas [https://trails.actonma.gov/nagog-hill/ Nagog Hill] is a large conservation area on the east side of Nagog Hill Rd., between it and Nagog Pond. It has 177 acres of land, including two meadows, one smaller and the other very large. == Area A - The Large Meadow == One of the beautiful features of..."

[[File:NagogHillInvasivesMap.png|alt=A map showing the areas in Nagog Hill Conservation Area where invasive plants are being removed|thumb|457x457px|Nagog Hill Invasive Areas]]
[https://trails.actonma.gov/nagog-hill/ Nagog Hill] is a large conservation area on the east side of Nagog Hill Rd., between it and Nagog Pond. It has 177 acres of land, including two meadows, one smaller and the other very large.

== Area A - The Large Meadow ==
One of the beautiful features of Nagog Hill is a large meadow, which extends over 1000 feet from Nagog Hill Road. The area along the road abuts Hybid Farm, which had a fence around it and used it as a horse pasture. The fence was removed in 2022, but it left behind a ring of invasive plants.

There used to be paths through the rear part of the meadow, worn down by horse riders, but with the closing of Hybid Farm in 2021 those have disappeared.

There are remnants of old farm equipment along the south border of the meadow, in the north east portion (farthest from the road).

=== The Meadow ===
The meadow itself has well entrenched invasive plants, mostly [[Multiflora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]]. The town arranges for the meadow to be mowed every year, although the quality of mowing (how close they come to obstacles and the edges of the meadow) varies greatly. The bush-hogs used for mowing will avoid any fallen branches (larger than 2") and trees, so it is important to clear the meadow of these whenever found.

There are numerous rocks in the meadow which the mower avoids. These need an occasional visit after mowing with clipper/loppers to cut the vegetation growing up around them (esp. MF Rose and Asian Bittersweet!)

This meadow had a very good clearing of the edges in fall 2024.

=== The Tree Clusters ===
There are numerous tree clusters in the meadow where rocks prevented mowing. These tend to host large numbers of invasive plants as well: [[Japanese Barberry]], [[Winged Euonymus]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], as well as the pervasive MF Rose and Asian Bittersweet.

These were all worked in 2022, and again in fall 2024.

== Area B - The Small Meadow ==
Complementing the large meadow is a smaller one. This one is unusual as it has a rock wall going through the middle of the meadow, along the yellow trail. As there is no overgrowth, this rock wall needs continuous clearing. As in the large meadow, there are multiple tree clusters, on both sides of the rock wall.

This meadow is cleared to the rock walls on the north/south sides. The eastern side has a swampy wooded area as the border.

The rock wall was cleared in the late 2010s, and again in 2024.

The meadow was cleared of fallen trees/branches in fall 2020, and again in fall 2024.

== Area C - Overgrown Swamp ==

== Area D - The Grassy Pond Entrance Trail ==

== Area E - The side of Nagog Hill ==

File:NagogHillInvasivesMap.png

2024-11-07T17:19:39Z

Watlington:

A map of the Nagog Hill Conservation Area, showing some of the areas being worked for invasive plants

Work Areas

2024-11-07T00:05:57Z

Watlington: Added link for Nagog Hill

* [[How to Create/Edit a Work Area]]

== Acton Invasives Work Areas ==

* [[Arboretum]]
* [[Great Hill]]
* Heathen Meadow
* [[Morrison Farm|Morrison Farm and Icehouse Pond]] (including Concord Rd. Playing Field)
* [[Nagog Hill]]
* [[Nashoba Brook]]
* [[Pratt's Brook]]
* [[Wetherbee]]
* [[Wills Hole/Town Forest]]

Arboretum

2024-11-05T01:53:56Z

Watlington: Added Area P - The Meadow at the Fish Pond

The [https://actonarboretum.org/ Acton Arboretum] ( [https://trails.actonma.gov/arboretum/ LSC webpage]) comprises both the well-manicured Orchard area, and a wilder wooded portion, with swamps, eskers, bogs, and inner meadows. Invasive plants are found throughout.
[[File:InvasivePlantAreas.png|right|frameless|761x761px]]

== Area A - The Orchard ==
Area A comprises the "Orchard Loop" plus the new China Garden. Invasives in this area are [[Multiflora Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Mugwort]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Garlic Mustard]]. The areas near the paths need regular weeding of invasives.

They were being continuously cleared in 2022/2023 (as Ruby got her daily constitutional.)

In fall 2022, all meadow areas in Area A were mowed (tractor). Yearly mowing is recommended.

There was no fall mowing of these areas in 2023. They were mowed on Oct. 11, 2024.

== Area B - Taylor Rd Border ==
Area B is the area between the sidewalk and Taylor Rd., in the area between the exit and the southern border of the Arboretum. Invasives in this area are largely Glossy Buckthorn and Mugwort, with some MultiFlora Rose, [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and Asian Bittersweet thrown in.

There is a beautiful (in early June) Carolina Rose bush about 15m north of the Arboretum entrance (marked by a fire hydrant on Taylor Rd.). It has a [[Black Walnut]] and a [[Bush Honeysuckle]] root system in it which need regular cuttings. There is also [[Mugwort]] growing throughout harming the Carolina Rose.

Cleared on 10/18/23 (although there is still a large Bush Honeysuckle at the southern end which hasn't been cut.) Cleared in June 2024, including cutting the large Honeysuckle.

The Catalpa trees growing right next to the sidewalk are not desired. Discussion started in 2024 about removing them.

== Area C - Inside the WildFlower Trail ==
This is an area cleared in the past few years (2019 ?). There is still considerable regrowth from roots of Asian Bittersweet, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose which needs clearing. It was worked in October 2024.

A tree fell down into this meadow in early 2024. Normally it would be cleared to allow mowing, but 1) this area doesn't get mowed and 2) the area where the tree fell is too uneven/rocky to mow. Still, it is encouraging Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

The American Hazelnut cluster near the trail needs yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

The rock wall and trees along it need clearing yearly.

== Area D - The Neglected Area ==
[[Arboretum Area D|Area D]] starts at the parking lot and continues downhill between the Arboretum border and the maintained Arboretum lands. Infested with large Bush Honeysuckle overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Multiflora rose is also scattered throughout. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023 and 2024.

== Area E - The Donald Land Crossing ==
Area E is the area around the start of the swamp trail. It is infested with large Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Lots of Poison Ivy and Raspberries as well, which while desired have a tendency to grow into the trail.

In 2022 (?), there was an effort by volunteers to cut back the encroaching vegetation, especially in the area close to Mary's Brook. There was a pass made a clearing regrowth in summer of 2023.

== Area F - The Taylor Rd. Swamp ==
This area is the Taylor Rd. side of the swamp at the northeast corner of the Arboretum. It has large clumps of Glossy Buckthorn and (supposedly) one scary infestation of [[Japanese Knotweed]].

The area at the north end of the Hosta Garden (where it meets the swamp) had Glossy Buckthorn cut in 2023, and again at the end of May, 2024.

The area under the Maple Tree was cleared of MF Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Glossy Buckthorn in June 2024.

== Area G - The new Garlic Mustard patch ==
In 2023, Jim Snyder-Grant discovered a new infestation of [[Garlic Mustard]] in this area, hidden among the Bush Honeysuckle.

== Area H - The Vulcan Ear Loop ==
This area is completely infested with invasive plants: Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There were also some Norway Maples, but they were girded and killed in the late 2000s.

The Blue path through this (the Vulcan Ear loop) requires mowing two - three times a year to keep it clear, along with at least one pass at cutting back the larger intruding bush invasives by hand.

There has been no attempt to deal with this area.

== Area I - The Inner Meadow ==
Bordering the Vulcan Ear Loop is the Arboretum Inner Meadow. This jewel has seen its mowing sadly neglected, which has resulted in an overgrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

The entire meadow was mowed in 2023.

The eastern half of the meadow got a good mowing in the fall of 2022. The western half hasn't been mowed since 2020.

The large trees at the trail junction died in the late 2010s. In 2024, there were two Black Walnut saplings and a number of

== Area J - The Indian Mounds ==
This is forested area to the northeast of the intersection of the Billings trail and the Yellow Bog Loop trail. While the overgrowth restrains the growth of invasive plants, there is still Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet growth in this area. Note that any plant removal around the Indian rock mounds should avoid disturbing them.

Last cleared around 2021.

== Area K - Inside the Bog Loop ==
This area started seeing invasive plant clearing in 2017, and is now starting to stabilize with little remaining regrowth. The culprits were Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There was also one large Winged Euonymus which had spread to dozens of little Winged Euonymus plants.

