File:Blackberry Patch Plans.png

Watlington — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:10:13 GMT

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A proposal for maintaining a Blackberry patch, as two separate areas which can each be mowed every few years.

Morrison Farm

Watlington — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:06:37 GMT

Added updates for the first half of 2026

File:Blackberry Patch Plans.png

Watlington — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:48:44 GMT

Watlington uploaded File:Blackberry Patch Plans.png

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A proposal for maintaining a Blackberry patch, as two separate areas which can each be mowed every few years.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:06, 2 October 2026
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	== Area A - The Horse Paddock ==		== 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.		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. At the beginning of 2026, and again later that year large pines fell into the area nearest Icehouse Pond.

	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.		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.		Up until its removal in 2026, the paddock had a lean-to in the back along the fence which had lost its corrugated tin roof and was falling off of its foundation. In 2017, before there was a Community Garden pump & pump-house, Joe Holmes got several other Land Stewards to help 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.		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. As of 2026, the town has started mowing the path through the paddock. Mowing of the edges and area where the lean-to stood happens some years.

	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.		Along the Concord Rd. side, the fence had loose boards replaced by a contractor hired by the town in 2026. It was cleared of Asian Bittersweet in 2023, and again in 2026.

	== Area B - The Blackberry Patch ==		== 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.		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.
			[[File:Blackberry Patch Plans.png\|alt=Shows a blackberry patch divided into two areas, with an access path between them.\|thumb\|Blackberry Patch]]
	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.		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. New signage was installed in 2026.

	== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==		== Area C - The Crabapple Orchard ==
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	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.		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).		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). Except for an area immediately behind the barn (where the farm equipment is being stored), this area was completely mowed in August 2026, and Asian Bittersweet regrowth pulled up.

	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, and continued in 2026.		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, and continued through 2026.

	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.		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 cleared in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Due to the age of the adjacent structure, Grape, Nightshade, and Virginia Creeper vines are all cut in that area.

	== Area E - Cemetery Border ==		== Area E - Cemetery Border ==
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	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.		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.		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 and are lower than 10 ft. high.

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

	The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024.		The northern edge was checked in Spring 2024, and cleared again in Fall 2026.

	== Area G - The Wooded Area ==		== Area G - The Wooded Area ==
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	There is an old concrete pump-house (directly uphill from the drainage ditch draining the sump into Icehouse pond, behind the Blackberry patch.		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 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. This continued into 2026, with additional large Bush Honeysuckles being chainsawed. A sweep was made to cut regrowth from Glossy Buckthorn and Bush Honeysuckle stumps.

	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.		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.
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	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.		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.		Cleared in 2023, and the town cut everything close to the road in 2024. Multiflora Rose and Glossy Buckthorn regrowth was cleared in 2026, but Asian Bittersweet regrowth wasn't completely cut.

	== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==		== Area N - Concord Rd. Playing Field ==

Acton Invasives Wiki - Recent changes [en]

File:Blackberry Patch Plans.png

Morrison Farm

File:Blackberry Patch Plans.png