Category: Property Management

As you were driving around Town this year you may have noticed green signs with the CCT logo popping up at various locations from Jerusalem Road to Beechwood Street.

These signs mark CCT properties. Many ask “No dumping please”.

While it may be tempting to dispose of yard waste on undeveloped lots, it is unsightly and may impede access onto the property. Help us protect our lands by taking your leaves, grass cuttings and brush to the Transfer Facility. The leaves and grass cuttings form a mountain that decomposes into a mulch that you can haul away in the spring for your planting beds.

This year the CCT found it impossible to keep the trails at Great Brewster Woods and Ingram Park free from poison ivy. The invasive plant flourished during the summer months making it hard to avoid when walking the trails.

As a solution, we contracted with Peter Barron of Pesky Pete’s Poison Ivy Removal to eradicate the nuisance plant.

No chemicals were used in the removal and damage to surrounding plants was minimal. The poison ivy was physically removed by loosening the dirt and pulling out the roots. The work is guaranteed for 1 year.

CCT President Debbie Shadd and Director Dick Avery spread wood chips at the trailhead to Great Brewster Woods.

In late June, an abutter notified the Trust that a wind storm had knocked down a tree located at the trail head at Great Brewster Woods.

The fallen tree was lying across the path and partially blocking the abutter’s driveway.

The blockage was removed but subsequent evaluation of the area showed that a number of trees in that area were dead or dying and should be removed for safety.

The CCT then contracted with a professional tree removal company and a number of trees were felled and chipped.

CCT Directors, Dick Avery, Charlie Higginson, Steve Brown and Katie Holden, and local environmentalist Rich Silvia spread wood chips at Ingram Park.

The chips were spread at the Great Brewster Woods trailhead to improve the entrance for visitors and abutters. Some of the chips were transported to Ingram Park and spread at the entrance near the big sign.

This is an instance where the CCT needed to contract major work but the smaller work was done by Directors.

Click on links below for PDFs of GBW trail map and guide.

Trail Map to Great Brewster Woods & Dean’s Meadow

Trail Guide to Great Brewster Woods & Dean’s Meadow

CCT Directors Katie Holden & Dick Avery enjoy the view from a ledge in Ingram Park. The view overlooks the Vedanta Center property.

Thus far the CCT has benefited from 3 Eagle Scout Projects to map and construct a walking trail in Ingram Park.

• Robbie Hillman and team started the first trail from Norman Todd Road that included steps down from the road level and a lengthy board walk across the wet areas and a brook  and continued to the first stone wall.

• Kevin Mack and team broke a trail starting near the new houses up to the rock that overlooks the Vedanta Center property and added a bench there for rest and relaxation.

• Adam Benson and team built and installed the kiosk plus extended Robbie’s trail beyond the stone wall to form a loop encompassing views of rock formations, the Greenbush rail line, and an old cellar hole.

• Now, George Bryan plans to break a trail that connects Adam’s loop to Kevin’s overlook. He will also put up trail markers and signs showing how to get back to the street.

This work should be done before the snow falls this season. When complete a network of trails will provide access to this natural resource area of 27.4 acres off Norman Todd Road between the railroad tracks and the Vedanta Center.

Click on the map for a larger view.