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Greenbelt Awarded State Grant to Protect Hoyt Farm in Merrimac

Posted 10/25/24

This fall, Greenbelt received a $300,000 Conservation Partnership Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to help protect Hoyt Farm in Merrimac.

New Parking Area at Seine Field Improves Safety and Accessibility

Posted 10/24/24

A spacious new off-street parking area was recently completed at Seine Field in Gloucester, greatly enhancing access and safety for visitors.

Artichoke River Woods

Greenbelt to Celebrate Completion of Artichoke River Woods Conservation Project

Posted 10/11/24

On Tuesday, October 29, from 10:30am to 12:00pm, Greenbelt will celebrate the successful completion of the Artichoke River Woods Conservation Project in West Newbury, which permanently protects 47…

Open Space Conference to Take Place Saturday, December 7

Posted 10/10/24

On Saturday, December 7, Greenbelt will host the 2024 Open Space Conference. This free event offers a variety of workshops for municipal staff, board and committee members, and others who are engaged…

Greenbelt Leads Effort to Protect 330 Acres in Gloucester and Manchester

Posted 10/8/24

Greenbelt is working to protect hundreds of acres of forestland in Gloucester and Manchester. Once completed, the DeNormandie Woods/Long Hill Conservation Project will safeguard vital natural habitat,…

Osprey Season Recap: Population Growth and Other Highlights

Posted 9/23/24

At the annual Osprey Dinner held on September 10, Director of Stewardship Dave Rimmer shared an update on this year’s Osprey season, and by all measures, it was a remarkable success.

Does Your Career Path Lead to Greenbelt?

Posted 9/16/24

Are you interested in helping protect the natural habitats, working farms, and scenic landscapes of Essex County? Check out our careers page! Greenbelt currently has two open positions.

Red Salicornia inFall

Red Waves Ripple on Greenbelt Salt Marshes

Posted 9/13/24

One of the most beautiful seasons at Greenbelt’s Cox Reservation is Fall when the salt marsh that borders the property turns bright red.

A Message from Greenbelt's New President

Posted 9/4/24

On his first day as Greenbelt’s new President, Chris LaPointe expresses his deep appreciation for the team effort behind past conservation successes and shares a glimpse into his vision for the…

Greenbelt Conducts Grassland Bird Survey

Posted 8/27/24

Our Stewardship team conducted grassland bird surveys at the Cox Reservation, Donovan Reservation, Castle Neck River Reservation, and Kamon Farm.

Kate Bowditch

Retiring President Kate Bowditch Reflects on Her Time at Greenbelt

Posted 8/21/24

My first days at Greenbelt set the stage for what have been six truly wonderful years.

Greenbelt President Chris LaPointe

Greenbelt Names Chris LaPointe Next President

Posted 7/31/24

Chris succeeds Kate Bowditch, Greenbelt’s President for the past six years, who is retiring.

Community Outreach on Gentle Trails Program Proves Successful

The Gentle Trails Program consists of 21 Greenbelt properties that are well-suited to those seeking leisurely strolls and breathtaking views.

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Echo Reservation, How Reservation

A Conversation with Chris LaPointe, Greenbelt's New President

As President, Chris has a new platform to utilize his passion and determination for the greater good.

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Chris LaPointe

Invasive Plants Among Greatest Natural Threats to State 

Many are so attractive, others so widespread that we may not realize that dozens of plants common to Massachusetts are one of the greatest natural threats in the state.

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Purple Loosestrife

Doodlebugs and Their Deadly Bite

You may call them by their innocent-sounding name of Doodlebug, but they are antlions – voracious predators of ants and other insects who fall into their traps.

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Doodlebug

Common Yellowthroat - June Bird-of-the-Month

The Common Yellowthroat is one of North America’s most widespread and abundant warbler species.

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Common Yellow-throat

Tour de Greenbelt:  A Ride for All Abilities

Whether a weekend recreational rider, seasoned cyclist or one seeking a more adventurous course, Greenbelt’s annual Tour de Greenbelt offers a course to fit all abilities.

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Wood Thrush: May Bird-of-the-Month

The Wood Thrush is the largest of North America’s spotted thrushes.

