Information and Publications from the
Marblehead Conservancy
Maps
Probably the most important of the Conservancy’s publications are trail maps. Maps make it easier to explore an unfamiliar place. Print them out and take them along in paper form or just view them on your smart phone. Many conservation areas feature map boxes at entrances so you can pick up a waterproof copy.
Follow the link below to open the Just Maps Overview page or use the Just Maps submenu to go directly to your favorite map:
Click to open the Just Maps Overview page
Newsletters
The Conservancy publishes two printed newsletters each year, and several electronic newsletters for news and updates between print publications. Starting with 2023, past newsletters are available on our web site.
Click for our archive of past newsletters
Hawthorn Pond Plant Guide
This two-page brochure on the plants at Hawthorn Pond was created by the students at Tower School in cooperation with the Marblehead Conservancy.
Discovering Marblehead
Discovering Marblehead is a guide to the Open Spaces and Historic Places of Marblehead. It was published in 2001 and may be purchased at the Marblehead Conservancy tent at the Marblehead Farmers’ Market.
YouTube Channel
Stream video from the Marblehead Conservancy’s YouTube channel. You can watch a video on the history of the Robinson Farm and, courtesy of MHTV, you can watch some of the presentations sponsored by the Conservancy.
Web-based Guide to Invasive Plants
Learn about invasive plants – what they look like and how they can harm the environment in these online pages. An overview shows you the variety of invasive plants in Marblehead, and links take you to details pages that include photos, history, and additional information about invasives.
Click to open the web-based invasives guide
Information and Publications from
Other Sources
Books at Abbot Library
The Conservancy provides regular funding to the Abbot Public Library to purchase books of interest to both adults and children on nature, flora and fauna, and natural open spaces. Each book is designated with a special bookplate and books may be borrowed for home use. Here’s a list of just a few of the books available:
- Reading the Forested Landscape by Tom Wessels
- Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy
- Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East by Carolyn Summers
- Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie
- New England Hiking by Jacqueline Tourville
- Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
- Nests by Sharon Beals
Which Plants are Native?
Looking into historical records of area flora, then observing whether common insects, birds, and animals of the same area favor a particular plant of interest tells an observer whether the plant is, or has become, native. For more information, see: https://marbleheadconservancy.org/which-plants-are-native/
New England Native Plants
During the Conservancy’s 2023 Annual Meeting, Lifetime Master Gardener Gretel Anspach gave a presentation on New England’s native plants. She explained why native plants are important and provided detailed information about a wide variety of native plants, including many wildflowers. Gretel graciously offered to share her presentation slides and script. To access these documents click the following links:
New England Native Flora Presentation
New England Native Flora Script
Marblehead’s Emerald Necklace
Written by Marblehead’s Dennis Curtin, this eBook tells the story of Marblehead’s path along the former rail bed. This path connects many of Marblehead’s conservation areas and provides an excellent way to reach them by bike or on foot.
Town of Marblehead Open Space Plan
Encouraged by the state, Marblehead created a plan for the use of its open space and recreational areas. The plan includes an extensive survey of these areas as well as plans based on input from residents.