The area was last walked through in 2023.

== Area L - The Swamp Trail ==
The continuation of the Swamp trail has lots of Glossy Buckthorn growing around it, with occasional Multiflora Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Japanese Barberry.

It is unclear when it was last completely cleared.

== Area M - Lower Bog Loop ==
This area is infested with Glossy Buckthorn, Multiflora Rose, Bush Honeysuckle, and Asian Bittersweet.

It shows sign of previous removal efforts, but needs lots of work.

The area immediately around the rock wall was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in Feb. 2024.

== Area N - The Wood Lane Meadow ==
This meadow sees infrequent mowing (should be yearly). It is infested with Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an cluster of Aspen Saplings growing in the northeast corner of that meadow, which should probably be encouraged instead of mowed (Despite mowing around it with a field mower, it was mowed in Fall 2023). Also in the north side of the meadow (near the trail) is an Valley Forge variant American Elm tree.

In 2023, all edges of the meadow were cleared of invasive plants, and all trees in and along the meadow were cleared of Asian Bittersweet.

== Area O - The Billings Trail ==
This is the part of the Billing Trail leading out to Concord Rd. from the (current) end of Wood Lane. The edges of the trail are infested with Asian Bittersweet, Glossy Buckthorn, and Norway Maple.

A sweep was made all the way down the trail in 2023. The large number of girded Norway Maples will need another sweep to remove regrowth in early 2024.

In June 2024 a sweep was made to continue working the Norway Maples. There is still considerable regrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose from left-behind roots. There are still over a dozen Norway Maples which need girding.

== Area P - The Meadow at the Fish Pond ==
[[File:Golden Larch in Acton Arboretum 2024.jpg|link=http://ec2-44-218-8-154.compute-1.amazonaws.com/aiw/File:Golden%20Larch%20in%20Acton%20Arboretum%202024.jpg|thumb|Golden Larch sapling on the southern side of the Meadow w. the Fish Pond]]
This meadow has been receiving more attention since the addition of the Japanese Garden (and connecting trail) in the late 2010s, and the Fish Pond in 2023. The western edge of the meadow (along the yellow loop trail) has long been a source of Bush Honeysuckle incursions into the trail which needed cutting back. The southern and eastern edges were known for Multiflora Rose incursions into the trail which needed regular cutting back.

Starting in the late 2010s, more effort was put into cutting back the bushes along the western side, as well as the Asian Bittersweet growing over them. In 2024, the yearly field mower (bush hog) took a pass along that edge. This was followed by a manual pass, uprooting any remaining invasives within ten feet or so of the walkway.

The southern edge was mostly cleared of multiflora rose in 2024, but will need continual re-cutting for a while. The highlight here is an area previously cleared which has a Golden Larch Sapling. Growing in front of it are small examples (in 2024) of Virginia Rose.

The brush pile at the southeastern corner was created when the mower moved a dead tree from the meadow into there, knocking over the large existing MF Rose bushes.

== American Elms ==
There are [https://www.elmpost.org/ Dutch Elm Disease Resistant American Elm trees] planted throughout the Arboretum. These should get special attention to keep them free from invasive plants. Their location is provided in this map (mirrored from [https://www.elmpost.org/arboretm.htm here)]: As of Nov. 2023, all of the ones indicated as living in that diagram were found alive.
[[File:Arboretm.jpg|thumb]][[Identifying Local Elm Trees|Identifying Local Elm Species]]

File:Golden Larch in Acton Arboretum 2024.jpg

2024-11-05T01:46:15Z

Watlington:

This is a Golden Larch sapling planted in the Acton Arboretum, along the southern edge of the meadow with the fish pond. Taken late October 2024. There is Virginia Rose growing in the foreground.

File:InvasivePlantAreas.png

2024-10-29T00:09:56Z

Watlington: Watlington uploaded a new version of File:InvasivePlantAreas.png

This is a map of the Acton Arboretum, showing different areas of Invasive Plant Species Removal

Autumn Olive

2024-10-15T22:59:28Z

Watlington:

[[File:Elaeagnus umbelata all.jpg|thumb|Autumn Olive]]
[[File:Elaeagnus umbellata Oliwnik baldaszkowy 2019-09-15 02.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|Autumn Olive Berries]]
[[File:Elaeagnus umbellata2.jpg|thumb|267x267px|Autumn Olive]]
'''Elaeagnus umbellata''' ([https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/elaeagnus/umbellata/ GoBotany], [[wikipedia:Elaeagnus_umbellata|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=ELUM USDA]) is an invasive shrub (usually four to eight feet high, although it can grow into a small 16ft. tall tree) found in Acton. It has a distinctive leaf (dark on top with a light, fuzzy underside), and has large amounts of small red berries (flecked with silver or gold) which ripen in the fall. These are a favorite with birds (and hikers), and result in its spread. The berries are edible, and have large amounts of [[wikipedia:Lycopene|lycopene]] in them. They are tart like a tomato, but ten times stronger.

== Removal ==
Autumn Olive is fairly easy to remove.[[File:Elaeagnus umbellata7.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|Autumn Olive Leaves]]
The plant is very easy to uproot completely. Anything less than a couple of inches in diameter can probably be pulled up. Cutting the plant (the wood is very soft) will result in regrowth, but after a couple of cuttings it will die.

== Common Mis-Identifications ==
'''Black Cherry''' ([https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/prunus/serotina/ Prunus serotina], [[wikipedia:Prunus_serotina|Wikipedia]], [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=PRSE2 USDA] - [https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_prse2.pdf Factsheet]) has a similar leaf. The Autumn Olive bark is much smoother, and the Cherry leaves are serrated and aren't light and fuzzy underneath.

'''Russian Olive''' (''[https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/elaeagnus/angustifolia/ Elaeagnus angustifolia]'', [[wikipedia:Elaeagnus_angustifolia|Wikipedia]], USDA) is another invasive plant with similar leaves. It can grow much larger, and has spines.

Arboretum

2024-10-13T20:06:00Z

Watlington: Added details to Area C.

The [https://actonarboretum.org/ Acton Arboretum] ( [https://trails.actonma.gov/arboretum/ LSC webpage]) comprises both the well-manicured Orchard area, and a wilder wooded portion, with swamps, eskers, bogs, and inner meadows. Invasive plants are found throughout.
[[File:InvasivePlantAreas.png|right|frameless|761x761px]]

== Area A - The Orchard ==
Area A comprises the "Orchard Loop" plus the new China Garden. Invasives in this area are [[Multiflora Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Mugwort]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Garlic Mustard]]. The areas near the paths need regular weeding of invasives.

They were being continuously cleared in 2022/2023 (as Ruby got her daily constitutional.)

In fall 2022, all meadow areas in Area A were mowed (tractor). Yearly mowing is recommended.

There was no fall mowing of these areas in 2023. They were mowed on Oct. 11, 2024.

== Area B - Taylor Rd Border ==
Area B is the area between the sidewalk and Taylor Rd., in the area between the exit and the southern border of the Arboretum. Invasives in this area are largely Glossy Buckthorn and Mugwort, with some MultiFlora Rose, [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and Asian Bittersweet thrown in.

There is a beautiful (in early June) Carolina Rose bush about 15m north of the Arboretum entrance (marked by a fire hydrant on Taylor Rd.). It has a [[Black Walnut]] and a [[Bush Honeysuckle]] root system in it which need regular cuttings. There is also [[Mugwort]] growing throughout harming the Carolina Rose.

Cleared on 10/18/23 (although there is still a large Bush Honeysuckle at the southern end which hasn't been cut.) Cleared in June 2024, including cutting the large Honeysuckle.

The Catalpa trees growing right next to the sidewalk are not desired. Discussion started in 2024 about removing them.

== Area C - Inside the WildFlower Trail ==
This is an area cleared in the past few years (2019 ?). There is still considerable regrowth from roots of Asian Bittersweet, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose which needs clearing. It was worked in October 2024.

A tree fell down into this meadow in early 2024. Normally it would be cleared to allow mowing, but 1) this area doesn't get mowed and 2) the area where the tree fell is too uneven/rocky to mow. Still, it is encouraging Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

The American Hazelnut cluster near the trail needs yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet regrowth.

The rock wall and trees along it need clearing yearly.

== Area D - The Neglected Area ==
[[Arboretum Area D|Area D]] starts at the parking lot and continues downhill between the Arboretum border and the maintained Arboretum lands. Infested with large Bush Honeysuckle overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Multiflora rose is also scattered throughout. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023 and 2024.

