Duxbury Land Trust

Duxbury Land Trust members removing a delapidated bridge in the Town Forest on October 26, 2019.

On Saturday, July 20 from 10 to 11:00 a.m., join Sherry Winnie of the Duxbury Land Trust (DLT) and Rebecca Roy, Forests, Parks, and Recreation Conservation Education Coordinator to discover the natural beauty of the Duxbury Town Forest. Meet at Crossett Brook Middle School, Route 100, at 10:00 a.m.

The event is free and the whole family is invited as well as non-Duxbury residents and visitors.

Dress appropriately and take precautions for walking in wooded and brushy areas. Bring water and a snack, if desired.

The 169-acre Duxbury Town Forest was created in 2017 to provide forestry, natural resource conservation, and non-commercial recreation.  The Duxbury Land Trust holds a conservation easement on the property.

For more information: Audrey Quackenbush, audreyq@myfairpoint.net or 244-7512.

The Duxbury Land Trust is collaborating with the North Branch Nature Center to rescue amphibians this month. Salamanders and frogs migrate by the thousands in spring, often crossing roads at great peril. Three rescue events will take place in April on the River Road in North Duxbury. Rescues take place in the rain and dark and squashed frogs may be unsettling for some. Exact dates will be determined by weather conditions.

Cara Capparelli, lead Citizen Science Collector, will provide a training session at the site on Saturday, April 6 from 1-2 p.m. The site is the “pond” area at the bend on the left side of River Road, approximately .7 mile from the bottom of the Camel’s Hump Road, going west, toward Richmond. If interested in volunteering, join us on Saturday and park along the road before the site. Dress appropriately for wet and muddy conditions. To prepare for the training, we suggest reviewing the Volunteer Manual and Protocols on https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/ “Citizen Science” and then “Amphibian Conservation”. For more information contact: Rachel Mirus: rachel.marie.sargent@gmail.com.

On Saturday, March 16, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., the Duxbury Land Trust (DLT) will lead a walk to some properties conserved by the organization. The final destination will be determined that morning and, if conditions permit, the walk will take place on the Duxbury Town Forest, established in 2017. Alternatively, participants will be guided along the River Road to view former State Farm land also conserved by DLT.

Meet at Crossett Brook Middle School at 1:00 p.m. to carpool to the site as parking is limited. Wear appropriate footwear for snowy paths or, possibly, encountering early thawing on the River Road.

For more information: Audrey Quackenbush, audreyq@myfairpoint.net or 244-7512.

The Duxbury Land Trust is hosting a free nature event on Saturday, August 11 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Duxbury Town Forest. Come explore, get your feet wet and use microscopes and magnifiers to discover the micro-world of cells, algae, and protozoa in the Duxbury Town Forest.

Join Duxbury naturalist, Rachel Sargent, for an introduction to micro-worlds and learn hands-on about a whole new tiny ecosphere of life! You’ll take plant and water samples from the forest and look at collections of life in each sample. All ages welcome.

Bring water, dress appropriately, and wear or bring waterproof boots. Meet at Crossett Brook Middle School at 10 AM to carpool to the site. Rachel has been an educator with the Fairbanks and Montshire Museums and loves exploring Duxbury’s town forest ecology. For more information, email Rachel at rachel.marie.sargent@gmail.com.

Green Up Day is on Saturday, May 5th. Volunteers are needed for all Duxbury town roads (NOT Route 100 – VTrans does Route 100).  Only roadside trash is acceptable: no household trash or furniture, hazardous materials, electronics, or personal tires.

Bags are available at the following locations:

• at the Town Clerk’s office, or after hours, in the black mailbox outside
• in South Duxbury at the home of Carmel Kelley, 648 VT Route 100
• in North Duxbury at the home of Jen Dean, 134 Camel’s Hump Road.

Bring filled bags to either of these drop sites:

• the town garage in the dumpster used for Green Up day
• the pull-off on River Road in front of the railroad gate (from Camels Hump Rd, go past the road to Bolton dam – the turnoff is on the left).

Please let Audrey Quackenbush know where you will be working and how many bags you’ve taken:  audreyq@myfairpoint.net or 244-7512.

Green Up Day has been coordinated by the Duxbury Land Trust since 1996.