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Brown Thrasher: April Bird-of the-Month

Brown Thrashers are a beautiful bird species native to North America.

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Greenbelt Uses Native Plants to Attract Pollinators

When you bite into a juicy strawberry each spring, you should not only thank the local farmer who grew it, but also pollinators, without which this delight would likely not exist.

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Stewardship Staff Monitors 10,000 Acres Under Conservation Restrictions 

There are 328 landowners involved and every Conservation Restriction is different. It is tailored to the property and the landowner’s wishes on how they wish to protect it. 

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City of Lynn Permanently Preserves 2100 acre Lynn Woods Reservation

The Conservation Restriction ensures Lynn Woods will be forever protected against any development threat.

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Lynn Woods Offers Many Way to Enjoy the Outdoors

Every year, thousands of people come to Lynn Woods to enjoy nature among its trees, trails, historic structures, and scenic reservoirs.

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Book on Wild Edibles Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Benefits Greenbelt

Since Russ Cohen’s book “Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten” came out in 2004, interest in eco-friendly food practices have grown rapidly.

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Hooded Merganser: October Bird of the Month

Hooded Mergansers, affectionately known as “Hoodies,” are the smallest of the three merganser species occurring in North America. The adult male Hooded Merganser in breeding plumage has a large white…

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Northern Harrier: September Bird of the Month

Harriers are open country birds that are found in meadows, grasslands, freshwater marshes, saltwater marshes open open fields, and agricultural fields that contain tall grasses and low vegetation.

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Belted Kingfisher: August Bird of the Month:

A Belted Kingfisher is often heard before it is seen. A loud, rattling call announces it presence.

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Cedar Waxwing: July Bird of the Month

These beautiful birds are elegant in appearance and have remarkably silky-smooth plumage. Male and female waxwings look the same and both have a crest that often lies flat and droops over the back of…

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Northern Flicker: June Bird of the Month

The Northern Flicker is one of the most distinctive and the most widespread North American woodpecker. This large woodpecker is easy to identify by its field marks.

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Bobolink: May Bird of the Month

In his spring finery, the male Bobolink has been described as looking like a backward tuxedo with solid black upper-parts, a black face, a pale-yellow nape, white shoulder feathers and rump, and…

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Green Heron: April Bird of the Month

The adult Green Heron is a striking bird with an iridescent, greenish-blue back, greenish-black crown, rufous neck, white chin, a cream streak that extends from its throat to its belly, a thin,…

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Eastern Phoebe: Bird of the Month

Eastern Phoebes are one of the first migrants to return to their breeding grounds in spring. This little brown and yellowish-white passerine is one of the few birds that sing its own name.

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Dark-eyed Junco: January Bird of the Month

Dark-eyed juncos, one of the most abundant species of New World Sparrow, are also one of the most widespread songbirds in North America. There is considerable variation in the plumage of male…

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Bittersweet: Can you tell the invasive from the native plant?

They look the same with their colorful berries that are a true sign of fall, but can you tell these two plants apart? Both are commonly called bittersweet.

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Sound of Spring: The Chorus of Male Wood Frogs

If you’ve been out for a walk near woods and wetlands in the past few weeks, you may have heard a noise that sounds a bit like a clucking chicken or duck.

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A Voracious Summer Pest: Deer Flies

They are persistent devils that attack over and over and over again as females must consume a blood meal to lay fertile eggs.

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Waking the Bay Circuit Trail

Chris Rich says his experiences on Bay Circuit Trail experiences are fantastic. We hope you are inspired enough by his wanderings to venture forth yourself.

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Vernal Pools: Wicked-Big Puddles Essential to Life

They may look like wicked-big puddles, but the seasonal pools of water that fill with snowmelt, rain, and spring’s rising groundwater play an almost magical role in the cycles of life.

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Amesbury Conservation Restriction Protects Powwow River, Farmland

The Powwow River is an important part of the region’s colonial history, at one time powering a grist mill, bog iron works and several sawmills.

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Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse Will Turn Sky Red

A rare celestial occurrence in January 2019 brought the full Wolf Moon, a Supermoon and a total lunar eclipse on the same night.

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