== Area E - The Donald Land Crossing ==
Area E is the area around the start of the swamp trail. It is infested with large Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Lots of Poison Ivy and Raspberries as well, which while desired have a tendency to grow into the trail.

In 2022 (?), there was an effort by volunteers to cut back the encroaching vegetation, especially in the area close to Mary's Brook. There was a pass made a clearing regrowth in summer of 2023.

== Area F - The Taylor Rd. Swamp ==
This area is the Taylor Rd. side of the swamp at the northeast corner of the Arboretum. It has large clumps of Glossy Buckthorn and (supposedly) one scary infestation of [[Japanese Knotweed]].

The area at the north end of the Hosta Garden (where it meets the swamp) had Glossy Buckthorn cut in 2023, and again at the end of May, 2024.

The area under the Maple Tree was cleared of MF Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Glossy Buckthorn in June 2024.

== Area G - The new Garlic Mustard patch ==
In 2023, Jim Snyder-Grant discovered a new infestation of [[Garlic Mustard]] in this area, hidden among the Bush Honeysuckle.

== Area H - The Vulcan Ear Loop ==
This area is completely infested with invasive plants: Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There were also some Norway Maples, but they were girded and killed in the late 2000s.

The Blue path through this (the Vulcan Ear loop) requires mowing two - three times a year to keep it clear, along with at least one pass at cutting back the larger intruding bush invasives by hand.

There has been no attempt to deal with this area.

== Area I - The Inner Meadow ==
Bordering the Vulcan Ear Loop is the Arboretum Inner Meadow. This jewel has seen its mowing sadly neglected, which has resulted in an overgrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

The entire meadow was mowed in 2023.

The eastern half of the meadow got a good mowing in the fall of 2022. The western half hasn't been mowed since 2020.

The large trees at the trail junction died in the late 2010s. In 2024, there were two Black Walnut saplings and a number of

== Area J - The Indian Mounds ==
This is forested area to the northeast of the intersection of the Billings trail and the Yellow Bog Loop trail. While the overgrowth restrains the growth of invasive plants, there is still Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet growth in this area. Note that any plant removal around the Indian rock mounds should avoid disturbing them.

Last cleared around 2021.

== Area K - Inside the Bog Loop ==
This area started seeing invasive plant clearing in 2017, and is now starting to stabilize with little remaining regrowth. The culprits were Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There was also one large Winged Euonymus which had spread to dozens of little Winged Euonymus plants.

The area was last walked through in 2023.

== Area L - The Swamp Trail ==
The continuation of the Swamp trail has lots of Glossy Buckthorn growing around it, with occasional Multiflora Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Japanese Barberry.

It is unclear when it was last completely cleared.

== Area M - Lower Bog Loop ==
This area is infested with Glossy Buckthorn, Multiflora Rose, Bush Honeysuckle, and Asian Bittersweet.

It shows sign of previous removal efforts, but needs lots of work.

The area immediately around the rock wall was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in Feb. 2024.

== Area N - The Wood Lane Meadow ==
This meadow sees infrequent mowing (should be yearly). It is infested with Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an cluster of Aspen Saplings growing in the northeast corner of that meadow, which should probably be encouraged instead of mowed (Despite mowing around it with a field mower, it was mowed in Fall 2023). Also in the north side of the meadow (near the trail) is an Valley Forge variant American Elm tree.

In 2023, all edges of the meadow were cleared of invasive plants, and all trees in and along the meadow were cleared of Asian Bittersweet.

== Area O - The Billings Trail ==
This is the part of the Billing Trail leading out to Concord Rd. from the (current) end of Wood Lane. The edges of the trail are infested with Asian Bittersweet, Glossy Buckthorn, and Norway Maple.

A sweep was made all the way down the trail in 2023. The large number of girded Norway Maples will need another sweep to remove regrowth in early 2024.

In June 2024 a sweep was made to continue working the Norway Maples. There is still considerable regrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose from left-behind roots. There are still over a dozen Norway Maples which need girding.

== American Elms ==
There are [https://www.elmpost.org/ Dutch Elm Disease Resistant American Elm trees] planted throughout the Arboretum. These should get special attention to keep them free from invasive plants. Their location is provided in this map (mirrored from [https://www.elmpost.org/arboretm.htm here)]: As of Nov. 2023, all of the ones indicated as living in that diagram were found alive.
[[File:Arboretm.jpg|thumb]][[Identifying Local Elm Trees|Identifying Local Elm Species]]

Arboretum

2024-10-11T21:37:24Z

Watlington: Added link to official Arboretum website

The [https://actonarboretum.org/ Acton Arboretum] ( [https://trails.actonma.gov/arboretum/ LSC webpage]) comprises both the well-manicured Orchard area, and a wilder wooded portion, with swamps, eskers, bogs, and inner meadows. Invasive plants are found throughout.
[[File:InvasivePlantAreas.png|right|frameless|761x761px]]

== Area A - The Orchard ==
Area A comprises the "Orchard Loop" plus the new China Garden. Invasives in this area are [[Multiflora Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Mugwort]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Garlic Mustard]]. The areas near the paths need regular weeding of invasives.

They were being continuously cleared in 2022/2023 (as Ruby got her daily constitutional.)

In fall 2022, all meadow areas in Area A were mowed (tractor). Yearly mowing is recommended.

There was no fall mowing of these areas in 2023. They were mowed on Oct. 11, 2024.

== Area B - Taylor Rd Border ==
Area B is the area between the sidewalk and Taylor Rd., in the area between the exit and the southern border of the Arboretum. Invasives in this area are largely Glossy Buckthorn and Mugwort, with some MultiFlora Rose, [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and Asian Bittersweet thrown in.

There is a beautiful (in early June) Carolina Rose bush about 15m north of the Arboretum entrance (marked by a fire hydrant on Taylor Rd.). It has a [[Black Walnut]] and a [[Bush Honeysuckle]] root system in it which need regular cuttings. There is also [[Mugwort]] growing throughout harming the Carolina Rose.

Cleared on 10/18/23 (although there is still a large Bush Honeysuckle at the southern end which hasn't been cut.) Cleared in June 2024, including cutting the large Honeysuckle.

The Catalpa trees growing right next to the sidewalk are not desired. Discussion started in 2024 about removing them.

== Area C - Inside the WildFlower Trail ==
This is an area cleared in the past few years (2019 ?). There is still considerable regrowth from roots of Asian Bittersweet, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose which needs clearing.

== Area D - The Neglected Area ==
[[Arboretum Area D|Area D]] starts at the parking lot and continues downhill between the Arboretum border and the maintained Arboretum lands. Infested with large Bush Honeysuckle overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Multiflora rose is also scattered throughout. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023 and 2024.

== Area E - The Donald Land Crossing ==
Area E is the area around the start of the swamp trail. It is infested with large Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Lots of Poison Ivy and Raspberries as well, which while desired have a tendency to grow into the trail.

In 2022 (?), there was an effort by volunteers to cut back the encroaching vegetation, especially in the area close to Mary's Brook. There was a pass made a clearing regrowth in summer of 2023.

== Area F - The Taylor Rd. Swamp ==
This area is the Taylor Rd. side of the swamp at the northeast corner of the Arboretum. It has large clumps of Glossy Buckthorn and (supposedly) one scary infestation of [[Japanese Knotweed]].

The area at the north end of the Hosta Garden (where it meets the swamp) had Glossy Buckthorn cut in 2023, and again at the end of May, 2024.

The area under the Maple Tree was cleared of MF Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Glossy Buckthorn in June 2024.

== Area G - The new Garlic Mustard patch ==
In 2023, Jim Snyder-Grant discovered a new infestation of [[Garlic Mustard]] in this area, hidden among the Bush Honeysuckle.

== Area H - The Vulcan Ear Loop ==
This area is completely infested with invasive plants: Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There were also some Norway Maples, but they were girded and killed in the late 2000s.

The Blue path through this (the Vulcan Ear loop) requires mowing two - three times a year to keep it clear, along with at least one pass at cutting back the larger intruding bush invasives by hand.

There has been no attempt to deal with this area.

== Area I - The Inner Meadow ==
Bordering the Vulcan Ear Loop is the Arboretum Inner Meadow. This jewel has seen its mowing sadly neglected, which has resulted in an overgrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

The entire meadow was mowed in 2023.

The eastern half of the meadow got a good mowing in the fall of 2022. The western half hasn't been mowed since 2020.

The large trees at the trail junction died in the late 2010s. In 2024, there were two Black Walnut saplings and a number of

== Area J - The Indian Mounds ==
This is forested area to the northeast of the intersection of the Billings trail and the Yellow Bog Loop trail. While the overgrowth restrains the growth of invasive plants, there is still Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet growth in this area. Note that any plant removal around the Indian rock mounds should avoid disturbing them.

