Great Hill School St Swamp

This page is about invasive plant species removal in the area of the Acton 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...

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.

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.

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. 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.

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 have been cut in recent years.

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 this is a major Garlic Mustard infestation.

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. The success story is the large Maple tree at the corner in the trail which is being kept clear of Asian Bittersweet. The push is to spread this through the whole area.