Category Archives: Past Events

Big Night For Salamanders, March 21, 2012.

Big Night for Salamanders

On March 21, 2012, SOLF presented Award winning author Sarah Marwil Lamstein with a moving story of a boy takeing charge to help his beloved salamanders. Evan can hardly wait for Big Night. During the first warm night rain of spring, Big Night spotted salamanders by the hundreds crawl out of the woods and down to a natural pool across the road. There they will breed and lay their eggs. How can Evan and his parents help these delicate creatures cross the road in safety? Evan has the solution.

Carol Benioff’s colorful and animated illustrations transport the reader into Evan’s world, where a child can do small yet wonderful things to help other creatures.

2011 Elaine Beals Conservation Award Presented to Richard V. Upjohn

SOLF has chosen Richard V. Upjohn to receive the Elaine Beals Conservation Award for 2011. Dick, who grew up in New York City, developed a love of the outdoors at his family’s summer place in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. His passion for hiking, birding, and mountain climbing was honed at a summer camp in the High Peaks area of the Adirondacks where he worked at a summer camp, and later bought a home. He and his wife Sabra moved to Southborough with their family in 1960 when he came to Fay School. He has shared his love of nature with students. To emphasize the need to conserve resources Dick started the recyling program at Fay. He later helped establish the recycling program for the town, serving on the Southborough Recycling Committee. Dick has served the town of Southborough in several other capacities, serving as a longtime member of the Conservation Commission and on the Community Preservation Commission. Practicing what he preaches, he is often seen bicycling about town. SOLF is pleased to recognize a person who has quietly served the cause of conservation in Southborough.

Elaine Beals and Dick Upjohn (Photo by Chris Vatis)

The Trustees of SOLF were saddened to learn of the sudden death of Dick Upjohn on January 4, 2012. We will miss his vast knowledge about environmental issues in Southborough. We extend our sympathies to his wife, Sabra, and to the rest of his family.

 

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program at Beals Preserve

The Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF) was selected to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). The Natural Resources Conservation Service, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers the program. 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. Approximately 6 acres of the Beals Preserve were cleared to create a shrubland, restoring that area to more closely resemble the landscape of fifty years ago. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation gave official approval for the required forestry work.  SOLF has committed to long-term management activities to ensure the integrity and viability of the improved wildlife habitat.

The project began on January 3, 2011. The work was done by a mechanical mower and the picture shows the work in progress and the results of the clearing.

Scout Troop 92 Participates in Service Project at Beal’s Preserve

Working with the Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF), Boy Scouts from Southborough Troop 92 performed a service project at the Beals Preserve. Over the years, there has been an accumulating pile of illegally dumped yard waste (leaves, brush and grass clippings) at the Red Gate Lane entrance to the Beals Preserve. The Scouts worked hard to disperse the piles which improves the environmental quality of the area. In addition to cleaning up the yard waste, the Scouts removed several large rocks from the trail and lined the trail edge with logs to help define it. The hope is that the improved appearance along with public outreach will help prevent additional dumping.

Many residents and landscapers do not realize that it is illegal to bring their leaves and other yard waste to conservation land.
If you live near conservation land, never dump your yard waste (or Christmas trees) and make sure your landscaper does not either. Create a compost area in your own yard to create good mulch for your gardens or take it to the Southborough Transfer Station compost bin.

Oak Grove Painters

Arts Center at Southborough
21 Highland Street, Southborough

Co-sponsored by the Arts Center at Southborough and the Southborough Open Land Foundation

The Oak Grove Painters – a group from the Greater Boston area, have been painting regularly at Chestnut Hill Farm for several years. This show, featuring one of Southborough’s most treasured landscapes, will be on display at the Arts Center at Southborough through October 24, 2010. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00AM to 4:00PM; Saturday and Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00PM.
Featured below are paintings by Will Kirkpatrick.