NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Ask anyone familiar with the South Shore what our most common tree is and they will answer “pine,”… or if they know a little bit about botany, perhaps “white pine.” And it’s true. White pine is, by far, the predominant tree in our upland forests. What’s interesting to me is […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent The North River today is so serene: it can be difficult to imagine that it was once a booming center of industry. Beginning in the mid-1600s and continuing long into the 19th century, this 12-mile waterway was home to a total of 24 shipyards. Between 1645 and 1871, more than […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Quite by accident, I visited two of our state’s Top Ten waterfalls this summer. One weekend in late June, I went to the Berkshires for work. On my way from the turnpike to Sheffield, a picturesque town in Massachusetts’ southwest corner, I passed a sign for Bash Bish Falls, which […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, NSRWA Correspondent In late November, Massachusetts Audubon opened Tidmarsh, a 479-acre wildlife sanctuary in Plymouth. Land conservation is always something to celebrate, but this acquisition is also noteworthy for its scope. In recent years Tidmarsh was a working cranberry farm. Before Mass Audubon granted it permanent protection as a wildlife sanctuary, […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent I led a walk last weekend at the John Little Conservation Area in North Marshfield. In preparation, I spent some time reviewing the history of that particular part of town. Things have changed, of course, since North Marshfield was developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, yet because certain aspects of this village remain unchanged – especially in comparison to other […]
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, we pause to think about all we are grateful for. At NSRWA we are extremely thankful to have so much support from our community. We are thankful for: Our volunteers! The over 500 people who annually test our waters’ health, monitor herring and horseshoe crab […]
by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Marshfield is one of those towns where it isn’t always easy to get from Point A to Point B. The presence of four tidal rivers as well as a significant amount of conservation land can make crossing town an indirect endeavor. There is simply a lot of territory – salt marsh, […]
NATURE – by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Last month I discovered the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail. A friend of mine from college – Karen – lives in Northampton, MA. Just down the road from her house is a municipal bike path – a former railroad bed that has been converted to a paved trail, for use […]
Nature (Human & Otherwise) by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent As winter turns to spring, the days are often bright but also blustery. The sunshine tempts us outdoors, but the wind makes us reconsider, or at least move faster. These are prime opportunities for short walks. The South Shore is home to a tremendous amount of open […]
NATURE (HUMAN AND OTHERWISE) by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Early one January morning, as the sun was beginning to rise, I opened my back door and was about to step outside when I noticed something unusual in the spot where I would normally place my foot. It was round, furry, brownish-gray, and about the size of […]