Last cleared around 2021.

== Area K - Inside the Bog Loop ==
This area started seeing invasive plant clearing in 2017, and is now starting to stabilize with little remaining regrowth. The culprits were Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There was also one large Winged Euonymus which had spread to dozens of little Winged Euonymus plants.

The area was last walked through in 2023.

== Area L - The Swamp Trail ==
The continuation of the Swamp trail has lots of Glossy Buckthorn growing around it, with occasional Multiflora Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Japanese Barberry.

It is unclear when it was last completely cleared.

== Area M - Lower Bog Loop ==
This area is infested with Glossy Buckthorn, Multiflora Rose, Bush Honeysuckle, and Asian Bittersweet.

It shows sign of previous removal efforts, but needs lots of work.

The area immediately around the rock wall was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in Feb. 2024.

== Area N - The Wood Lane Meadow ==
This meadow sees infrequent mowing (should be yearly). It is infested with Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an cluster of Aspen Saplings growing in the northeast corner of that meadow, which should probably be encouraged instead of mowed (Despite mowing around it with a field mower, it was mowed in Fall 2023). Also in the north side of the meadow (near the trail) is an Valley Forge variant American Elm tree.

In 2023, all edges of the meadow were cleared of invasive plants, and all trees in and along the meadow were cleared of Asian Bittersweet.

== Area O - The Billings Trail ==
This is the part of the Billing Trail leading out to Concord Rd. from the (current) end of Wood Lane. The edges of the trail are infested with Asian Bittersweet, Glossy Buckthorn, and Norway Maple.

A sweep was made all the way down the trail in 2023. The large number of girded Norway Maples will need another sweep to remove regrowth in early 2024.

In June 2024 a sweep was made to continue working the Norway Maples. There is still considerable regrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose from left-behind roots. There are still over a dozen Norway Maples which need girding.

== American Elms ==
There are [https://www.elmpost.org/ Dutch Elm Disease Resistant American Elm trees] planted throughout the Arboretum. These should get special attention to keep them free from invasive plants. Their location is provided in this map (mirrored from [https://www.elmpost.org/arboretm.htm here)]: As of Nov. 2023, all of the ones indicated as living in that diagram were found alive.
[[File:Arboretm.jpg|thumb]][[Identifying Local Elm Trees|Identifying Local Elm Species]]

Arboretum Area D

2024-10-11T21:35:47Z

Watlington: Added recent work

The [[Arboretum|Acton Arboretum]] has an area adjacent to the parking lot which has long been ignored. An attempt to clear invasive plants from this area was started in 2022.
[[File:Arboretum Area D.png|thumb|637x637px]]

== Area 1 - Adjacent to Parking ==
This area adjacent to the parking lot, bounded by a boulder covered drop-off, was infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]], as well as [[Garlic Mustard]] underneath. Clearing was started in 2022.

Regrowth was cleared in 2023, along with expanding the cleared area somewhat. Permission was obtained from NR and the Friends of the Arboretum to kill (gird) over a dozen small Black Walnut trees in this area, which were crowding out the Eastern Cedars. Clearing continued in 2024: pulling Asian Bittersweet regrowth and getting a volunteer group to pull the Garlic Mustard. Unfortunately, girding doesn't kill Black Walnut so lots of regrowth was cut on each tree being killed.

== Area 2 - Down the Hill ==
This area starts at the parking lot and continues down the hill (without a boulder covered drop-off, although it wraps around the bottom of one!) It is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]].

There are paths and clearing throughout this area -- in particular, one down to Area 3 --- which are gradually being expanded. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023.

The area right at the parking lot needs lots of attention to keep the Asian Bittersweet, Multiflora Rose, and Bush Honeysuckle from overtaking the Sumac and Cedars growing there. It was cleared in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Large Asian Bittersweet root systems still exist (mostly under the large Black Walnut), which will need more cutting back to kill.

== Area 3 - The Clearing over the Brook ==
This area is clearing on the west side of a bridge over the stream feeding through this part of the Arboretum. It was infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]].

Clearing started in 2021 (although there was certainly some clearing before that). The last clearing in 2023 also cleared the stream banks for 40 ft upstream/downstream of the bridge. Some Asian Bittersweet regrowth was pulled in 2024, but it wasn't given the good clearing it needed.

== Area 4 - The Redbud Glade ==
This area is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]] (surprise!). It is adjacent to a main (Yellow) Arboretum trail, yet presents an awful view of nature. The exception is in the spring, when the Eastern Redbud trees growing throughout flower.

It has been worked off and on for years. The main effort these days is to kill the Asian Bittersweet (to prevent it from killing the Redbud saplings.)

== Area 5 - Garlic Mustard ==
This area, while infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]] and [[Bush Honeysuckle]], is also listed by Jim Snyder-Grant as having a [[Garlic Mustard]] infestation.

== Area 6 - No Man's Land ==
This area is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]]. In 2022, paths were cut allowing access to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of trees in the area.

In 2023, these paths were expanded to allow access to all trees in the areas.

== Area 7 - MF Rose and Rock Piles ==
This area is infested with [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]]. In 2024, a path was cut from the yellow trail to allow access to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of trees in the area.

The back area (farthest from the trail), kinda marked as wetlands on the map but not really, is a nice grassy glade under the pine trees. [[Glossy Buckthorn]] and [[Multiflora Rose]] are trying to get a foothold here (in 2024).

The rock wall between the grassy glade area and the Understory Study needs yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose. It was cleared in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Arboretum

2024-10-11T21:18:56Z

Watlington:

The [https://trails.actonma.gov/arboretum/ Acton Arboretum] comprises both the well-manicured Orchard area, and a wilder wooded portion, with swamps, eskers, bogs, and inner meadows. Invasive plants are found throughout.
[[File:InvasivePlantAreas.png|right|frameless|761x761px]]

== Area A - The Orchard ==
Area A comprises the "Orchard Loop" plus the new China Garden. Invasives in this area are [[Multiflora Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Mugwort]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Garlic Mustard]]. The areas near the paths need regular weeding of invasives.

They were being continuously cleared in 2022/2023 (as Ruby got her daily constitutional.)

In fall 2022, all meadow areas in Area A were mowed (tractor). Yearly mowing is recommended.

There was no fall mowing of these areas in 2023. They were mowed on Oct. 11, 2024.

== Area B - Taylor Rd Border ==
Area B is the area between the sidewalk and Taylor Rd., in the area between the exit and the southern border of the Arboretum. Invasives in this area are largely Glossy Buckthorn and Mugwort, with some MultiFlora Rose, [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and Asian Bittersweet thrown in.

There is a beautiful (in early June) Carolina Rose bush about 15m north of the Arboretum entrance (marked by a fire hydrant on Taylor Rd.). It has a [[Black Walnut]] and a [[Bush Honeysuckle]] root system in it which need regular cuttings. There is also [[Mugwort]] growing throughout harming the Carolina Rose.

Cleared on 10/18/23 (although there is still a large Bush Honeysuckle at the southern end which hasn't been cut.) Cleared in June 2024, including cutting the large Honeysuckle.

The Catalpa trees growing right next to the sidewalk are not desired. Discussion started in 2024 about removing them.

== Area C - Inside the WildFlower Trail ==
This is an area cleared in the past few years (2019 ?). There is still considerable regrowth from roots of Asian Bittersweet, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose which needs clearing.

== Area D - The Neglected Area ==
[[Arboretum Area D|Area D]] starts at the parking lot and continues downhill between the Arboretum border and the maintained Arboretum lands. Infested with large Bush Honeysuckle overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Multiflora rose is also scattered throughout. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023 and 2024.

== Area E - The Donald Land Crossing ==
Area E is the area around the start of the swamp trail. It is infested with large Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. Lots of Poison Ivy and Raspberries as well, which while desired have a tendency to grow into the trail.

In 2022 (?), there was an effort by volunteers to cut back the encroaching vegetation, especially in the area close to Mary's Brook. There was a pass made a clearing regrowth in summer of 2023.

== Area F - The Taylor Rd. Swamp ==
This area is the Taylor Rd. side of the swamp at the northeast corner of the Arboretum. It has large clumps of Glossy Buckthorn and (supposedly) one scary infestation of [[Japanese Knotweed]].

The area at the north end of the Hosta Garden (where it meets the swamp) had Glossy Buckthorn cut in 2023, and again at the end of May, 2024.

The area under the Maple Tree was cleared of MF Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Glossy Buckthorn in June 2024.

