Opposed to Article 18, Citizen’s Petition

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The Harvard Conservation Trust (HCT) manages over 325 acres of land in the Town of Harvard.  As stewards of this land, we have a responsibility to take a holistic and long-term view in caring for our natural heritage.  While passive land management has often been the default approach, it is not always sufficient or responsible.  Managing land well is an adaptive endeavor that requires careful consideration of complex and dynamic natural systems.  For this reason, we endorse maintaining all of the options and tools available, for the long-term.  At the October meeting of HCT’s Stewardship Committee, a recommendation was made to oppose the Citizen’s Petition to ban hunting on Town Conservation land in Harvard as it removes a potentially important management tool from the Conservation Commission’s land management tool box.  The Board of Trustees voted on October 16th to support a recommendation to oppose Article 18 at the October 28th Special Town Meeting.  While the Citizen’s Petition to ban hunting on Town conservation land does not apply to HCT’s land, natural systems function across property boundaries, and limiting the Conservation Commission’s options for managing Town land could result in negative consequences for HCT conservation lands by extension.

Fall Forest Bathing Walk, Saturday, October 10th, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

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Fall Forest Bathing Walk with Pam Frederick, Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide
Saturday, 10/12/19 from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm.
Fee: $25
Location: Brown Conservation land at the end of Murray Lane in Harvard.
 

Let stress and “to do” lists melt away as you relax, unplug and open your senses to the “medicine” of the forest. Research on “bathing” or taking in the atmosphere of the forest shows improved cognitive functioning and increased sense of well-being.

Pam will guide you with invitations designed to create immersive experiences in nature. The walk concludes with a wild collected tea ceremony and snacks

Registration: You must pre-register with Pam to participate in the walk and a minimum of four people is required. Please call or email Pam to register or with questions.

Email: pwfrederick@gmail.com
Cell: 978-460-0781

Save the Date : October 20, 2019 – HCT’s Run for the Hills 5K Trail Run and 2K Orchard Walk

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For online registration: www.runforthehills.org

Participation on Town’s Deer Management Subcommittee

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The Harvard Conservation Trust (HCT) was glad to have representation on the Town Conservation Commission’s Deer Management Subcommittee (DMS). We are a non-profit organization with a charitable mission to preserve the rural character and natural resources of Harvard. It is in HCT’s interest to keep abreast of important ecological and land management issues in the Town and region. Deer are a common species in our landscape and trying to better understand their potential impacts on forest ecology as well as other social and environmental issues is prudent.

The DMS included one HCT Trustee as a representative on the committee. Two other members of the committee are currently HCT Trustees, but they were not representing HCT on the DMS and their membership on this municipal committee pre-dated their election to HCT’s Board.  The recommendation of the DMS (a subcommittee of Town government) does not reflect any position or policy of HCT (an independent non-profit organization). We will continue to keep abreast of this and other conservation-land stewardship matters taken up by the Town. Currently, there is no change in HCT’s hunting policy, which remains, hunting is prohibited on HCT lands.

We wish to thank our board members, and all those who generously volunteer their time on civic boards and committees in Harvard.

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