Dear fellow Hanoverians:<\/p>\n
Perhaps you have already heard this news, but the good folks at the
\nWildlands Trust sent along this terrific press release with lots of great
\ninformation regarding their (and our!) newly purchased and protected
\nSylvester Field in the Four Corners section of Hanover. It was too good to
\nnot share with all of you – I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!<\/p>\n
On Friday, July 23, 2021, a months-long collaboration between regional
\nconservation group Wildlands Trust and the Town of Hanover culminated with
\nthe final purchase and permanent protection of Sylvester Field.
\nEncompassing a small pine grove and 660-feet of frontage on Third Herring
\nBrook in Hanover\u2019s Four Corners neighborhood, Sylvester Field\u2019s
\nhighly-visible 10-acre meadow and stone wall bordering Washington Street is
\na cherished part of the town landscape. It has both historical and
\necological value, and has long served as an agricultural, recreational and
\naesthetic resource for the community.<\/p>\n
On May 3, 2021, with strong support from the Hanover Open Space Committee
\nand the Hanover Historical Commission, Hanover’s Town Meeting unanimously
\napproved the use of $250,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to
\npurchase a permanent Conservation Restriction on the field. With this
\npartnership, along with the generous contributions of 307 individual
\ndonors, Wildlands Trust was able to act quickly on the rare opportunity to
\npurchase this highly-valuable parcel of open space in Hanover. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an incredible effort, with hand-delivered mailings, personal
\nsolicitations, a farmer’s market, banners, signs, field tours and more,
\nwhich continued unabated until the goal was reached!\u201d marveled Sue
\nChamberlain, Wildlands Trust\u2019s Donor Relations Manager. According to
\nChamberlain, this grass-roots effort proved critical for the success of the
\nproject. A core group of 16 volunteers, led by Four Corners resident Caleb
\nEstabrooks, raised $150,000 to be combined with a $200,000 matching gift
\nfrom a generous donor. This community-generated funding supplied half of
\nthe total cost of the land in just six months.
\n?
\nMost recently known to many locals as Robinson Field, the last property
\nowner was Clayton Robinson, who died in March of 2020. Under his family\u2019s
\nownership, a mowed path was maintained around the edge of the field, and
\nlocal residents have long-enjoyed walking past the tall grass, through the
\npines, and down to the water\u2019s edge. After his death, Robinson\u2019s cousin
\nand estate representative Debbie Lincoln was an important advocate among
\nfamily members for the preservation of the scenic open field and the
\ncontinued public use of its frequently-visited walking trails. <\/p>\n
When presented with the opportunity to preserve this land, Wildlands Trust
\nimmediately recognized the ecological value of Sylvester Field. The
\nproperty is home to numerous wildlife species, both common and rare, and
\nprovides an extensive riparian habitat along the Third Herring Brook, an
\nimportant tributary of the larger North River.<\/p>\n
Under Wildlands Trust\u2019s ownership, Sylvester Field will be maintained in
\nits current state. The field-edge walking trails will remain and annual
\nmowing of the field itself will continue. The addition of a small parking
\narea and an informational kiosk will improve accessibility for public
\nenjoyment of the preserve. <\/p>\n
Long before European arrival, Native Americans occupied the area, including
\nthe field, which lies at a strategic location near the confluence of Third
\nHerring Brook and the North River. In the mid-1600s, it was owned by
\nWilliam Barstow, who is believed to be the first European settler in
\nHanover. It later became part of a larger farm, changing hands to the
\nStockbridge Family and then the Sylvester Family. When the Sylvester Family
\nsold much of the farm in the 1940s, Betsey (Sylvester) Robinson purchased
\nthis parcel to save it from development. The land continued to be used for
\nagricultural purposes for many years, including the grazing of Hornstra
\nFarms cows and the production of hay, before settling into its latest role
\nas a scenic resource for the community.<\/p>\n
Wildlands Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving land
\nand preserving the natural heritage of Southeastern Massachusetts. The
\norganization works to permanently protect and steward important habitats
\nand landscapes, including woodlands and fields, ponds, coastal areas,
\nagricultural lands, and river systems. Founded in 1973, Wildlands Trust has
\nworked to protect nearly 13,000 acres of open space in 48 Massachusetts
\ntowns, including: Great River Preserve, in Bridgewater; Brockton Audubon
\nPreserve; Cow Tent Hill Preserve and Cushman Preserve in Duxbury; the Nook
\nin Kingston; Hoyt-Hall Preserve in Marshfield; Willow Brook Farm in
\nPembroke; and the Davis-Douglas Conservation Area in Plymouth. For more
\ninformation about the Wildlands Trust and their purchase and protection of
\nSylvester Field, please e-mail SChamberlain@wildlandstrust.org .<\/p>\n
For “Around Town on the Web”,
\nCathy H-B<\/p>\n
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Dear fellow Hanoverians: Perhaps you have already heard this news, but the good folks at the Wildlands Trust sent along this terrific press release with lots of great information regarding their (and our!) newly purchased and protected Sylvester Field in … Continue reading