The General Field in bloom.    --photo courtesy of Sally Reed


As we work our way through this summer of social distancing, we hope you find our open spaces and trails a source of comfort and a much needed break from the indoors.  We are continually cleaning up (see Paul Funch's storm report below), renovating (visit the Bates Land) and offering up ways to enjoy the great outdoors (see our Prescott online course at the right, free to members).
 
A note on Red Line Path: there is still work to be done on this trail, and we are reviewing options on how best to allow recreation along this corridor.  We appreciate your continued patience as we work out these important details. 
 
Please remember to share the space, keep your dogs on leashes (it is a law in Groton now) and leave no trash behind. And be sure to check out our list of properties and maybe find a new trail to check out.  
 
As always, we appreciate your support and your partnership in this important work we do.
 
Stay safe!
Storm Clean-up Update:
A message from Paul Funch On Gamlin

A hearty group of 5 chain-sawyers and 4 log and limb pushers cleared a path along the trail from Bridge St. to the Crystal Springs subdivision along the west side of Cow Pond Brook, thus connecting east (Esker Trail and Pond Loop) and west (the Gamlin Boulder Trails on the west side of Old Dunstable Rd.) parts of the GCT's "Gamlin Crystal Springs" parcel.  Many thanks go out to Zak King, Sandra and Erik Tobies, Paul and Willa Riley, Wanfang and Russ Murray, Bob Ordemann, Jim Peregoy, Gregory Mendes, Kevin Barrett, Laura DeGroot, Rob Tyler, Dave Wilder, Keith Marchand, and Mark Gerath for their tireless efforts.   
 
They trimmed the branches hanging into the trail along its course, filled in the holes caused by the uprooted trees (after cutting back the roots themselves), bench cut a few sections of trail to reduce the cross slope, and then blew the whole trail clear.  Jack Petropoulos - who came to the trail from the Crystal Spring subdivision atop his Kubota tractor with back-hoe attachment, cleared the trail of numerous LARGE trees and stumps with root balls, with me assisting by chainsawing a path wide enough for his tractor to pass. The most impressive display of power was Jack's use of the backhoe to push a 30+ foot trunk, about 32" in diameter, about 10 feet along the ground to get it out of the way.
   
Contact the GCT to become part of the mailing list of volunteers.
 
Thanks,
Paul

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The Groton Conservation Trust is a private, non-profit land trust in Groton, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1964 to acquire, preserve, and provide public access to lands with significant conservation value. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of Groton residents with varied backgrounds, occupations and interests. 

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Your donation is greatly appreciated!

Now, more than ever, non-profits are relying on the generosity of their members and friends to continue vital work in our communities. So many of you have continued to renew your membership and financial support for our efforts to preserve the natural beauty of Groton. We are deeply grateful.  
 
Donating, or renewing your membership online is easy and safe and every dollar supports Groton conservation. Thank you!
 
Zoom the Trails of Groton: July 7, 7PM
Please join us for Zoom-based overview of our trail network. Trustee Mark Gerath and members Owen Shuman and Donnie Funch are your guides. As part of the course, you will receive a brand new "Pocket Guide" to the many areas in town with extensive trail networks.  GCT members can attend free by registering with Katy, otherwise it is $10 visiting the Prescott School Community Center website.
Special Thanks to Marquis Tree Service 

 
The storm clean up around The Red Line Path and the Gamlin Esker could not have happened without the volunteer services of Marquis Tree Service.  Our friend and member Paul Funch says it best:
 
A special thanks goes out to David Happ, owner of Marquis Tree Service, for his professional skills and tireless efforts.  In June, he completed clearing the Esker Trail and opened up a path along the entire Red Line Trail.  We got to see his exceptional skills at work on the trail that goes from Bridge St. to the Crystal Springs subdivision.  It would be nice to dismiss our amateur deficiencies as being a result of the tools we use (he has a fine professional grade chainsaw and we do not!), but that would be flatly wrong!  To watch him "feel out" a tree trunk with multiple partial cuts with his chainsaw to learn how it is going to react when cut through, and then watch him deftly convert it to a number of short sections in rapid succession was a real treat.  
 
The GCT adds our hearty thanks and appreciation to David and his Marquis team.