Bow Hunting Season October 5 – December 31, 2026
Two permits for bow hunting deer have been issued for Beals Preserve and Lynbrook Hollow. There is no hunting allowed on Sundays. These hunters are very experienced and have been hunting at these two properties for years. They will not be near any trails on Beals Preserve. Visitors are encouraged to wear some blaze orange. If you have any questions, contact us at info@solf.org.
Mushroom Walk at Beals Preserve on Oct 31, 2026
Back by popular demand, the Southborough Open Land Foundation invites the public to join them as they learn about fungi during a 2 hour guided “Mushroom Walk and Talk” at Beals Preserve.
The walk will be led by “mushroom enthusiast” Jonathan Kranz, a MA Audubon Certified Field Naturalist and vice president of North America’s oldest mushroom organization, the Boston Mycological Club. During the walk, participants will learn about “the basics of mushroom habitat, identification, and ecology. You can read about Jonathan Kranz at https://www.kranzcom.com/mushroom-walks-and-talks/.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 31 from 10:00 am to noon. Participants are instructed to meet up at 9:45 am. Although there isn’t pre-registration, the opportunity will be limited to the first 30 participants that show up that morning.
The group will gather at the kiosk across the bridge from Beals Preserve Main Street Field. The parking area on Main Street (Route 30) is closed for remediation, but there is parking on the very wide shoulder, across the street at the corner of Northborough Road and Main Street, as well at the Chestnut Hill Farm hiking parking lot on nearby Chestnut Hill Road. For directions, put “Beals Preserve Main Street Field Parking” into any map application.
We do note that October 31 is Halloween. Although we will concentrate on fungi, costumes are welcome.
Saturday Work Days Underway
We’ve started our 2026 Saturday volunteer workdays and would love your help maintaining our properties and trails. Projects include removing invasive plants, clearing and maintaining trails, improving roadside appearance, and other seasonal tasks. We rotate among our accessible properties throughout the season. View the calendar here. To sign up, go to https://solf.org/volunteer/ and follow the link to signup genius or simply send an email to info@solf.org telling us you want to join in. Looking forward to having you pitch in!
Be Our Eyes
As you walk our properties, you can help us by being extra eyes. Email us at info@solf.org if you see something like a tree across a trail, or a broken signpost that needs repair. Thank you!
Help SOLF in its mission – Volunteer, Steward
Volunteers and stewards help us fulfill our mission to preserve, protect, conserve, and enhance the natural resources in the Town of Southborough. Love the outdoors? Want a a way to combine your love of the outdoors with some community service?
SOLF proudly owns and cares for 15 properties comprising over 190 acres. Become a volunteer and work alongside board members and other volunteers to help with trail maintenance, invasive plant control, sprucing up entrances, and more. Become a steward for one of our properties, and you can be our eyes, walking trails if they exist, and making note of any problems in general.
Please contact us at info@solf.org if you are interested in joining our volunteer list and/or becoming a steward. Thank you!
SOLF Board Meetings
SOLF usually meets the second Wednesday of the month, from 7 – 9 pm, current location at Pilgrim Church. You are welcome to join us and hear about maintenance projects and programs we are planning. Contact us at info@solf.org for more information. Check our calendar for changes.
