Meeting Minutes
Properties
Wetlands
Conservation
and More
Your Back Yard
Maps
How to Help

Previous
Next


Conservation Commission

Conservation and More

              by Bruce B. Beckley


Issue #100, April, 2001
Rail Trails

The rails to trails program for converting unused railroad beds to useful recreational trails has been more prominent nationally than in our part of the country. We have seen examples of trail reclamation in the Catskills and Black Hills where former rails carried out lumber and minerals and brought in tourists. Other examples are the Cape Cod trail and one under development in East Hampton, Massachusetts. A variety of treatments are practiced. Some trails are paved and wide to accommodate in-line skaters as well as bikers, runners and family strollers.

The ACC B&M (Boston & Maine) Trail is an example of using a former railroad right of way as a walking trail. In this case, no treadway improvements have been made. The New Boston Recreational Trail we described a few issues ago utilizes the rail bed between New Boston and Goffstown. Some improvements have been made including an arched bridge over one of the tributaries to the Piscataquog River.

In Goffstown the voters approved purchase of five more miles of the same rail bed to extend the trail downstream from town. Milford is doing good things too. There, the Milford Conservation Commission has established a new public trail named the Granite Town Rail-Trail. It follows the abandoned rail bed running south from the DPW garage on South Street to the Brookline town line. On April 20 at the Milford Town Hall the MCC will introduce its trail with a slide show on rails to trails success stories. The next day, Saturday April 21, guided walks will be given on the new trail. One-way walkers will be shuttled, if desired.

Returning to Amherst, in addition to the B&M segment of the former Manchester-Milford line several other sections remain. These could be connected to lead from the Bragdon Farm on the north to the Souhegan River on the south. At that point the new rail trail would join the embryonic Souhegan River Trail.

Your Backyard

Snow fleas are present all year long. But as they become less conspicuous (the snow will go) our thoughts move to our gardens and their surroundings. As you integrate the different elements of your evolving landscape, we suggest that one of your objectives be to knowingly create a backyard sanctuary. What do we mean?

A backyard, or home, sanctuary is a place for nature and for you. It's a place as well as a state of mind -- a place to enjoy, to relax in and watch from. Some of the components and factors to consider in creating your sanctuary include the following. What you do and how you do it is yours to choose. There are no hard and fast rules. Whatever you can do will be better than nothing.

Variety can increase the interest and enjoyment of your sanctuary.

  • Create a vista, a "room" with a view. It need not be a long view. It may be a single tree. Suggest space and depth as you plan. Also and not in contradiction, retain an area of intimate proportions as a place to escape to. Intimacy of shrubs to feed and water will greatly increase the appeal of your feeding area for birds.
  • Use variety in what you plant to introduce different colors and textures. This is achieved by selecting flowers and fruit from the many native species. Native stone or weathered wood will blend better than manufactured materials for walks and retaining walls.
  • Include the sky in your plan to carry the eye upwards and out not to mention the need to get sunlight in.
  • Keep a variation in tree and shrub sizes. Again, native species are already adapted to the vagaries of our weather and should be less expensive if you need to purchase plants. If you have room, a thicket area is inviting to birds and creates an attractive visual break between neighbors and other segments of your property.

Features and steps that may be incorporated to add interest and be fun to create in your special place include:

  • Provide natural screening between you and your abutter unless there is a planned sharing of a view.
  • Create sheltered, separated, paths that link areas of your property.
  • Choose materials that provide color in more than one season.
  • Consider the ability to illuminate the area or features of the area for evening viewing and enjoyment.
  • Water is a calming feature for us and important in attracting birds. A bird bath, small pool, or a recirculating trickle over rocks can do wonders for your space.
  • Install nest boxes and feeders for birds with nearby shelter and perches.
  • Include a bench as a visual focus and as a collecting place either for your thoughts or kids.

Your sanctuary will be an evolving project. It need not be accomplished in six days. It's "naturalness" will take time to develop and weather in. As you go along, sit back and enjoy your creation at different hours and in different seasons. You will be glad you did. For further suggestions the Extension Service office has a display and materials available. Books are available in our town library on the use of native materials in your plan.

Last Update: