Sandwich Conservation Trust – Special Appeal
Osborne-Sherman Conservation Lands
Dear Members and Friends,
Last year the SCT Board of Trustees decided to improve
access to the Osborne – Sherman Conservation Lands, located off of Gully Lane,
in the Spring Hill section of Sandwich. This was done to allow our mowing
contractor a safer way to park, and of course, provide a modest parking area
for visitors. After several months of design, permitting, and other
preparation, the work was completed last December, resulting in the attractive
entrance pictured above.
This accomplishment led to thoughts about other
improvements for this beautiful preserve – 2 acres of hillside field with a
mowed path and a bench from which Cape Cod Bay can be viewed. Our 2 acre field is partially surrounded by a
much larger clearing, in private ownership, and we want to be sure our visitors
don’t stray onto this property. We currently have split rail fencing at two of
the corners, but we would like to add more fencing, especially on the south
side.
As beautiful as it is, this field has a serious problem
with invasive or unwanted vegetation.
The problem species are bittersweet, multiflora rose, and poison ivy,
which is a native plant, but not desirable in a publicly-used field. We currently have the field mowed by tractor
several times a year, but this is not adequate to eliminate the unwanted
plants. Repeated close mowing as required turns out to be a practical,
non-toxic approach to accomplishing our goals. As parts of the field become
free of invasive plants, they can be allowed to grow to benefit wildlife.
The SCT is asking for your financial help with these projects.
We are seeking at least $3000 to install fencing and fund the mowing. To jump-start the effort, one of our sponsors
has offered $250 as soon as that amount has been received from other donors. Your
donation will be tax-deductible – the SCT is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit. Though we welcome your help at any time, this
specific fundraising effort will end May 31st, with the fencing
work scheduled for early June.
The SCT received this preserve as a bequest from
Constance S. Crowell (1931-2006). She
and her husband Edward Crowell acquired 26 acres here in 1969 and developed stables,
pasture and other facilities for horses, and named the property “The
Mowings”. Connie dearly loved The
Mowings, and we are so grateful to her for leaving these beautiful 2 acres to
the Sandwich Conservation Trust for preservation, wildlife habitat and public
enjoyment. She chose to name the
preserve using the last names of her two grandfathers: Osborne and Sherman.
Please help us honor Connie Crowell by helping us fund
improvements to the Osborne-Sherman Conservation Lands, and please do visit the
preserve.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
John N. Cullity
President
Mailing Address:
Sandwich Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 531
E. Sandwich, MA 02537
Mailing Address:
Sandwich Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 531
E. Sandwich, MA 02537
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