As part of the $44,500 grant received from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation this spring, ECTA will be completing important work on trails in the New England Biolabs trail system in Ipswich and Hamilton. This system of trails, mostly old farm roads that have overgrown with brush and deteriorated over the decades, provides excellent viewing of extensive waterfowl habitat in the Miles River watershed, gives access from Appleton Farms to Fellows Road in Ipswich and to Gardner Street in Hamilton, and in itself provides a beautiful walking loop.
After installing the beaver deceiver at Biolabs this winter, trails that were formerly wet and muddy are now accessible again and we will be making significant improvements to them. The first step in our trail work is to clear back the overgrowth. What were once old farm roads have become single track trails, and in summer are nearly impassible from encroaching vegetation. Mayer Tree has been brush-hogging these trails and the difference is amazing! Walkers, runners and bikers can now comfortably enjoy these trails. We will continue to cut back some of the higher growth on the bridle trails, improving access for horseback riders. A HUGE thank you to Dan Mayer, our newest board member, for providing this work!
Keep posted as we continue our Biolabs work with more clearing, culvert replacements and trail regrading/resurfacing!