== Area G - The new Garlic Mustard patch ==
In 2023, Jim Snyder-Grant discovered a new infestation of [[Garlic Mustard]] in this area, hidden among the Bush Honeysuckle.

== Area H - The Vulcan Ear Loop ==
This area is completely infested with invasive plants: Bush Honeysuckle, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There were also some Norway Maples, but they were girded and killed in the late 2000s.

The Blue path through this (the Vulcan Ear loop) requires mowing two - three times a year to keep it clear, along with at least one pass at cutting back the larger intruding bush invasives by hand.

There has been no attempt to deal with this area.

== Area I - The Inner Meadow ==
Bordering the Vulcan Ear Loop is the Arboretum Inner Meadow. This jewel has seen its mowing sadly neglected, which has resulted in an overgrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

The entire meadow was mowed in 2023.

The eastern half of the meadow got a good mowing in the fall of 2022. The western half hasn't been mowed since 2020.

The large trees at the trail junction died in the late 2010s. In 2024, there were two Black Walnut saplings and a number of

== Area J - The Indian Mounds ==
This is forested area to the northeast of the intersection of the Billings trail and the Yellow Bog Loop trail. While the overgrowth restrains the growth of invasive plants, there is still Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet growth in this area. Note that any plant removal around the Indian rock mounds should avoid disturbing them.

Last cleared around 2021.

== Area K - Inside the Bog Loop ==
This area started seeing invasive plant clearing in 2017, and is now starting to stabilize with little remaining regrowth. The culprits were Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose overgrown with Asian Bittersweet. There was also one large Winged Euonymus which had spread to dozens of little Winged Euonymus plants.

The area was last walked through in 2023.

== Area L - The Swamp Trail ==
The continuation of the Swamp trail has lots of Glossy Buckthorn growing around it, with occasional Multiflora Rose, Asian Bittersweet, and Japanese Barberry.

It is unclear when it was last completely cleared.

== Area M - Lower Bog Loop ==
This area is infested with Glossy Buckthorn, Multiflora Rose, Bush Honeysuckle, and Asian Bittersweet.

It shows sign of previous removal efforts, but needs lots of work.

The area immediately around the rock wall was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in Feb. 2024.

== Area N - The Wood Lane Meadow ==
This meadow sees infrequent mowing (should be yearly). It is infested with Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn.

There is an cluster of Aspen Saplings growing in the northeast corner of that meadow, which should probably be encouraged instead of mowed (Despite mowing around it with a field mower, it was mowed in Fall 2023). Also in the north side of the meadow (near the trail) is an Valley Forge variant American Elm tree.

In 2023, all edges of the meadow were cleared of invasive plants, and all trees in and along the meadow were cleared of Asian Bittersweet.

== Area O - The Billings Trail ==
This is the part of the Billing Trail leading out to Concord Rd. from the (current) end of Wood Lane. The edges of the trail are infested with Asian Bittersweet, Glossy Buckthorn, and Norway Maple.

A sweep was made all the way down the trail in 2023. The large number of girded Norway Maples will need another sweep to remove regrowth in early 2024.

In June 2024 a sweep was made to continue working the Norway Maples. There is still considerable regrowth of Asian Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose from left-behind roots. There are still over a dozen Norway Maples which need girding.

== American Elms ==
There are [https://www.elmpost.org/ Dutch Elm Disease Resistant American Elm trees] planted throughout the Arboretum. These should get special attention to keep them free from invasive plants. Their location is provided in this map (mirrored from [https://www.elmpost.org/arboretm.htm here)]: As of Nov. 2023, all of the ones indicated as living in that diagram were found alive.
[[File:Arboretm.jpg|thumb]][[Identifying Local Elm Trees|Identifying Local Elm Species]]

Arboretum Area D

2024-10-07T01:27:13Z

Watlington: Added Area 7, worked today for the first time.

The [[Arboretum|Acton Arboretum]] has an area adjacent to the parking lot which has long been ignored. An attempt to clear invasive plants from this area was started in 2022.
[[File:Arboretum Area D.png|thumb|637x637px]]

== Area 1 - Adjacent to Parking ==
This area adjacent to the parking lot, bounded by a boulder covered drop-off, was infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]], as well as [[Garlic Mustard]] underneath. Clearing was started in 2022.

Regrowth was cleared in 2023, along with expanding the cleared area somewhat. Permission was obtained from NR and the Friends of the Arboretum to kill (gird) over a dozen small Black Walnut trees in this area, which were crowding out the Eastern Cedars.

== Area 2 - Down the Hill ==
This area starts at the parking lot and continues down the hill (without a boulder covered drop-off, although it wraps around the bottom of one!) It is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]].

There are paths and clearing throughout this area -- in particular, one down to Area 3 --- which are gradually being expanded. Clearing started in 2022, and continued in 2023.

== Area 3 - The Clearing over the Brook ==
This area is clearing on the west side of a bridge over the stream feeding through this part of the Arboretum. It was infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]].

Clearing started in 2021 (although there was certainly some clearing before that). The last clearing in 2023 also cleared the stream banks for 40 ft upstream/downstream of the bridge.

== Area 4 - The Redbud Glade ==
This area is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]] (surprise!). It is adjacent to a main (Yellow) Arboretum trail, yet presents an awful view of nature. The exception is in the spring, when the Eastern Redbud trees growing throughout flower.

It has been worked off and on for years. The main effort these days is to kill the Asian Bittersweet (to prevent it from killing the Redbud saplings.)

== Area 5 - Garlic Mustard ==
This area, while infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]] and [[Bush Honeysuckle]], is also listed by Jim Snyder-Grant as having a [[Garlic Mustard]] infestation.

== Area 6 - No Man's Land ==
This area is infested with [[Asian Bittersweet]], growing over the [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]]. In 2022, paths were cut allowing access to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of trees in the area.

In 2023, these paths were expanded to allow access to all trees in the areas.

== Area 7 - MF Rose and Rock Piles ==
This area is infested with [[Bush Honeysuckle]] and [[Multiflora Rose]]. In 2024, a path was cut from the yellow trail to allow access to cut the Asian Bittersweet off of trees in the area.

The back area (farthest from the trail), kinda marked as wetlands on the map but not really, is a nice grassy glade under the pine trees. [[Glossy Buckthorn]] and [[Multiflora Rose]] are trying to get a foothold here (in 2024).

File:Arboretum Area D.png

2024-10-07T01:21:33Z

Watlington: Watlington uploaded a new version of File:Arboretum Area D.png

This is an area of the Acton Arboretum near the Taylor Rd. Parking Lot which is being cleared of invasive plants --- slowly.

Japanese Barberry

2024-10-02T01:20:02Z

Watlington: /* Common Mis-identifications */

'''Berberis thunbergii''' [ [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=BETH USDA] - [https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/japanese-barberry NISIC], [[wikipedia:Berberis_thunbergii|Wikipedia]], [https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/berberis/thunbergii/ GoBotany], [https://cisma-suasco.org/invasive/japanese-barberry/ CISMA] ]
[[File:Berberis thunbergii (thorns).jpg|right|frameless|300x300px]]
Japanese Barberry is a small deciduous shrub from 2-4 ft. tall (although a 10 ft. tall shrub was found growing in the edge of the Grassy Pond meadow). The thin, grooved branches have paddle-shapped leaves up to 1 in. long, and thin, straight spines on every node. The pale-yellow flowers occur in drooping clusters of 2-5 and develop in mid-spring to early summer. The berries ripen to a bright red color in late summer and are 0.25-0.3 in. long. The wood of the Japanese Barberry stem and roots is a brilliant yellow.
[[File:Berberis thunbergii fruits.JPG|frameless|300x300px|left]]
While this plant isn't as aggressive as other invasive plants, it is very shade-tolerant and can form dense stands which shade out and displace native species.

== Removal ==
Ideally, it should be uprooted. The roots are numerous and relatively short and shallow, making this possible.

Alternatively, it may be cut, but will require multiple cuttings to kill.

'''Protective Gloves should be worn when removing this plant, due to the long thin straight thorns.'''

