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Forest River Trail Map

Marblehead Conservancy Inc. > Resources > Just Maps > Forest River Trail Map

For more information about Forest River, see the Forest River page in the Explore menu.

Click here to download this map

TrailMap-ForestRiver012325

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What’s coming next?
Horticulture professionals tell us that, after proper preparation and care, the 3rd season of a newly sown meadow will be when one begins to see many native wildflowers in bloom. Until then, seeds are expected to sprout after normal dormant periods. Wildflower seeds planted at Lead Mills have a variety of dormant periods, some more than two years. Work on this project began in 2020, when the first 12,000 sq. ft. field to be seeded was scraped of its topsoil and sown with a selection of native wildflower species chosen to be beckoning to native pollinators. Some sprouting was seen in 2022 so, one might hope to see plants blossoming this summer and going to seed in the fall.. The second field to be sown, planted with the same mixture of native wildflower seeds, was prepared differently, undergoing several tillings at the end of 2021. We might expect to see some blossoming here as well, in this its 2ndseason. But blossoming of native wildflowers doesn’t happen by magic! Despite much time spent by a small group of dedicated volunteers, thus far mostly weeds seem to have proliferated. The amount of time needed for this project was not well understood and we probably underestimated how tough the weeds would be. Season 2023 was a time for reflection, to re-examine the methods used in preparation, and the various maintenance efforts employed. The reduction of the weed seeds in these two fields was not adequately achieved to allow the sought-after wildflowers to take hold. Weed control is said to be critical in a newly seeded meadow. We suspect we won’t see all the results we hoped for. If that is the case, we will need to consider other methods. For 2023 we took a different approach, rather than seeding large areas as previously done. We planted wildflower plugs in much smaller plots, where weeds are sure to have been minimized. With fewer weeds to start with, and continued weeding throughout the growing season, we hope for greater success. – The Wildflower committee

Events

Earth/Arbor Day May 10th – Save the Date!
The Marblehead Conservancy invites you to participate in our annual Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration: Saturday, May 10th, 2025, 9:00am to noon at Ware Pond. With the help of all those who will join us on this day, we’ll be planting native flowers and shrubs at Ware Pond to replace invasives. Scout troops will be among those helping, and we hope to see other residents, particularly children, enjoying the experience. Gloves and tools will be provided but wear sturdy shoes. The largest pond in town, this is one of Marblehead’s best birding sites where you may see a pair of catbirds courting or yellow winged warbler singing its spring song. It is home to many water birds such as the great blue heron, red winged black birds, cardinals, spring warblers, tree swallows and orioles. Female snapping turtles leave the pond in the fall looking for a well drained area to lay her eggs. In late May ladybugs hatch and cluster in crimson clumps on the undersides of dandelions and buttercups blooming in the grass. Ware Pond is accessible by the rail trail from Rockaway Ave. Seaview Ave. or Briar Lane. We encourage volunteers to walk or ride bikes. Parking on side streets is limited. https://marbleheadconservancy.org/earth-arbor-day-may-10th-save-the-date/
Hear Rick Cuzner, wildlife photographer, at Annual Meeting
Rick Cuzner, wildlife photographer, will be speaking on local wildlife and photography at the Marblehead Conservancy Annual Meeting to be held at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead at 7 PM on March 26 (click here to register for this event at the Abbot Public Library). Drawing from his extensive experience as a photographer, Rick explores the captivating intersection of nature and visual storytelling sharing insights into capturing the beauty and complexity of wildlife in their natural habitats. He will discuss the technical aspects of photography, the importance of patience and timing, and the ethical considerations involved in photographing animals. Through captivating visuals, Rick will show the power of photography to raise awareness about conservation and inspire appreciation for the natural world.

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