Citizens for Lexington Conservation promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of our natural environment through education and advocacy.
CLC is a non-profit organization in the town of Lexington, Massachusetts.

>> Read more about CLC 

>> Join CLC (or renew your membership)

>> Recent Newsletter The April Newsletter is Here!

>> Calendar of Events

We need people (i.e. you) to help us take observations (e.g. taking photos with your phone) of as many species as possible to record nature in and around Boston. All species count! This information will help create a more accurate picture of the Boston area's biodiversity, focusing within the I-495 corridor and out to Stellwagen Bank. Any observation of plants, animals, fungi, even microbes, in the greater Boston area made during these days will count for the challenge. Scroll down for tips and resources on how you can help.

To find out more, click the link below...

http://www.zoonewengland.org/citynaturechallenge

Birding Walks

Saturday April 28, 7-9 am – Birding Wright Farm

Wright Farm is Lexington’s newest Conservation property that has not been previously birded by the public.  Let’s see what gems are hidden away on this bucolic former farm. The address is 241 Grove St,, where parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.  Parking is permitted on Carriage Drive opposite the farm.

Walk Leaders: Keith Ohmart (kohmart@verizon.net, 781-862-6216), Bobbie Hodson (robertahodson@comcast.net, 781-861-8421)

Wednesday May 9, 6:30-9 am - Birding the Western Greenway

(Co-sponsored with the Menotomy Bird Club)

The Western Greenway consists of over 1200 acres of interconnected open space in Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont. There has been little documentation of migratory or breeding birds in many parts of the Greenway. We will return to a section in Lexington visited last year that most likely few Menotomy Birders know or bird, where we will be looking in particular for a repeat of last year’s Blue-winged Warbler sighting.  Meet at Cart Path Lane, off Walnut Street in Lexington.   Walk Leaders: Roger Wrubel (rwrubel@massaudubon.org), Keith Ohmart (781-862-6216, kohmart@verizon.net)

Sunday May 13, 8-10 am, Warbler Walk in Lower Vine Brook 

Warblers are small, beautiful tropical birds that fly north to breed. Over 15 different species of warbler stop off in this sheltered area during their spring migration to the forests in northern New England and Canada. Depending on the weather and the foliage, you may see a dozen species in a morning. Children with adults are welcome. Wear boots if it’s wet, and bring binoculars and a bird book. No dogs. More than light rain or lightning will cancel the event.  If the weather is uncertain call the leader. Meet at the entrance to the Lower Vine Brook conservation area opposite 121 Vine Street.  
Leader, Harry West (671-461-9500, hwest2020@gmail.com)

Nature Walks and Other Activities

Sunday April 22, 2-4 pm – Lincoln Park Garlic Mustard Pull

Garlic mustard seeds can take up to 7 years to sprout, which requires repeated efforts to control and eradicate this aggressive invasive species. Come join CLC’s multi-year effort to pull this year’s progeny from along the pathways in Lincoln Park. Bring gardening gloves. Steady rain cancels. Meet at the Fitness Path Trail entrance on Worthen Road across from the LHS playing fields.

Leader: Elaine Quinlan (978-995-5794, ejquinlan2@gmail.com), Judy Mello (781-861-7744, jmacmello@comcast.net)

Saturday, April 28, 12 - 3 pm, Wright Farm Open Field

(Sponsored by the Lexington Conservation Commission and Conservation Stewards)

Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day by exploring Lexington’s newest Conservation property. Enjoy crafts, plant information and demonstration sessions, walk the newly marked trail - we will have nature crafts, seed plantings, invasive identification and eradication experts, a tree care demonstration, and a guided walk around the property (self-guided walkers are also welcome). 

Location: 241 Grove St. Parking is limited, so please carpool or bike if possible. Parking is allowed on Carriage Drive opposite the farm.

Contact: Alex Dohan (781-863-5882, amdohan@gmail.com)

May 6, 2-4 pm – Willards Woods/Chiesa Farm Walk

This walk will explore how easy it is to connect these two popular conservation properties in an extended walk via quiet neighborhood streets and sidewalks. ACROSS Lexington’s Route A already provides a through connection linking these two properties, but the purpose of this walk will be to learn how combine walking these two properties in a shorter loop. Meet at the Willards Woods parking lot on North Street opposite 38 North Street.

Leader – Bob Hausslein (781-862-9102, rhausslein@rcn.com)

Sunday May 13, 2-4 pm, Mother's Day Family-Friendly Community Walk

After partaking in the traditional Mom's Day brunch, come join this stroller-friendly family fun walk which includes boardwalks, forested paths, and sidewalks intermingled with schools, conservation land, and a favorite swimming hole. Meet at the Town Pool Parking Lot, 80 Worthen Road across from Hastings Park and next to the Town tennis courts and track facilities.

Leader: Judy Crocker (rjcrocker@msn.com)

Tuesday May 15, 10-12 am – Senior Sneaker Walk, Arlington’s Great Meadows

Join us for this leisurely 2 mile walk around Arlington’s Great Meadows. The route will traverse a portion of the Minuteman Bikeway, town streets, and woodland paths. There will be short up hill portions to the trail with rocky footing along the way. Don’t forget your water bottle and walking sticks if you rely on them for balance. Meet at the trail entrance at the end of the rear parking lot behind the Excel Living Center at the end of Emerson Gardens Road.

