Save the date: Special Event, May 3rd LA Foster Wildlife Preserve 2 - 4 pm
News, Events & Projects
Norton High School Students Helping with Signage at the LA Foster Preserve on Taunton Ave
We hope to have a Grand Opening of the LA Foster Nature Preserve in the spring of 2025. Norton High School Students under the guidance of Dave Cuddington, NHS shop teacher, and LPS volunteers have installed new interpretive signs describing the history and ecology of the preserve.
News and Events
Special thanks to this group of volunteers from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals who helped us clear a new trail and build benches overlooking a vernal pool in our Johnson-Henrich Preserve.
This LPS site is a focus of our conservation efforts this year, as it is astride the newly constructed Norton Rail Trail and receives a lot of use. In the Fall, with Alnylam's help we will continue working on this site and others.
LPS is most appreciative of Alnylam's continued support of our efforts to preserve Norton's undeveloped land and make it accessible to the public through the development of trails and other amenities such as benches.
Without their help we would not have accomplished all of our goals this year.
Thanks to the organizers and all who visited our display! It was a great event on a beautiful day.
We are happy to meet and welcome new members to LPS!
Current Projects
Norton High School Volunteers
In partnership with Norton’s Conservation Director, John Thomas; Norton High School’s shop teacher, David Cuddington, and his students; and the Attleboro YMCA, the Land Preservation Society has been working to expand and maintain trails across Norton.
Visit the Edith Read Conservation Area on North Worcester Street to explore Norton’s newest trails featuring boardwalks built by high school volunteers and an anonymous friend of Norton’s outdoor spaces. We are very grateful for this partnership and look forward to sharing more projects expanding access to Norton’s natural resources.
Previously Offered Events
This event was canceled due to icy trail conditions.
November, 2024
Saturday, November 23, 2024 - RAINED OUT!
Time: 1:00-3:00 PM
Woodward Forest, Norton
— Enjoy a short, self-guided walk along the Woodward vernal pond trail
(maps provided).
— Come by any time between 1-3 PM.
---The route typically takes between 30-60 minutes.
— LPS volunteers will be on-hand along the trail.
— Discover the cultural and natural history of this Norton land.
— Learn about Woodward at the time of the first Thanksgiving.
Or just have a nice walk!
— Leashed dogs are welcome.
— We’ll be serving hot cider!
Woodward Forest begins at Gateway Lane
From Norton Center, take Rt. 140 S for about 2 miles.
Turn left on Old Taunton Avenue. Turn left onto Gateway Lane.
The entrance (trailhead) is at end of the turnaround.
Plenty of parking is available on Gateway Lane.
Should the weather cause cancellation, materials for the self-guided walk
are available below - scroll down.
Some of the birds observed on the LPS Bird Walk at Edith Read Conservation Area, May 18, 2024
Great-Crested Flycatcher
(Myiarchus crinitus)
courtesy of Peter Galvin
Barred Owl
(Strix varia)
courtesy of Kurt Bischoff
Wood Thrush
(Hylocichla mustelina)
courtesy of Peter Galvin
The Past, Present and Future of Birds
Flight Paths
Prof. Jessie Knowlton presented a fascinating talk on May 19, 2024 at the Annual Joint Norton Historical Society and Land Preservation Society. Here are some of the topics she covered.
Disappearing Species
2.9 Billion birds are gone since 1970.
Some Groups are Disappearing Very Rapidly
Grassland birds are the hardest hit. Their population has been reduced by 53%.
In contrast, Eastern Forest birds have been reduced by 17%.
Some Groups are Increasing in Numbers.
Waterfowl, raptors and turkeys have made gains.
Causes of Bird Mortality
By far, cats are most responsible. They are estimated to have killed over 2 billion birds. Collisions with buildings and vehicles, poisons, and electrical lines have huge impacts as well.
How to Help Birds
Keep cats indoors, make windows safer, don't use pesticides, plant native plants, leash dogs, and buy bird-friendly coffee, chocolate and tea, if possible. Join, donate to or otherwise help LPS of Norton!
Watch The Talk
The entire talk will be available soon thanks to the Norton Media Center. We will link to the video when it is available.