== Common Mis-identifications ==
[[File:"Fight Wheat Rust...The Common Barberry Spreads Wheat Rust...It's a case of Barberry or Bread..." - NARA - 512602.jpg|frameless|350x350px|right]]
It may be confused with [https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/berberis/vulgaris/ Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)] [ [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=BEVU USDA], [[wikipedia:Berberis_vulgaris|Wikipedia]] ]. Serrated leaves, juicy berries, and three pronged spikes differentiate this species from Japanese Barberry. It was largely eliminated in an extermination effort in the 20th century due to being a carrier of wheat rust, but has been seen in Nashoba Brook and Nagog Hill Conservation areas. This species hybridizes with Japanese Barberry, and is also an invasive plant species.
[[File:Berberis thunbergii in Pennwood State Park.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]
It is less likely to be confused with the following, as they don't have thorns:

* [https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/ilex/verticillata/ Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)] [ [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=ilve USDA], [[wikipedia:Ilex_verticillata|Wikipedia]] ]
* [https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/vaccinium/pallidum/ Hillside Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum)] [ [https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=vapa4 USDA], [[wikipedia:Vaccinium_pallidum|Wikipedia]] ]

Morrison Farm

2024-09-11T22:54:24Z

Watlington: Update to area H

[[File:MF Invasives Map 2024.png|thumb|883x883px]]
[https://trails.actonma.gov/morrison-farm/ Morrison Farm] is a town-owned property located on Concord Rd. between Icehouse Pond on Nashoba Brook and the Woodlawn Cemetery. It consists of both several large meadow areas, the pond shoreline, and a wooded area beyond the meadow which is contiguous with the wooded areas of Woodlawn Cemetery. The largest Acton Community Garden occupies part of one of the meadows, and there is both an unused house and a remaining barn which is used by the town for equipment storage. An attempt by the Town Recreation Dept. to take the land and build a Recreation center on it was defeated in the early 2000s. There is an ongoing attempt to obtain an agricultural restriction on this land.

The Land Stewards (LSC) have been officially watching over Morrison Farm since 2018 (unofficially since its purchase by the town). The pumphouse for the Community Garden doubles as the storage shed for the LSC.

While a small parking lot and boat ramp access to Icehouse Pond had long been present on Concord Rd., the town greatly improved this area starting in 2019. They enlarged the parking lot, and added a handicap accessible trail along the western edge of Icehouse pond, including two long-needed bridges across the rivulet/swamps draining into the pond. As part of this improvement, in 2019 the Wet Meadow (the meadow between areas L and K in the map) was professionally mowed for the first time in decades, re-establishing it as a meadow.

Note that a whole separate page is needed for work along the eastern side of Icehouse Pond (not discussed here).

== Pam Resor Orchard ==
The Pam Resor Orchard needs occasional work clearing the mulched areas around the trees, and also adding new mulch. In dry times, the younger trees can use some water from the Community Garden.

The real work here is in keeping the invasives down in the "meadow" area at the edge, and under the adjacent Cherry and Crabapple trees.

The adjacent meadow is supposed to be mowed by the town every fall, but it is frequently "missed". The areas around the bird-nests need manual cutting/clearing every year regardless.

The area under the large Cherry tree in the southwest corner was first cleared in 2016, and years later continues to provide copious [[Asian Bittersweet]] regrowth. The Crabapple trees (really part of Area L) followed a year later, then the area in between (once a [[Bush Honeysuckle]]/Asian Bittersweet thicket preventing an view of the Wet Meadow!)

In 2024, these areas still require yearly clearing of Asian Bittersweet and Bush Honeysuckle regrowth.

== Area A - The Horse Paddock ==
This is the old horse paddock, which since 2019 contains the Community Garden pump and pump house/LSC storage shed. It drops off to the south into a low-land between it and Concord Rd. which continues back to the swamp separating it from the Icehouse Pond parking lot.

Since 2019, there has been an attempt to keep a path mowed back through the paddock to the back gate, partially to help with invasive plant removal. Starting in 2021, there has been regular use of a footpath coming in from Concord Rd. along the eastern edge of the paddock and joining with the Yellow Path. This has been encouraged by removing the invasives along the path.

As of 2024, the paddock still has a lean-to in the back which has lost its corrugated tin roof and is falling off of its foundation. The town has been asked multiple times to please remove it. In 2017, before there was a Community Garden pump & pump-house, Joe Holmes got several Land Stewards to pull the Asian Bittersweet off, then realized that the roof was falling off.

The path through the paddock, and the area under the trees next to the fence have been mowed once or twice a year since 2020. They were mowed in June 2024.

Along the Concord Rd. side, the fence is starting to lose boards (they are longer than the normal fence boards). It was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in 2023.

== Area B - The Blackberry Patch ==
There had long been a blackberry patch in this area, but starting in 2019 the invasive plants (Asian Bittersweet) were manually removed and signs put up to prevent mowing of this area in the fall. The result is a gorgeous patch of blackberries which are enjoyed by Acton residents, both feathered and not.

Long term maintenance of this patch will require occasional mowing to help w. the invasives and prevent any woody growth. The idea is to split the patch into two areas, and allow one area to be mowed every fourth year (alternating to ensure there are always blackberries to pick!). This will hopefully start with the fall mowing in 2024.

== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==
[[File:White Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|left|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
[[File:Pink Crabapple Blossoms Morrison Farm.jpg|thumb|Crabapple Blossoms]]
There is a stand of Crabapple trees between the meadow and the trail, which creates stunning visuals in the spring (there are several different Crabapple varieties, w. various flower colors).

The Crabapple Orchard itself is in relatively good shape (although always in need of deadwood pruning). The western (meadow) edge is the big problem. A serious attempt to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet on this edge began in 2022. It was continued in 2023 (and partially in 2024). There is still a serious cluster of MF Rose which needs removal in the Northwest corner of the orchard.

The opposite side of the trail from the Crabapple orchard is a combination of Dogwood, [[Multiflora Rose|MF Rose]], [[Asian Bittersweet]], and [[Glossy Buckthorn]], which is being gradually cleaned up. It is actually better thought of as [[Morrison Farm#Area L - The Sump|Area L]].

== Area D - The Oaks ==
[[File:Morrison Farm Barn.jpg|thumb|The Barn in its heyday]]
This area is the hedge row between Morrison Farm and the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery. It has a couple of large Oak trees w. a Spruce and Cherry trees in between, then transitions to Eastern White Pine closer to Concord Rd.

The trees were being overtaken by [[Asian Bittersweet]] when first approached in 2019. This was cleared from the trees, but the town had left equipment along the edge preventing mowing. In 2022 the town moved the equipment, allowing mowing of that area.

It was completely mowed (to the fence row) in 2022 and 2023. Note that the opposite side (in the "work area" of Woodlawn Cemetery) was also mowed w. the field mower, in order to deter regrowth.

In 2024, that area desperately needs mowing, but the town has once again parked equipment (tractor accessories) there. A farm structure which previously delimited this area and was used for equipment storage was removed in 2023 after self-destructing in the elements (roofing flying off, walls dropping).

There are a number of [[Common Buckthorn|common buckthorn]] trees in that hedge row. This was awaiting positive ID, then NR approval. Girding started in June 2024.

A corollary to this area is the Asian Bittersweet vines growing along the back edge of the barn, and the Glossy Buckthorn thicket supporting them. These were last cleared in June 2024. Due to the age of the adjacent structure, Grape, Nightshade, and Virginia Creeper vines are all cut in that area.

== Area E - Cemetery Border ==
The woodlands between the meadows and Woodlawn Cemetery are not officially part of Morrison Farm. Past the stone wall it is all Cemetery Land, but the trail network is contiguous with that of Morrison Farm, and the town allows removal of invasive species on all town land.

The main invasive in this area is [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]]. It has been occasionally swept since 2016, and still needs clearing of regrowth and new growth.

== Area F - The Meadow Border ==
The northern and western borders of the large meadow are where the invasive plants explode. Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet are the main culprits.

There has been no concentrated effort to remove invasives along the border since 2000, only irregular ones.

A large concern is removing any trees which fall into the meadow, as invasives will quickly take hold in any area not getting its yearly mowing. In October of 2019, three large trees which had fallen into the meadow over the previous couple of years (including one which caused a re-routing of the trail which is still maintained as an option five years later) were cleared by a work party with three sawyers and a number of volunteers.

Another concern is that due to overhanging branches, the town doesn't mow very close to the edge, meaning that the edge advances into the meadow every year. A regular effort is needed to cut back branches that intrude too far into the meadow.

The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024.

== Area G - The Wooded Area ==
This is a huge area, which faces the same problems as Area E: [[Glossy Buckthorn]], with occasional [[Multiflora Rose|MultiFlora Rose]] and [[Asian Bittersweet]].

== Area H - The Causeway ==
This is a causeway going out to the site of an old bridge across Nashoba Brook. The story is that this was never a road, but was instead built by a farmer who had a barn in East Acton, and needed a way to get his cows over to pasture on the west side of Nashoba Brook. In the early 2020s, the bridge site was the location of a beaver dam.

