“I like woods!” That is why Mr. Richard Sawyer purchased a piece of land in East Wareham 40 years ago, as he was interested in conservation. He and his family enjoyed the private property for years. Together they took hikes, had picnics and explored nature. After his passing, his son Tim and his family continued to use the property, but it wasn’t accessible to the general public. Gratefully, Tim recently decided to take his father’s sentiment to the next level and share his piece of undisturbed forest with all of us by selling it to the Wareham Land Trust (WLT).

Forests, especially large undisturbed areas, are becoming increasingly difficult to protect from development. Trees are essential to our quality of life and to the well-being of the myriad of plants and animals that call the forests “home.” The forests clean our air providing health benefits like improvements in mental health and reductions in respiratory illness, asthma, and hospitalization. They provide cooling shade in the midst of global warming. They are the natural system that filters our drinking water and reduces the need for costly high-tech water treatment systems. The Onset Water/Fire District (OWD) understood this concept when they purchased and protected the area north of Red Brook Road that surrounds their wells, protecting our drinking water. The Trustees knew the importance of uninterrupted swaths of forest and wetlands when they acquired the Lyman Reserve. These two large properties, along with WLT’s Gregory parcel, surround the Sawyer property (Wareham Assessor’s map 128 lot 1006), meaning there’s a “hole” in this otherwise protected landscape.

With your support, the WLT has the opportunity to “fill in the hole” in the middle of other conserved lands by buying Mr. Sawyer’s 10.1 acres. This property is part of the globally rare Coastal Pine Barrens ecoregion, with the majority of the property vegetated with textbook Pine Barrens habitat. This ecoregion provides habitat for over 200 state and federally listed species, such as the box turtles and the barrens buck moth. Acquisition of this property will help support the continued health of this valuable habitat. Additionally, a conservation restriction will be placed on the property which will ensure its protection in perpetuity.

“Filling in the hole,” will also add to a larger public trail system, which is currently being developed by the WLT, OWD and Trustees. We have been working cooperatively with these other organizations over the last six months to open previously inaccessible conserved properties for passive recreation. That means more opportunities for you to get outside and explore the natural world which, I think, is why most of us have chosen to live and/or vacation here.

Your help is needed to make this project successful. The WLT has applied to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for $48,000 to fund the acquisition and associated costs. The OWD, the Trustees, the Onset Bay Association, and the Buzzards Bay Coalition, as well as multiple Town committees such as the Conservation Commission, the Finance Committee, the Select Board, the Department of Natural Resources and CPC all support this acquisition!

If you're a Wareham resident and “like woods,” as do I and as did Mr. Sawyer, please attend the Wareham Annual Spring Town Meeting Monday April 24^th at 7pm in the new Wareham Elementary School at 63 Minot Avenue and vote “YES” on Article #13!

Want to help but you are not a Wareham voter or you’re looking to help beyond the important Town Meeting Vote? You can financially support the project by donating money to help cover the additional costs of the Conservation Restriction or volunteer in assisting trail building, led by our Terra Corps service member Emily alongside other committed volunteers from our community. The WLT hosts two trail days a month (typically one Saturday and one Tuesday each month, from 10:30-noon).  See the WLT website for details and links to volunteer!

Thank you for your support! Together, we can permanently protect our special open spaces that benefit water quality, wildlife habitat and Wareham citizens now as well as future generations!

Written by Nancy McHale
WLT Treasurer