he Crane Swamp Conservation Area includes and improved the trail connection around the north side that prefer shrub habitat for nesting and feeding. 2,225 acres of open space straddling the of the swamp. SVT and the WCLT are working on a co- This management will also benefit other wildlife, butter- borders of Northborough, Westborough, operative agreement with the DCR to establish additional flies and insects. Southborough,T and Marlborough. The centerpiece is a connector trails across the top of Walnut Hill. high quality 400-acre red maple swamp. The swamp is Historically in New England, disturbances like wind, fire, surrounded by a complex of open fields, wet meadows, CULTURAL HISTORY flood, and activities of Native Americans and European ponds, pine plantations, and oak-pine forests, with Cedar settlers – burning, farming, grazing and logging- cre- Hill to the west and Walnut Hill to the northeast. Such a The Assabet River powered mills and factories produced ated large and small forest openings. Grasses or shrubs diverse, high quality and expansive conservation area is a wool, cotton, shoes, hats, and bicycles; however, most dominated during early succession. Many wildlife species, unique treasure in Metrowest Boston. of the landscape was devoted to agriculture. These were especially birds, require shrubland habitat for foraging, farming communities into the 1930s. Dairies, apple and nesting, and cover. Shrublands were part of a dynamic The properties are owned by a variety of Massachusetts peach orchards, market gardens, and later greenhouses for landscape of diverse habitat types. As one opening revert- state agencies as well as the Sudbury Valley Trustees carnations were the dominant agricultural commodities. ed to forest, another was created, so shrubland bird popu- (SVT). SVT protected 101 acres of Sawink Farm Res- lations were maintained. Availability of early successional ervation at the border of Northborough and Westbor- The four small hills in the area are drumlins, elongated shrubland habitat in New England is declining, as former ough in 1992 and the 88-acre drumlin of Cedar Hill in hills of glacial drift. These hills were more commonly agricultural lands succeed to forest or are developed. Northborough in 1993. The Department of Conserva- used for grazing and fruit trees because the soils are too These shrubland species are experiencing more consis- tion and Recreation (DCR) owns Crane Swamp, Little stony and poorly drained for good crop production. The tent declines than species that breed in mature forest. For Crane Swamp, and much of Walnut Hill, just north of more level soils, particularly those that remain open today, example, six of the ten most rapidly declining bird species Sawink Farm Reservation. Westborough State Hospital were probably crop or hay fields supporting local dairy in Massachusetts, according to the National Breeding Bird land extends from Lyman Street to Chauncy Pond, and farms and market gardens. Survey, are early successional species (Brown Thrasher, the Massachusetts Division of Fish & Game owns land Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Towhee, Northern Bob- which runs west to the Assabet River. Furthermore, the The tract of land now known as Sawink Farm was deeded white, American Kestrel and Field Sparrow). Birds ben- protected watershed helps to preserve the public water to Edmund Brigham by his father in August 1762. The efiting from this management at Cedar Hill include the supply for 2.5 million people. son built a house, barn and other buildings there, creating Eastern Towhee and the Blue-winged Warbler. one of early Westborough’s primary farms. The farm in- This mosaic of different habitats provides for a rich ar- cluded pastureland for cows, some cropland, and perhaps SVT is also working to combat the invasion of alien ray of plants and animals, including state-listed species, a wood lot – typical assets of a subsistence farm at the plants. We will be doing selective herbiciding of invasive interior-sensitive forest birds, and species which need to time. The farm went through a succession of owners, plants in the newly cleared area. Our ultimate goal is to range some distance throughout the year for survival. including the Walker family, who gave their name to the foster growth of native shrubs, such as Arrowwood and Wildlife species known to inhabit the conservation area street that bisects the farm. Michael Sawink inherited the Highbush blueberry. You may notice a cleared patch include bobcat, coyote, Red fox, Eastern Cottontail farm from his parents in the late 1940s. Michael wanted in the woods on the north slope of Cedar Hill, near rabbits, Snowshoe hare, White-tailed deer, Barred Owl, to see his land remain as open space. He gifted 35 acres large Sugar maple trees. This is an area in which