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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