The Elaine and Philip Beals Preserve is a 58.5 acre parcel of open space gifted to the Southborough Open Land Foundation by Elaine and Philip Beals. Located  in Southborough on Main Street across from Chestnut Hill Road, the property features a diverse ecosystem including Wachusett channel frontage, a pond, meadows, woodlands, and trails that link to the Sudbury Reservoir Trail. We encourage you to explore the property in all of its seasonal guises.

Access to Beals Preserve is from Route 30 (Main Street), Red Gate Lane, Hickory Road, or the Sudbury Reservoir Trail.

Route 30 (Main Street) access. There are two areas in which you may park for this access.

1.  Park at the triangle of Northborough Road and Main Street. Walk to the access on the right side of Main Street directly across from Chestnut Hill Road. Go through the gate (please close it after you), walk down the lane and across the bridge over the Wachusett channel. Please do not park in front of the gate.

2. Park in the Parking Area for the trails for Chestnut Hill Farm.  Turn onto Chestnut Hill Rd. The parking area is on the right side of the road in the field past the collection of white houses and outbuildings and marked with a sign. Walk back to Route 30, and the entrance to Beals Preserve is directly across the street. Go through the gate (please close it after you), walk down the lane and across the bridge over the Wachusett channel. Please do not park in front of the gate or in the areas reserved for the Farm Stand at Chestnut Hill Farm.

Red Gate Lane access. Park on Red Gate Lane and enter at the access point on the right hand side of the cul de sac. Follow the trail onto the property. Please do not block any driveways or mailboxes. Red Gate is accessed off Flagg Road.

Hickory Road. Park on Hickory Road and enter the marked access trail. Please do not block any driveways or mailboxes.

Sudbury Reservoir Trail coming from the east: Follow the Sudbury Reservoir Trail across Deerfoot Road. Access to Beals Preserve is approximately one-half mile on the left at the bridge over the Wachusett channel.

Sudbury Reservoir Trail coming from the west: Access the Sudbury Reservoir Trail at Lynbrook Road and follow east until you reach the entrance to Beals Preserve at the bridge over the Wachusett  channel.

Approximately six acres of Beals Preserve have been committed to the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The WHIP area is on the left of the trail if you enter from the lane on Main Street. The aim of the project is to remove invasive plants and to improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species such as the New England Cottontail and the American Woodcock. SOLF has committed to long-term management activities to ensure the integrity and viability of the improved wildlife habitat. To protect wildlife, please do not enter or walk in this area.

Permitted activities include: walking on trails, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and dog walking. Dog walking is allowed as long as sensitive habitat and positive visitor experience are preserved. Dogs must be under owners control and must stay out of the meadows and the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program area.

The following activities are prohibited: motorized vehicles, hunting or trapping, unauthorized camping, fires, dumping of trash or yard waste, and unauthorized cutting or removal of plants.

Watch Sights in Southborough: Beals Preserve, a video by Southborough Access Media.

Click here for a trail map of Beals Preserve.

Click here for a trail map and brochure by Sudbury Valley Trustees, holder of the Conservation Restriction on Beals Preserve.

SOLF was saddened to learn of the death of Elaine Beals on August 21, 2016. Elaine was among the founding members of the Southborough Open Land Foundation. She served on the Board of Trustees of SOLF, including holding the position of treasurer for many years. She was dedicated to the preservation of the environment and open space, reinforcing her conservation ethic as a member of the Town of Southborough’s Open Space Preservation Commission. In the 1950s and 60s, Elaine and her husband Philip purchased 190 acres of land abutting their farm to protect it from development. All of that land is now under permanent conservation restrictions. Fifty-six acres of it was gifted to SOLF in 2009, property that is now known as the Elaine and Philip Beals Preserve. In her honor, SOLF presents the Elaine Beals Conservation Award each year to a local resident who has shown outstanding leadership in environmental conservation. You may read the obituary here.

A memorial service for Elaine was held on October 22, 2016,  at the Pilgrim Congregational Church, Southborough, MA.

Want to eat dinner at Sorentos Italian Gourmet Restaurant and support SOLF?  Jeff Zamri, owner of Sorentos Italian Gourmet Restaurant, 128 Main Street, Marlboro, MA, is an avid lover of the outdoors. Jeff’s love of the outdoors motivated him to make a generous offer to donate to SOLF each time you eat at Sorentos. Click here for further details of the offer. You do not have to be a member of SOLF to take advantage of this offer. Please visit Sorentos, enjoy a delicious meal, meet Jeff, and support SOLF. Thank you Sorentos Italian Gourmet Restaurant and Jeff Zamri.

On Saturday, May 14, 2016, the Southborough Open Land Foundation will take part in Mass Audubon’s annual “Bird-a-thon” with a bird walk led by Jeff Collins. The walk will be at Beals Preserve, meeting at 7:00 AM sharp at the triangle area of Main St. (Route 30) and Northborough Rd. for a brief introduction. You can also meet at the Kiosk on Beals Preserve, but you will miss the brief introduction. The walk should finish at approximately 9:00 AM. No previous bird watching experience is necessary. In previous years we have seen a variety of birds including a Chimney Swift, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Baltimore Oriole, Barn Swallow, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Bobolink, Common Grackle, Common Yellowthroat, Comorant, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird, Great Blue Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Green Heron, House sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, Red-tailed hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Tree Swallow, and a Yellow Warbler.

Jeff Collins, Director of Mass Audubon’s Ecological Management Department has led many birding tours in North and South America. He shares a wide range of information on plants, animals, birds and habitats as well has his enthusiasm for the natural beauty of each destination.

Bring your binoculars and, of course, dress appropriately for ticks! This event is free and open to all.

See a flyer for the program here.

The Southborough Open Land Foundation was sorry to learn of the death of Martha Templeman on December 4, 2015. SOLF remembers Mrs.Templeman for her generosity. In 1996, she and her family donated 7.7 acres of land adjacent to Cordaville Rd. Templeman Woods remains a tribute to her desire to help maintain the rural character of the town that she loved. As we walk in and enjoy the lovely woods, her beautiful spirit will endure.

SOLF will be sponsoring more events for the summer and fall. Details will be posted as soon as they become available.