Sudbury Valley TrusteesConservation, Collaboration, and Community since 1953
Current Projects
Fall Clean-up
SVT volunteers assisted with fall clean-up and weeding at the Turenne Wildlife Habitat Bird Garden in Southborough. For information on how to maintain wildlife habitat in your own back yard, download the "Improving Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard" brochure.
Highway Underpass Monitoring
Sudbury Valley Trustees has been working with the Town of Concord's Natural Resource Commission through the Concord Wildlife Passages Task Force to monitor wildlife use of underpasses beneath Route 2 in Concord.
Concord Wildlife Passages Task Force
The mission of the task force is to monitor wildlife use of the four wildlife underpasses installed by MassHighway along Route 2 in Concord. To evaluate the effectiveness of the underpasses in providing safe passage for wildlife under Route 2 and to implement measures to increase the effectiveness when possible. To recruit and manage volunteer participation in these efforts. To facilitate communication between town and state government departments pertaining to wildlife passages.
Shrubland Habitat Management - It’s for the Birds!
By Laura Mattei
Never underestimate the determination of oriental bittersweet. That’s just one of the many lessons that we have learned over the past three years as we have tirelessly worked to restore shrubland habitat at our Cedar Hill Reservation in Northborough, Massachusetts.
The project centers around a 20-acre patch of former pasture owned by SVT and surrounded by over 2,500 acres of protected mixed forest, wetlands, fields and successional woodlands. The Cedar Hill Reservation presented a perfect opportunity to restore shrubland habitat for wildlife, particularly birds, that depend on these ephemeral habitats for foraging, nesting, and cover.
Turenne Wildlife Habitat
This year marks a significant achievement in the effort to improve wildlife habitat and reduce invasive plants at the Turenne Wildlife Habitat. This reservation contains 18 acres of woodland and meadow located on Oak Hill in Southborough. After walking through an oak-hickory forest with dramatic rock outcrops, the visitor passes through a native plant bird garden and is then treated to a spectacular view of Wachusett Mountain in the distance.
The original gift of land included an old tennis court which had been stripped of asphalt and left to grow wild. Beginning in 1995, the site was transformed into a native plant bird garden through the efforts of neighbors, volunteers, the local gardening club, and SVT staff. The garden was planted with native wildflowers and shrubs that attract birds and butterflies.
Vernal Pool Exploration
Laura Mattei and Marta Hersek recently led a vernal pool exploration at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland. Families spent the afternoon learning about vernal pools and the local wildlife that depend on them. Take a look at our activities schedule for more opportunities like this.
Starbucks Work Day
Starbucks co-sponsored a work day at the Turenne Wildlife Habitat in Southborough. Volunteers assisted with removal of invasive plants, primarily burning bush (Euonymus alatus). This is part of a habitat restoration plan and backyard wildlife habitat demonstration site.
