Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Take a Hike - Murkwood


The Sandwich Conservation Trust will begin a series of fall guided walks by visiting the town-owned Murkwood Conservation Area this coming Sunday, Sept. 11th, at 2 PM.  This East Sandwich preserve lies north of Route 6A, just west of Canning’s Service Station.  The Murkwood Conservation Area totals 129.39 acres – 22 parcels of upland and (mostly) salt marsh acquired by the town between 1974 and 1999.  The first 65 acres were purchased from Dorothy Nye Holway, and was part of one of the early East Sandwich farms.  The original Holway house, taken down in 1939, was located across from Titcomb’s Bookshop.




            Our upcoming walk will take place on the main upland, which is a peninsula of low land reaching out into Scorton Marsh.  Now heavily wooded, this area was once farmed by the Holways, and even contains the remains of a small cranberry bog.  This is the time of year when the salt hay was being cut, raked, and stacked on the staddles (12’ diameter group of posts) that once dotted all the marshes.  We will talk about this aspect of the land’s history as we take in a wide view of the quiet marsh.

            The walk will be about an hour long, and is easy except for some roots to step over.  If it rains the walk will be cancelled. For questions about the walk or the Sandwich Conservation Trust call me at (508) 888-7629.


The Sandwich Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 to preserve undeveloped land in Sandwich. Through ownership and conservation restrictions the SCT currently holds 221 acres in preservation. For questions about membership, support, volunteering or other issues please call (508) 888-7629.   http://sandwichconservationtrust.blogspot.com.  Find us on Facebook.

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