As 2024 became 2025, members of the Wareham Land Trust guided people through a rare, local ecosystem as the group hosted their annual First Day Hike.

The hike took place at the Red Brook Trail Network Wednesday, Jan. 1 and hikers traversed a 1.8 mile trail through the woods on the Wareham-Plymouth border.

Terracorp Service Member and Land Stewardship Coordinator Julia Ledo added that the hike had a "great turnout" and the rain held off perfectly.

"We got to explore the really unique habitat of the pine barrens, see old cranberry bogs, a turtle nesting habitat and a lot of the highlights of the Red Brook Trail Network," said Ledo.

The hike went through a rare ecosystem known as a pine barren. Ledo explained pine barrens are a rare habitat where a pine forest has managed to grow despite the sandy, barren conditions. She added that Massachusetts is one of the few states in the country that play's host to this rare ecosystem.

Getting out on naturally preserved land is one of the main goals of the land trust and Ledo said events like this get people on the land and they help promote stewardship.

"It's about getting people on the land and to preserve it for recreation," said Ledo. "When people are on the land regularly it makes spotting issues a lot easier. We have people who will call us when they see any kind of damage."