View across Little Harbor from the Williams Salt Marsh on Atlantic Avenue

CCT 2016: The Year in Review

A message from CCT President, Debbie Shadd

This year was the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service. We're thrilled to have a similar mission protecting land and natural resources as the Cohasset Conservation Trust. The Trust will reach its own milestone of 50 years in 2017!

Thanks to the contributions of many Cohasset residents and CCT friends over the years, we now protect 24 properties and 204 acres of woodlands, beaches, marshes, and scenic vistas.

Plans are in the works to celebrate our 50th Anniversary throughout the year! Thank you for your continued support.

New Directors join our Board

New changes occurred during 2016 with the addition of two new Directors to our Board, Cohasset residents Greg Wallingford (on left in photo) and John Madden (on right), shown here with CCT President Debbie Shadd.

Greg is a financial consultant and Pension Plan Administrator for New England Schooner, Inc. Greg spent much of his childhood in Cohasset and, after some time away, returned to live in town with his family in 2014.

John is a partner with Leonard, Mulherin & Greene, P.C., Certified Public Accountants & Consultants in Braintree. He is a CPA and attorney who works with both privately held companies and nonprofit organizations. John and his family have lived in Cohasset since 2009.

Director Karen Quigley, who provided many contributions and invaluable knowledge, resigned from the Board after 12 years. We are pleased to retain her services as our website and communications volunteer consultant.

The Board is now at full strength with 11 Directors total. Click on the photo for a full list of Directors past and present.

Earth Day

We kicked off 2016 with our 9th Annual Earth Day Cleanup on Bassing Beach. Once again, the Cohasset High School boys lacrosse team volunteered during their April school vacation week to remove and clear winter debris from the beach.

Items removed included lobster traps, fishing rope, and numerous plastic bottles. Cohasset Harbormaster Lorri Gibbons provided ferry service to and from the beach.

Click on the photo to learn how you, your group or organization can volunteer.

Connecting with nature

One of our biggest and enjoyable challenges is connecting people with nature. For the second year, the CCT sponsored the very popular 'Quest' in Great Brewster Woods. Between April and November, over 250 children and adults followed clues and discovered secret fairies and elves while learning about the trees and other plants in the woods. 

A big thank you to CCT Director Katie Holden for her work to develop the Quest.

Click on the photo to learn more about Great Brewster Woods.

Click here to learn more about South Shore Quests.

Collaborative fundraising effort successful

Pictured left to right are Judeth Van Hamm from the Hull Land Conservation Trust, Dick Avery of the Straits Pond Watershed Association, and Debbie Shadd, CCT President as they celebrate the completion of fundraising for the End of Richards Road Conservation Restriction. 

This CR will create a walking path to the 6-acre Straits Pond Island (owned by the Town of Hull) and connect the path to a 2.5 mile walking loop around Straits Pond to complete the Straits Pond Waterfowl Viewing Park.

The CCT pledged matching funds for money raised by the Hull Land Conservation Trust. We are excited to work with the HLCT to complete this project.

Click on the photo to learn more about the project.

Scouts complete Ingram Park trail

This fall saw the completion of the final trail in Ingram Park off Norman Todd Road. For his Eagle Scout project, Cohasset Boy Scout George Bryan created a walking trail to connect sections of the trail system cleared by three other scouts in 2011. All the trails are now marked with yellow trail markers, with two entrances from the street and a loop trail to the left that passes interesting rock formations and an old stone foundation. Come visit soon to appreciate the work of these Eagle Scouts!

Click on the map for a larger view.

Click here to learn more about Ingram Park.

Native plantings on Bassing Beach

The CCT partnered with edible and native plant expert Russ Cohen (shown with CCT President Debbie Shadd and Director Katie Holden) on a project to get more native shoreline plants established at Bassing Beach. Russ, his wife Ellen, and four CCT Directors traveled to Bassing Beach on the last weekend in October to plant beach plums, rose mallow, and an edible variety of sweet goldenrod. We look forward to seeing their growth in the spring.

Click on the photo to learn more about Bassing Beach.

We can't do our work without your help.

Help keep the CCT growing, protecting more iconic landscapes and properties throughout Cohasset and parts of Scituate and Hull for present and future generations.

We welcome your contributions, land donations, and offers to volunteer help. Visit our website to view the many ways to protect your property, preserve its natural resource values, and generate tax advantages for you and your family.

And please consider supporting our work with a donation. To donate electronically, click here or on the photo for a link on our website. Or if you prefer, mail your check to the address below.

Thank you!

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