Leader: Eileen Entin (781-862-6418, eileenhome@gmail.com)

Saturday May 19, 9-11 am – Whipple Hill Photography Walk

Explore the opportunities for capturing the magic of spring at Whipple Hill in pixels with an experienced local photographer. Sunder Neelakantan will be your guide in how to best capture features of the property in memorable photographs. Steady rain cancels. Meet at the signed entrance to the property at the top of Winchester Drive opposite Berkshire Drive.

Leader: Sunder Neelakantan (781-424-7558, diadensunder@gmail.com) 

Sunday May 20, 2-5 pm - Extended ACROSS Lexington Walk 

In celebration of Bike Walk Bus Week (May 12-20) we are offering the longer distance hiker an extended traverse of ACROSS Lexington routes B & H. This 6+ mile hike passes through two of Lexington’s larger parcels of open space: Dunback Meadow and Hayden Woods, in addition to traversing Cotton Farm, Upper Vine Brook, Lincoln Park, Idylwilde and the Old Res. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water. Meet at the Old Res parking lot on Marrett Road.

Walk Leader: Keith Ohmart (781-862-6216, kohmart@verizon.net)

Wednesday, May 23, 6-8 PM - Wild Edibles Of Lexington’s Waysides

Lexington is home to over 70 species of edible wild plants, both native and non-native, including plants considered to be weedy or invasive. Some are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten, on a two-hour ramble in and around Lincoln Park to learn about at least eighteen edible species. Russ will present information on identification tips, edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as general guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging. Steady rain cancels. Meet at the Fitness Trail entrance at the crosswalk on Worthen Road across from the Lexington High playing fields.

Leader: Russ Cohen (781-646-7489, eatwild@rcn.com)

Saturday June 9, 10 am – 12 noon, Family Longest Day Walk

On June 9 Lexington Goes Purple to end Alzheimer’s disease. One of the organized activities is a guided walk through Lincoln Park, one of Lexington’s most accessible open spaces. Centrally located across Worthen Road from the LHS playing fields, Lincoln Park includes a graded trail system landscaped with native plant species, as well as a boardwalk loop through wetlands with interpretive signage. The walk will leave from the Lexington Depot following side streets to reach the Park. 

Walk Leaders: Kate Fricker (781-862-8868, kfricker@alum.swarthmore.edu), Eileen Entin (781-862-6418, eileenhome@gmail.com)

Monthly Trail Walks in Bedford

The Bedford Trails Committee conducts free monthly Trail Walks in Bedford the first Saturday of each month.  Trail walks vary monthly, from strolls on flat ground to hikes with hills. For detailed info on current and future hikes, please visit: https://groups.google.com/group/bedfordma-trails 

Location We rendezvous at 9:45 am at the parking lot behind the Bedford Free Public Library on 

Mudge Way, and leave 10:10 am from the Trailhead designated on the BedfordMA-trails website 

Contact:        To Join if you already have a Google account, go to: 

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/bedfordma-trails  and click “Join Group to Post”

To Join if you don’t have a Google account, please send an email to: BedfordMA.trailwalks@gmail.com  and you’ll be added to the Group.

The Wright Farm Barn, future home of Lexington's environmental education center

Let us know if there is an upcoming event that should be listed here.

Citizens4LexingtonConservation@gmail.com

Joe-Pye-Weed in Dunback Meadow, August 2016 (photo courtesy John Andrews)

Are you looking for a new route to walk, run or bike?

ACROSS Lexington is waiting for you - try it!

You can find route information here on the Town website.

ACROSS Lexington stands for Accessing Conservation land, Recreation areas, Open space, Schools and Streets in Lexington.

Please let us know if you would be interested in working with CLC in any capacity. Could you write a piece for the Newsletter? Lead a walk? Work on the website? Take a leadership role on the Board? Help manage marketing/outreach? Drop us a line if you think you can help - we always welcome new faces!

Walks Publicity Coordinator: Each spring and fall CLC sponsors a series of walks in conservation and open space. We are looking for someone to focus initially on walks publicity, and eventually to organize and broaden the types of walks we conduct. 

Events Coordinator: Each year, CLC features a speaker on conservation, resource, or environmental issues. To deepen and enlarge our educational focus, we are seeking a new film/speaker coordinator to take on the tasks of identifying, scheduling, and publicizing videos and speakers. Our plans are to offer 3-4 events per year as an exciting new way for CLC to continue to raise public awareness regarding local, regional and national environmental issues.

Conservation Restriction Monitors: CLC is in the process of acquiring conservation restrictions (CRs) on five Town-owned properties that were acquired in whole or in part with Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. We are seeking individuals who are interested in helping to complete the remaining CR applications for three of the five parcels and/or participating in the annual monitoring of the properties. 

Recording Secretary. This position involves taking minutes at Board meetings and filing any forms required to maintain our status as a nonprofit organization. 

If you would like to know more about any of these positions, please contact Eileen Entin (eileenhome@gmail.com, 781-862-6418).

CLC is sponsoring a new program for children - the Junior Ranger Program - aimed at getting kids out into Lexington's Conservation properties with games and activities. In conjunction with Cary Memorial Library we have a booklet to guide children and their parents. The kids will visit several different Conservation areas, fill out some activity sheets that will guide nature observation, and can, upon completion, receive a Junior Ranger Certificate from the Library.

You can find the Junior Ranger booklet here.