Our Community’s Recreational Treasure is Protected for Future Generations.

At the March 3rd town meeting, the citizens of Scituate voted unanimously to spend part of our Community Preservation money to preserve and protect the Litchfield property, another 40 acres of open space! We heard you speak up loud and clear, and we thank you for making this happen!

The Maxwell Conservation Trust, a Scituate 501(c) (3) non profit volunteer organization, worked diligently to bring this parcel to the town meeting floor, where we felt confident that the town’s people would make it clear that they feel that preserving open space for our future generations is one of the primary purposes of the Community Preservation Act.

So, what do we have now? The largest remaining forest in Scituate, 450 acres, is almost 60% preserved after this purchase and the 76-acre purchase by the Town and the Trust in 2004. We have over 21⁄2 miles of beautiful trails open to the public. We even have parking, thanks to Frank Snow, who generously allows us to use his property for parking. Explore this beautiful Carl Pipes Trail, located on Bates Lane on Clapp Road.

The Trust and the Scituate Recreation Department will continue working together to hold nature walks on the trails during the year. If we get snow this winter, we will have opportunities to learn to snowshoe and cross country ski on the properties!

The Trust is planning a number of events for the coming year: hikes on the properties, trail maintenance, a breakfast, winter passive recreation events, a fundraising dance with Bellevue Cadillac, and a crazy-run-through-the-woods-race early next summer (apparently people will come from all over to participate in this type of event!) We currently have two Eagle Scout projects taking place on the property, and opportunities for more if you have an Eagle Scout looking for a project.

We couldn’t have done it without you, and we can only continue to preserve our open space with your support. Join the Maxwell Conservation Trust, as an individual, a family, or a corporate sponsor! All contributions are fully tax-deductible. We also need the energy and intelligence of our townsfolk: perhaps you’d enjoy maintaining trails, leading walks, helping out with fundraising, or joining the Executive Committee? It is a gift to be able to spend time in this beautiful undisturbed forest … take some time to enjoy it!

A Trout Lily. Many wild species are rarely, if at all, seen in the suburbs! Nature trails let you capture your own treasures on camera, or in your memory.

Our natural resources are slipping away. In a part of the country where children were once pretty likely to recognize lady slippers, skunk cabbage, red hawks or sand pines, urbanization has made these sights less and less familiar. Our open spaces and walking trails are one way for your family to combine a brisk walk with many natural surprises.

Your support of the Maxwell ConservationTrust and ourmission to preserve open spaces and woodlands helps keep these visions alive for our future generations. In doing so, they also protect future air and water quality.

To Scituate Residents:
Wayne and I started the Maxwell Conservation Trust (MCT) in 1998 to continue the important work of preserving open space that had begun with the Town’s Open Space and Master Plan. At that time, the Town was able to purchase some property for preservation. Due to the economy, it was much more difficult for the Town to continue to act on its commitment to protect land significant to our forests, water supply, and farming community. We believed that we could create a community based non-profit organization that could make a difference. Eight years later, and thanks to many, we can see that MCT has made a difference!

Thanks to our membership of almost 400 individuals and families, and a group of hard working volunteers, the Trust has worked with individual landowners and the Town to preserve our magnificent environment. We hope that you will take a few minutes to read our newsletter. Find out just what our accomplishments are, see who is involved, and learn what we have planned for the next year. When you get to the end, we hope that you too will want to become an active member of the MCT and be part of a terrific group that’s making a difference for generations to come!

Sincerely,
Cynde and Wayne Robbins
Founders

1999 Negotiated a 3-year purchase and sale agreement for 76 acres off of Bates Lane adjoining 90 acres already preserved by the Town. The purchase was completed in 2004, with the Town purchasing 44 acres, and the Trust purchasing 32. This acreage is part of the largest remaining forest in Scituate!

2001 Purchased 7 acres off Clapp Road abutting the largest remaining forest in Town.

2004-2005 Created a trail system that connected the Town and Trust owned properties with already existing trails and Bates Lane. The result? Over 21⁄2 miles of trails covering an amazing variety of terrain including a brook with granite outcroppings, a small valley, and pine and deciduous forest! You can park on Clapp Road and go exploring, for a short hike or a longer adventure!

2005 Dedicated the trail as the “Carl Pipes Memorial Trail” in honor of a member of our Board that passed away in 2003. Dr. Pipes was an avid conservationist, and led the Town’s effort to preserve open space and protect our water supply for over 30 years.

2006 Worked with the Town CPA Committee to purchase the 40-acre Litchfield property, the next phase of protecting our largest forest. Approximately 60% of this forest is now protected in perpetuity! This area now has additional public parking.

2006 Walks on the Trail co-sponsored with the Scituate Recreation Department. Find out when the next ones will be in the fall!

2006 We currently have TWO Eagle Scout candidates working on projects on the properties. If you would like to help, or have an Eagle future generations. In doing so, they also protect future air and water quality.

We are entrusted with an extraordinary natural heritage. Saltwater shorelines, forests, farms, and wildlife habitat are all part of a legacy that only we can preserve for future generations. The desire to share this heritage with our children and grandchildren unites all who treasure our beautiful area.

At Town meeting in March, unanimous votes to purchase the most recent parcel (the “Litchfield” property) proved that the citizens of Scituate feel strongly about preserving open space.We can’t do it without you! As we are a community-based public non-profit organization, we depend on our membership to keep us going!

By becoming a member of the Maxwell Conservation Trust you will help support our commitment to protect our open space and forest, protect our water quality and supply, preserve the rural flavor of our town through responsible planning, and increase our recreation opportunities with our natural resources.

The benefits are many – newsletters, regular updates, invitations to membership events but most importantly, as a member you will receive the satisfaction of helping to protect our beautiful and vital South Shore landscape forever. Businesses and corporations that support the Maxwell Conservation Trust receive public thanks that can translate into valuable publicity.

The Trust is a non-profit 501(c)(3), and donations, memberships and gifts are tax deductible. Our members have made many types of gifts including appreciated securities, donations of land, and gifts that provide life income for the donor. These generous donations both support our conservation programs and provide significant tax advantages to donors.

Please take a moment to join the Trust. Do it today! Join, renew, or give a gift of membership. Let us know that we have your support. Ask your friends and family if they are members of the Trust, and join together!

Membership Form

The Carl E. Pipes Fourth Annual Memorial Golf Tournament takes place Friday, September 22 at Widow’s Walk Golf Course. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with tee-off at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $125 per person, or $500 per foursome, including18 holes of golf, cart and event BBQ. Please call Penny Pipes (781) 545-2909 or Maxwell Conservation Trust for registration and sponsorships ($100 per hole).

Jump Jive n’Wail for Trails Concert Enjoy appetizers while listening to Bellevue Cadillac on Sunday evening, November 5, at Mt. Blue in Norwell. Tickets available at Heritage Days in Scituate at $50 per person, or by calling Maxwell Conservation Trust. To donate items for Raffle or Silent Auction, please contact Maxwell Conservation Trust.