we are Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Spotted turtles and in Northborough to SVT. SVT purchased 66 acres in experimenting with the removal and control of Japanese Monarch butterflies. Westborough with funds provided by Lawrence Walkup, barberry, an invasive shrub. another local farmer. The old house and outbuildings on The four communities of Marlborough, Southborough, the two acre tract in the middle of the SVT property are Westborough, and Northborough, together with Sudbury still owned by the Sawink Trust. Valley Trustees and the Westborough Conservation Land Trust (WCLT) worked with the Massachusetts Water CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT Resources Authority (MWRA) to develop an intercon- nected trail network. Prior to construction of MWRA’s You will observe radical habitat alterations on the south new water treatment plant at Walnut Hill, SVT maintained slope of Cedar Hill. Sudbury Valley Trustees is restoring a connecting trail around the north end of Crane Swamp. and maintaining early successional shrub habitat on 18 As part of the plant construction, the MWRA recreated acres. This habitat management is for the benefit of birds Illustration by Joyce DwyerIllustration by Joyce Dwyer RULES AND REGULATIONS LAND PROTECTION NEEDS We welcome you to enjoy the trails for walking, skiing, snowshoeing, nature study, photogra- Despite the thousands of acres of protected phy, and other quiet activities. Please carry out lands within and around Crane Swamp, the everything you carry in. development of other lands in the vicinity could put the area’s environmental integrity at risk. In order to protect this natural area, the following are Because of the locations of major traffic arter- prohibited: ies like I-495 and Routes 9 and 135, the towns • Motorized Vehicles of Westborough, Southborough, and North- • Hunting or Trapping* borough have been experiencing tremendous • Camping development pressure in recent decades. Some • Bicycling** of the most heavily developed areas of Westbor- • Fires ough exist in very close proximity to the swamp, • Disposing of Trash or Yard Waste and pollutants ranging from roadway and parking • Cutting or Removing Plants * Hunting is allowed on state Fish & Game land area fluid runoff to lawn chemicals take their toll ** Bicycling is allowed on state Fish & Game land on natural areas. Atlantic white cedar swamp habitat, which is rare in Massachusetts, may be DIRECTIONS particularly susceptible to the pollution caused by CRANE SWAMP Cedar Hill, Marlborough/Northborough adjacent land uses. For the north entrance, take Route 495 to exit REGIONAL TRAILS 23C (Simarano Drive exit). Continue to the Private land to the northwest of Cedar Hill is lights at the end of the exit ramp. Take a left vulnerable to development, as is land to the at the lights onto Simarano Drive. Continue to south and southeast of Sawink Farm. Protection another set of lights and take a right onto Cedar of these would create an additional buffer to the Hill Street. Parking for the reservation is at the most sensitive habitat areas within this complex Scholastic Book Fairs at 360 Cedar Hill Street. of lands. The entrance will be on your left across from Forest Street. There is ample parking, labeled Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) is a regional land with SVT signs, immediately on your right. A trust dedicated to the protection of the natural trail easement, marked by posts and SVT markers resources and wildlife habitat of the Sudbury, leads around the wetlands and to a kiosk behind Assabet and Concord river basin. SVT carries Scholastic Book Fairs. out its work through land acquisition and stew- Sawink Farm, Westborough ardship, advocacy, and education throughout a From route 495 take the route 9 west exit 34B. 36-town region. SVT protects and cares for over Follow route 9 west approximately 1.1 miles to 18 Wolbach Road 100 properties of conservation land that include the route 30 east (E. Main St.) exit. Bear right Sudbury, MA 01776 wetlands, sensitive habitats, trails and other open 978-443-5588 onto East Main Street. Continue approximately www.svtweb.org spaces. SVT reservations are open to the public one mile to Walker Street on the left. Turn left free of charge. Please consider joining SVT as a on Walker Street and continue down the hill to member. For more information see the SVT sign and a small grass parking lot on the www.svtweb.org. right. t s Crane Swamp e r o e F v Bart et i lett Stre C MARLBOROUGH r ed D Regional Trails ar H o L ill Road y n a m (!P r a a n m i P S S (! t r NORTHBOROUGH il 495 0 0.25 0.5 Miles e a Bartlett r e !e ¦¨§ T t Pond Rock Watson l l i il a Hill H r T Park A q N p u or d ed th oa P r m u borough R (! Parking a c " a t d w MWRA e S !e Treatment Kiosk C e Plant B n SOUTHBOROUGH