Hi there! There's no better month than October for outdoor adventures-cool breezes, vibrant leaves, and engaging nature programs await. There are two NEW nature event offerings we'd like to tell you about:
* October 4th - Flints Pond Nature Walk (Sponsored by deCordova Sculpture Park and TTOR) Join Lincoln Conservation Director Michele Grzenda for a guided nature walk through the scenic woodlands surrounding the deCordova campus. This walk invites participants to discover how these vital woodland buffers serve as nature's guardians, protecting and maintaining the health of our local water bodies. Throughout the guided nature walk, Michele Grzenda will share insights into the area's natural history and ecology, and why Flint's Pond is vital for both wildlife and humans alike. Sign up through the Trustees of Reservation HERE<https://thetrustees.org/event/441036/>. * October 15th @ 9:30AM - Lincoln Conservation Tour Series - deCordova Sculpture Park (Free) (Sponsored by Lincoln Conservation Dept. & Lincoln Land Conservation Trust/Rural Land Foundation) Join us for a curator-led guided tour of Nature Sanctuary, an outdoor exhibition at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum that explores the complex relationships between the natural world and ideas of home. Set within deCordova's historic grounds, the exhibition features six contemporary women artists whose works reflect on themes of refuge, migration, and ecological care. As we walk through the landscape, we'll engage with site-specific sculptures that invite reflection on both environmental and emotional sanctuaries. Limited to 20 people. For more info, see flyer HERE<https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/98912/Conservation-Tour---deCordova-Sculpture-Park-Oct-2025>. RSVP HERE<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NRLmDcwrATA6BbeVmmNSL3rqLy2yoztUHI3Ck9ACH5k/edit?gid=956102267#gid=956102267>. Ongoing Programs... * Fall Saturday Ranger Walks - Explore Lincoln's open space with Will Leona, Lincoln's Conservation Ranger. Visit different trails in Lincoln on the first Saturday of each month. Our next Ranger Walk is October 4th. See flyer HERE<https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/98847/Fall-Ranger-Walks-2025>. RSVP HERE<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17PEevB8GQrjG2_xokzIkCTArO5P-aC9Lc1oJ2Dv7_rY/edit?gid=1168909733#gid=1168909733>. * Fall Conservation Trail Walks @9:30a.m. - Join Conservation staff on Tuesday mornings this Fall!. See Flyer HERE<https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/98693/Trail-Walks-Fall-2025-Flyer> and Please RSVP HERE<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vHkM7C30AKTymhynQowAWbs8LMVBoWoqA0iYD0O7Ft4/edit?gid=2102142389#gid=2102142389> (Select the tab with the date you wish to join us). You may also RSVP by calling the Conservation Dept. at 781-259-2612 or email [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. (Sponsored by the Lincoln Conservation Commission & Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services) * Volunteer Conservation Crew - Fieldwork Fridays - Land management staff of the Conservation Department and Land Trust will be hosting four volunteer workdays focused on invasive plant species control this Fall. Volunteers will get the chance to make a positive impact on our conservation land and enjoy the great outdoors! See the attached HERE <https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/98656/2025-Conservation-Crew-Flyer-Fall_Winter_Final> for more details and RSVP HERE<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UvTC7hSoauJmZThnlE31NaRyCZKrlsN-TlD-FdHR5jU/edit?gid=706086620#gid=706086620>. (select the tab with the date(s) you wish to join us). Our next work day is October 31st. * Check out Lincoln Land Conservation Trust's Event Page<https://lincolnconservation.org/upcoming-events/> for lots of other great nature outings and Zooms. Help Protect the Nature of Lincoln - Leave the Leaves (Message from Grow Native) Put those leaf blowers down, and ease up on your rakes! Fallen leaves are among the most under-appreciated garden resources. When we remove them from our garden beds we take away the most natural form of compost and mulch, and eliminate untold potential for biodiversity in our gardens. Why is leaf litter so important? The decomposition of fallen leaves returns nutrients to the soil and is part of the vital ecological cycle that sustains both garden and woodland environments. The organisms that break down the leaves- including fungi, insects, and other arthropods- form a complex and vibrant food web and are an important food source for birds. Leaf litter also insulates the ground, helping to protect the roots of shrubs and trees from freezing weather. Leave the leaves in place in your woodland garden and around your shrubs, and they will become next spring's mulch. As they decompose over the growing season, they will build up into a rich layer of organic soil and naturally suppress weeds throughout the year. Your perennials will emerge just fine in the spring, so long as the leaf build up is not unnaturally high. And you will support a rich community of beetles, ants, moths, snails, and the many birds that eat them. Some gardeners might ask, why not shred the leaves and add them back onto garden beds, instead of leaving them as is? While shredded leaves look more similar to traditional mulch, what is gained in formal aesthetic quality is vastly outweighed by the ecological damage done by the shredding. When you shred the leaves or remove them altogether, you are also killing many beautiful creatures that may be living in your garden bed. Cheers, Michele Grzenda Conservation Director Town of Lincoln 781-259-2703 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Tips for Homeowners: * Pick up after your pets * Compost yard waste (leaves and grass clippings) * Throw out trash in tied-garbage bags * Don't put loose debris in truck beds * Have regular maintenance performed on your vehicle and septic system * Use fertilizer/insecticides sparingly * Re-direct downspouts towards yards
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