The causeway needs regular clearing to remain passable. It was cleared in 2023 and again in 2024.

Across Nashoba Brook from the causeway is another causeway, which was also cleared in 2023 and again in 2024.

== Area I - The Jungle ==
This area is a thicket of Glossy Buckthorn, gradually being taken over by Asian Bittersweet.

There has been no attempt to work it since 2000.

== Area J - Old Icehouse Pond Trail ==
This is a well-worn path along the edge of Icehouse pond, including a place where dogs frequently go for a swim on the northern end. It was well used before the town added the bridges and created the Yellow loop trail.

The vegetation between the trail and the pond edge has been cleared of invasive plants (mostly Glossy Buckthorn) yearly since 2020. It still needs a yearly sweep to cut regrowth from existibng roots (done in 2024).

The vegetation between the trail and the meadow is another story. It is a mess of large [[Autumn Olive]], [[Glossy Buckthorn]], and [[Multiflora Rose]], adorned with [[Asian Bittersweet]]. This was bush-hogged somewhat in 2018, and has seen occasional attempts at clearing, but remains as an active work area. The adjacent meadow itself has a large amount of Asian Bittersweet and Glossy Buckthorn, and could probably benefit from mowing twice yearly.

A 40' section right to the south of the dog access was moved inland by 6' in 2022, due to path erosion preventing any growth along the pond edge.

== Icehouse Pond ==
[[File:Icehouse Pond Maple Trees across the pond.jpg|thumb|Fall View of Eastern side of Icehouse Pond]]
This area has great potential, but the town dedicates very little to its maintenance, other than a regular mowing. The enlarged parking lot meets the needs of both Bruce Freeman bike path access and access to Morrison Farm/Icehouse pond. There is a great kiosk describing the use of Icehouse pond in the past two-hundred years. The accessible trail is built of a stabilized engineered wood product, which has held up relatively well over its first decade.

The town ignores any vegetation that isn't lawn. This means there are plenty of invasive plants, and maintenance needed. There is a collapsed wood beam wall along the path which has been that way for five years.

The vegetation around the parking lot is mostly Glossy Buckthorn and Asian Bittersweet, although there is a promising Aspen colony which might eventually crowd it out. This malaise extends into the swamp next to the parking lot.

The vegetation between the Accessible trail and the pond near the parking lot has largely been cleared since 2021, with one final section cleared in June 2024. The trail then winds away from the pond and continues north. This section experienced serious trail widening, and had brush piles placed in 2022/2023/2024 to keep walkers on the path. The area around the path in this section had a serious Glossy Buckthorn infestation, which is starting to come under control (cleared in June 2024).

The native vegetation along Icehouse pond has been trimmed back in the 2023/2024 period by a beaver active in the area. This should improve the viewing, but encourages the invasive plants.

== Area K - The Fishing Trail ==
This is another trail that was maintained by fisherman and intrepid walkers, long before the town opened it up to everyone. Originally accessed either by a series of logs laid through the bog from the old Icehouse Pond parking area, or by mucking through the sump draining Area L between the two wet meadows, this trail goes parallel to the yellow accessible trail, closer to the pond. The vegetation along the trail is in pretty good shape, with lots of Highbush Blueberries. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn.

The trouble area is on the northern edge, where it approaches the sump. There is lots of Asian Bittersweet in this area.

Swept to clear regrowth in 2023 and 2024 (except for the trouble area).

== Area L - The Sump ==
Morrison Farm has a highland, which includes the house, barn, Pam Resor Orchard, Community Garden, Paddock and the large meadow. There is also a lowland: two "wet meadows" which can be quite muddy for large parts of the year. There is a ditch separating the highlands from the wet meadows, in an early attempt at improving the drainage in the wet meadows. This ditch runs north/south to the east of the Blue trail, and has a drainage ditch running between the two wet meadows (covered by a large accessible bridge).

The ditch is lined with Dogwoods, Crabapples, Birches, Cherries and other trees. It is also home to a long term Asian Bittersweet infestation, and Glossy Buckthorn.

The southern end was worked, starting in 2019, as part of clearing the edge of the Pam Resor Orchard, and the northern end has been worked starting about the same time as part of the Crabapple orchard. The entire length was worked to cut Asian Bittersweet in 2023. It needs regular sweeps to clear regrowth from root.

The area around the meadow edges, especially where the Yellow trail bridge crosses the sump, has Glossy Buckthorn infestations. Around the Yellow trail bridge over the sump, these have been worked yearly since 2020: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

== Area M - Concord Rd. Boundary ==
This area is also not legally part of Morrison Farm, but is otherwise ignored by the town. There are vigorous Oaks here, and the only attention required is to clear out the Glossy Buckthorn and Norway Maple saplings trying to crowd them out. This includes both sides of the stone wall along Concord Rd.

Last cleared in 2023.

== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==
This is not legally part of Morrison Farm, but this is a very visible part of Acton: the backdrop to the Joseph Robbins homesite, and the end piece of the Concord Rd. playing fields. Due to this ambiguity, permission was obtained (Oct. 2022) from the Cemetery commission to allow invasives removal here.

Black plastic, covered in wood chips, was used in under the Spruce tree, and also under one of the Cedars, to smother the Asian Bittersweet. It should be up for removal in Fall, 2026.

This area was mowed of regrowth in late June 2024.

The beautiful, large crabapple tree was cleared out of Asian Bittersweet, Common Buckthorn, and Bush Honeysuckle in 2022, and the town has kept it clear, mowing underneath it.

Montague Land

2024-08-30T03:57:58Z

Watlington: There was nothing associating this page with Great Hill!

In 2024, Acton voted in Town Meeting (Article 20 of the [https://www.acton-ma.gov/warrant 2024 Warrant]) to accepted a gift of approximately four acres of land surrounded by the [[Great Hill|Great Hill Conservation Land]] from the current owner of 38 Piper Rd., William Montague, with a portion of the land conveyed as a gift, and the remaining acreage conveyed upon death.
[[File:Screenshot 2024-08-29 at 11.15.11 PM.png|alt=A map showing the location of the Montague Land. It fits into a notch on the southeast side of Great Hill, at 38 Piper Rd.|thumb|400x400px|The Montague Land]]
The area behind the houses was mostly a meadow which was left to grow over starting in the early 2000s. It now has lots of Asian Bittersweet, Bush Honeysuckle, and Multiflora Rose.

Aside from an attempt in 2021, 2022 and 2023 to cut large vines within 50ft. on either side of the rock wall marking the border, this hasn't been addressed.

Downed trees were starting to make walking the old border (rock wall) difficult in 2024.

Great Hill

2024-08-30T03:43:18Z

Watlington: Info about Montague Lands as the latest addition in the intro paragraph

[https://trails.actonma.gov/great-hill/ Great Hill] is one of Acton's larger conservation areas, w. over 200 acres. Acton started buying the parcels comprising Great Hill in 1975, and continues to this day, with the [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands|Magoun]] and [[Montague Land|Montague]] Lands being the latest additions (2020 and 2024). While there were originally plans to develop parts of Great Hill for recreation (e.g. a town pool off of Piper Rd), it is largely dedicated to woodland, with conservation easements on two portions (the Gaebel and Magoun additions). The town maintains (mows weekly) both a large Playing Field adjacent to the School St. parking lot, and a Little Playing Field close to Mill Corner. While in the past both have been used for organized youth sports, currently neither is used for that purpose.

