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 numerous areas being worked for invasive plants. The areas that are relatively clear of invasive plants are the top of greater Great Hill (the east-most peak), parts of the eastern side of greater Great Hill, and a portion of old growth swamp to the northeast of the large Playing Field.
There are many serious infestations:
[hopefully soon, each of these will link to a page better describing the area and work history]
- The Asian Bittersweet growing between the trail from the Pond to the Little Playing Field and Mill Corner
- The Asian Bittersweet growing in the Gaebel land
- The Asian Bittersweet growing behind the houses on Piper Rd.
- The Winged Euonymus thicket growing on the southern edge of greater Great Hill
- The Black Locust and Norway Maple invading the southeast side of greater Great Hill
- The Japanese Knotweed growing at the edge of the Little Playing field
- The Garlic Mustard growing north of the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail
There are many other areas which have received attention 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]
- The low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond.
- The entire border of the Dog Pond
- The border of the large Playing Field
- The border of the Little Playing Field
- The area to the west of the upper meadow in the large Playing Field
- The Raspberry thickets to the east of the upper meadow in the large Playing Field
- The Magoun land
- The Maple thicket around the northern Piper Rd. Red entrance trail
- All of the woods bordering the Piper Rd. houses.