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Promoting awareness, policies and programs
to preserve and enhance the ecological and historical
landscape of the Middlesex Fells forest Reservation.
NEWS OF THE FELLS
HIKES and EVENTS CALENDAR
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Bear Hill Habitats
The Middlesex Fells Reservation has a great diversity of topography, geology, wildlife and plants, and Bear Hill is one of the best places to learn about them. Read more>
MIDDLESEX FELLS
DCR Park Watch:
You can help
protect the Fells
Reservation!!
Reporting problems encountered in the Fells is the first step. Call the 1-866-PK-WATCH (866-759-2824) 24 hour number to report vandalism, ground fires, dogs off leash, vandalism, dumping, motorized vehicles on trails and other problems. More Park Watch information here>
Calendar of Fells Spring Hikes & Events click here
Click on any event on the Calendar for time, place and event details. Includes Babes in the Woods listings.
For Fells Reservation trail map click here
The Fells
Forever the People’s Forest Park
Welcome to the website of the Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Our mission is to protect and preserve the natural and historic resources of the 2500 acres of the Fells through public outreach and support. Our Board of Directors is committed to preservation and appreciation of the Fells. Contact us: friends@fells.org
781/662-2340. It's easy to become a member. Would you like to volunteer to help the Fells Reservation? Fill out this form and we will get back to you soon!
Friends of Fells Chairman Dr. Bryan Hamlin featured on a video discussing extensive biodiversity found in the Fells Reservation. To view click here
Summer 2013 Newsletter
and Calendar click here
Your tax deductible support for the Friends of the Fells will go a long way towards programs for appreciation and protection of the Fells Reservation! Thank You!
The Friends had a busy spring and summer helping introduce groups of young people to the Fells. For our expanded video report click here
There was fun happening inside and out during the Saturday, October 13th Babes in the Woods Fall Story-time Festival and Fundraiser at the Beebe Estate in Melrose.
Fells Mountain Bike speed racing threatens visitors and nature
Mountain bike riders are using Fells trails as a destination for competitive speed racing.
Posting GPS verified speeds of 10 to 20 miles per hour on national strava.com ‘Leaderboards’ Fells mountain bike riders compete for fastest times.
This bike speed racing is expanding on Fells trails following completion of the DCR ‘Resource Management Plan.’
With no DCR monitoring or enforcement, Fells
visitors — including families — on Fells trails are increasingly confronted by bike use that threatens public safety and impacts natural resources.
To view Fells racing video click here
We are asking your help to build a campaign to Stop Bike Racing in the Fells. You can make a difference! Continued here
Reprints of the published Fells plant survey are now available from the Friends. This 80 page booklet describes the ecological diversity of the Fells with a detailed description of the thirty habitat types and over one thousand plant species reported in the Fells since the reservation was created in 1894. Continued
Planning to Support the Friends
For ideas on how you can help support the programs of the Friends of the Fells click here
Boston Globe February 20 front page story highlights important findings of nine-year Fells plant survey, as reported in Rhodora (see following story). To read Globe article click here
BULLETIN:
'No environmental impact review' decision handed down; Fells protection campaign continues.
On April 19 Massachusetts environmental Secretary, former Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioner, Richard Sullivan ruled that DCR plans to implement Fells parkway modifications do not require environmental impact review.
The decision by the Secretary is not surprising or unexpected. It would have been difficult for Secretary Sullivan to rule against his previous scheme blocking environmental review which he put in place in 2009 as Commissioner of DCR.
This means that the public will need to wait until later this year for the outcome of the lawsuit brought by the Friends of Fells, ten citizens, and the City of Medford to see if the full public environmental review will be required for the former hospital site redevelopment and the parkway modification plan that DCR is carrying out on behalf of the developers.
'Medford mayor pledges $10,000 to help fight Fells plan' boston.com
April 5 Fells press conference video
Mayor McGlynn said, "It is a peaceful and recreational area where we believe that unless there is a full environmental review serious damage will be caused to the entire region."
At the press conference state Representative Paul Donato recalled how he filed legislation 12 years ago to protect the parkways.
Saying he still believes the project must have full environmental review, Donato statted he is willing to file legislation again to make sure that review occurs;
“If it takes additional legislation, I’m prepared to make sure that legislation goes forward and will fight to make sure that we hold this developer accountable.”
Previously, during a Monday March 18 meeting convened by the state environmental affairs (MEPA) office Medford and Melrose mayors McGlynn and Dolan, Representative Donato and many Fells district residents expressed opposition to the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s attempt to avoid public review of plans for the agency’s changes to Fells historic parkways.
DCR parkway alteration plans include:
• removal of seventeen Fells Reservation trees
• adding traffic signals in two locations
• removing the entire length of one of the Woodland Road southbound lanes
For more background information on this issue click here.
The current issue of Arnoldia, the magazine of the Arnold Arboretum, features an article by Walter Kittredge entitled The Middlesex Fells, a Flourishing Urban Forest. This historical, botanical review of the Fells includes a map and photos; you can access it here.