Great Hill has two peaks, referred to as lesser Great Hill (w. the Acton Water Tower) and greater Great Hill (the east-most peak). A seasonal stream feeding the Dog Pond runs between them. Areas of Great Hill which are relatively clear of invasive plants are the top of greater Great Hill, parts of the eastern side of greater Great Hill, and a portion of old growth swamp to the northeast of the large Playing Field.
[[File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png|alt=A map showing the location on Great Hill of the areas where invasive plants are being addressed, or ignored. Each location is described in the following text.|right|frameless|596x596px|Great Hill Invasives Plant Areas]]
There are areas of Great Hill which have been worked for invasive plants in the past, which need varied amounts of regular attention:

* A: The [[Great Hill School St Swamp|School Street Swamp (low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond)]]
* B: The entire border of the [[Great Hill Dog Pond|Dog Pond]]
* C: The border of the [[Great Hill Large Playing Field|large Playing Field]], including the area to the west of the upper meadow and the Raspberry thickets to the east of the upper meadow
* D: The border of the [[Great Hill Little Playing Field|Little Playing Field]], including the [[Japanese Knotweed]] patch
* E: The south side of greater Great Hill has a large [[Winged Euonymus]] thicket, which has been attacked by brave volunteers starting in 2021. It also has a large [[Norway Maple]] infestation
* F: The area between the trail from the Pond to the Little Playing Field and Mill Corner Condominiums has a large [[Asian Bittersweet]] thicket growing in it (as well as [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Winged Euonymus]])
* G: The [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands]], with its [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* H: The Maple thicket around the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail, which includes a large patch [[Garlic Mustard]] growing north of the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail
* J: The woods bordering the houses along Piper Rd. have an [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* K: The [[Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail|"unofficial" entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave]] has lots of every invasive plant!
* L: The area south of the Main Street parking lot. This has [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Winged Euonymus]], and also some [[Japanese Knotweed]], in between the two houses.
* M: The [[Montague Land]]

=== Previous Reports ===

* [[Great Hill Invasives Work 2016|2016 Invasives Work report]]
* John's [http://watlington.homelinux.org:8000/wad/greathill/ Journal of Great Hill work]

Great Hill

2024-08-30T03:39:49Z

Watlington: Updated Map

[https://trails.actonma.gov/great-hill/ Great Hill] is one of Acton's larger conservation areas, w. over 200 acres. Acton started buying the parcels comprising Great Hill in 1975, and continues to this day, with the Magoun Land being the latest addition (2020). While there were originally plans to develop parts of Great Hill for recreation (e.g. a town pool off of Piper Rd), it is largely dedicated to woodland, with conservation easements on two portions (the Gaebel and Magoun additions). The town maintains (mows weekly) both a large Playing Field adjacent to the School St. parking lot, and a Little Playing Field close to Mill Corner. While in the past both have been used for organized youth sports, currently neither is used for that purpose.

Great Hill has two peaks, referred to as lesser Great Hill (w. the Acton Water Tower) and greater Great Hill (the east-most peak). A seasonal stream feeding the Dog Pond runs between them. Areas of Great Hill which are relatively clear of invasive plants are the top of greater Great Hill, parts of the eastern side of greater Great Hill, and a portion of old growth swamp to the northeast of the large Playing Field.
[[File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png|alt=A map showing the location on Great Hill of the areas where invasive plants are being addressed, or ignored. Each location is described in the following text.|right|frameless|596x596px|Great Hill Invasives Plant Areas]]
There are areas of Great Hill which have been worked for invasive plants in the past, which need varied amounts of regular attention:

* A: The [[Great Hill School St Swamp|School Street Swamp (low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond)]]
* B: The entire border of the [[Great Hill Dog Pond|Dog Pond]]
* C: The border of the [[Great Hill Large Playing Field|large Playing Field]], including the area to the west of the upper meadow and the Raspberry thickets to the east of the upper meadow
* D: The border of the [[Great Hill Little Playing Field|Little Playing Field]], including the [[Japanese Knotweed]] patch
* E: The south side of greater Great Hill has a large [[Winged Euonymus]] thicket, which has been attacked by brave volunteers starting in 2021. It also has a large [[Norway Maple]] infestation
* F: The area between the trail from the Pond to the Little Playing Field and Mill Corner Condominiums has a large [[Asian Bittersweet]] thicket growing in it (as well as [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Winged Euonymus]])
* G: The [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands]], with its [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* H: The Maple thicket around the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail, which includes a large patch [[Garlic Mustard]] growing north of the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail
* J: The woods bordering the houses along Piper Rd. have an [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* K: The [[Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail|"unofficial" entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave]] has lots of every invasive plant!
* L: The area south of the Main Street parking lot. This has [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Winged Euonymus]], and also some [[Japanese Knotweed]], in between the two houses.
* M: The [[Montague Land]]

=== Previous Reports ===

* [[Great Hill Invasives Work 2016|2016 Invasives Work report]]
* John's [http://watlington.homelinux.org:8000/wad/greathill/ Journal of Great Hill work]

File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024-1.png

2024-08-30T03:37:42Z

Watlington:

Map of areas of Great Hill Conservation Area which have been worked to remove invasive plants

Montague Land

2024-08-30T03:30:06Z

Watlington: Created this page to Memorialize the transfer

In 2024, Acton voted in Town Meeting (Article 20 of the [https://www.acton-ma.gov/warrant 2024 Warrant]) to accepted a gift of approximately four acres of land from the current owner of 38 Piper Rd., William Montague, with a portion of the land conveyed as a gift, and the remaining acreage conveyed upon death.
[[File:Screenshot 2024-08-29 at 11.15.11 PM.png|alt=A map showing the location of the Montague Land. It fits into a notch on the southeast side of Great Hill, at 38 Piper Rd.|thumb|400x400px|The Montague Land]]
This was a meadow which was left to grow over starting in the early 2000s. It now has lots of Asian Bittersweet, Bush Honeysuckle, and Multiflora Rose.

Aside from an attempt in 2021, 2022 and 2023 to cut large vines within 50ft. on either side of the rock wall marking the border, this hasn't been addressed.

Downed trees are starting to make walking the old border (rock wall) here difficult.

File:Screenshot 2024-08-29 at 11.15.11 PM.png

2024-08-30T03:25:46Z

Watlington:

Map showing the land accepted by the town in Article 20 of the 2024 Acton Town Meeting

Great Hill

2024-08-30T03:18:21Z

Watlington: Added map of Great Hill showing invasive areas, and created a link to the Montague Land

[https://trails.actonma.gov/great-hill/ Great Hill] is one of Acton's larger conservation areas, w. over 200 acres. Acton started buying the parcels comprising Great Hill in 1975, and continues to this day, with the Magoun Land being the latest addition (2020). While there were originally plans to develop parts of Great Hill for recreation (e.g. a town pool off of Piper Rd), it is largely dedicated to woodland, with conservation easements on two portions (the Gaebel and Magoun additions). The town maintains (mows weekly) both a large Playing Field adjacent to the School St. parking lot, and a Little Playing Field close to Mill Corner. While in the past both have been used for organized youth sports, currently neither is used for that purpose.

Great Hill has two peaks, referred to as lesser Great Hill (w. the Acton Water Tower) and greater Great Hill (the east-most peak). A seasonal stream feeding the Dog Pond runs between them. Areas of Great Hill which are relatively clear of invasive plants are the top of greater Great Hill, parts of the eastern side of greater Great Hill, and a portion of old growth swamp to the northeast of the large Playing Field.
[[File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024.png|alt=A map showing the location on Great Hill of the areas where invasive plants are being addressed, or ignored. Each location is described in the following text.|right|frameless|596x596px|Great Hill Invasives Plant Areas]]
There are areas of Great Hill which have been worked for invasive plants in the past, which need varied amounts of regular attention:

''[hopefully soon, each of these will link to a page better describing the area and work history]''

* A: The [[Great Hill School St Swamp|low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond]].
* B: The entire border of the [[Great Hill Dog Pond|Dog Pond]]
* C: The border of the [[Great Hill Large Playing Field|large Playing Field]], including the area to the west of the upper meadow and the Raspberry thickets to the east of the upper meadow.
* D: The border of the [[Great Hill Little Playing Field|Little Playing Field]], including the [[Japanese Knotweed]] patch
* E: The south side of greater Great Hill has a large [[Winged Euonymus]] thicket, which has been attacked by brave volunteers starting in 2021. It also has a large [[Norway Maple]] infestation.
* F: The area between the trail from the Pond to the Little Playing Field and Mill Corner Condominiums has a large [[Asian Bittersweet]] thicket growing in it (as well as [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Bush Honeysuckle]], and [[Winged Euonymus]].)
* G: The [[Gaebel/Magoun Lands]], with its [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* H: The Maple thicket around the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail, which includes a large patch [[Garlic Mustard]] growing north of the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail.
* J: The woods bordering the houses along Piper Rd. have an [[Asian Bittersweet]] infestation
* K: The [[Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail|"unofficial" entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave]] has lots of every invasive plant!
* L: The [[Montague Land]].
* M: The area south of the Main Street parking lot. This has [[Garlic Mustard]], [[Winged Euonymus]], and also some [[Japanese Knotweed]], in between the two houses.

=== Previous Reports ===

* [[Great Hill Invasives Work 2016|2016 Invasives Work report]]
* John's [http://watlington.homelinux.org:8000/wad/greathill/ Journal of Great Hill work]

File:GreatHill Invasives Map 2024.png

2024-08-30T03:02:09Z

Watlington:

A map of areas on Great Hill Conservation Land where invasive plants are being addressed or ignored