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 and 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.
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 School Street Swamp (low lands between the large Playing Field, the Little Playing Field, and the Dog Pond)
- B: The entire border of the Dog Pond
- C: The border of the 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 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 "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