The Orleans Conservation Trust protects and restores natural lands — for people and wildlife, the health of our waters, and the character of our community. | |
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Thursday, May 16, 11am-12:30pm
35 Namequoit Road, Orleans
Join OCT for this historically-rich walk of about 1 mile through a white pine grove; see specimens of the rare American chestnut.
Limited participation; advanced registration required.
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Invasive Plant Removal at Namequoit Bog | |
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Wednesday, May 8, 9:30-11:30am
Across from 158 Namequoit Rd, overlooking Paw Wah Pond
Join us for a morning of removing invasive phragmites at Namequoit Bog, an old cranberry bog and Atlantic White Cedar swamp. Access is directly across from Paw Wah Pond; volunteers will enter the bog through shallow trenches until they reach the work area. We will then cut the phragmites' seed heads and bag them to remove off-site.
Volunteers will need waders or tall waterproof boots. Please also bring water and work gloves. Parking can be found at the end of Namequoit Road and in the Paw Wah Conservation Area parking lot further down the road.
Please contact Tom to sign up and for any questions you may have.
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Garlic Mustard Removal at Cullen Property | |
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Tuesday, May 14, 9:30-11:30am
10 Oliver's Way, Orleans
Join OCT in a garlic mustard removal project at the Cullen Property. Persistent and destructive, garlic mustard is an invasive species you've likely seen all around Orleans, if not in your yard. Before the plant goes to seed later in the season, volunteers can help minimize invasion by learning and practicing control methods.
Please bring work gloves and water. This project has a low intensity, and tools are not needed.
Parking can be found along Nauset Heights Road.
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Trail Maintenance at Mill Pond Valley | |
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Wednesday, May 22, 9:30-11:30am
13 Champlain Road, Orleans
Spend the morning giving our trails some love at Mill Pond Valley! Following an AmeriCorps Cape Cod workday earlier in the week, volunteers will help support and maintain trail connections. The project may consist of trail grading, pruning, and footbridge/bog bridge reinforcement ahead of the summer season.
Volunteers should bring water and work gloves.
Please contact Tom to sign up, coordinate tools, and for any questions you may have.
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OCT Office Demonstration Garden Sessions | |
Do you want more native plants in your home landscape, but don't know where to start? Sign up to volunteer and learn more about OCT's native plant demonstration garden at our office (203 South Orleans Road). As a volunteer, you will be contacted when OCT staff schedules garden maintenance days. Each workday will consist of a short 10-minute lesson that corresponds with the time of year and will be followed by garden work and opportunities to have your questions answered. Email Tom if you are interested in signing up for this program. | |
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Saturday, June 8, 9-11am
203 South Orleans Road, Orleans
Join OCT for our sixth annual plant sale, which will have a native pollinator plant theme. Beautify your garden while supporting native wildlife and pollinators. Proceeds will benefit OCT’s land-saving work!
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Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod Talk | |
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Tuesday, June 11, noon
Via Zoom
Learn some pollinator basics, how and why the Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod initiative came into being, and the steps you, your business, and your organization can take to be part of the pathway, creating safe pollinator habitat across Cape Cod.
Presented by Kristin Andres (APCC) and Steve O'Grady (OCT). Stay tuned for registration link.
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Upcoming Walks:
- John Kenrick Woods (5/16)
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Upcoming Talks:
- Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod (6/11)
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At Home with Nature
Nature-friendly practices you can adopt for your yard
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Why should I help pollinators?
Pollinators, like bees and butterflies, play a vital role in plant reproduction and ecosystem health. To create a garden that attracts and supports them, choose a variety of native flowering plants with diverse colors and shapes. Provide a water source, and don’t use pesticides to protect pollinators. Plant in clusters to create attractive foraging areas. Incorporating blooming plants throughout the seasons ensures a continuous food supply. Click to learn more about Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod.
Check back monthly for more At Home with Nature tips, and visit our new webpage!
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Orleans Conservation Trust is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1970. Over its 50-year history, the Trust has preserved more than 660 acres in Orleans. Among the most active land trusts on Cape Cod, OCT stewards a range of ecosystems, from freshwater ponds and wetlands to saltmarshes, wooded upland, and coastal grasslands, managing its lands to protect and enhance wildlife habitat, restore native ecosystems, and provide public recreation and education through a network of trails and informational signage. OCT also educates residents and visitors about important natural values and environmental issues in Orleans and around Cape Cod via guided walks, free lectures, its website, newsletter, and other communications. | | | | |
