Glancing at
a map of the North River as it flows through Marshfield, one sees a lot of
green. The riverbank is now a nearly contiguous stretch of conservation land.
There’s the 225-acre North River Sanctuary, the Mass Audubon headquarters on
Route 3A, near the river mouth, and then a little farther upstream, the
even-larger expanse of the interlocking Nelson Memorial Forest, Phillips Farm
and Union Street Woodland. Then across the street, heading south, Corn Hill
Woodland, the John Little Conservation Area, Couch Beach, Mounce’s Meadow, and
Blueberry Island. And then finally, nearing the Pembroke line, two more
properties: Two Mile Farm and the Jose Carreiro Woodland. If not for decades of
efforts by Marshfield’s Community Preservation Committee, its Conservation
Commission, various environmental groups, and forward-thinking voters, these
lands could have been covered with houses instead of trees.
If you’re in
the mood for a walk in the woods, the combined 79-acre Jose Carreiro Woodland
and Two Mile Farm are worthy of your consideration. You can download a map of
the two properties from the Town of Marshfield’s website at https://www.marshfield-ma.gov/sites/marshfieldma/files/uploads/jose_carreiro.pdf
You can
begin your walk on either property, but I recommend the Carreiro, simply
because of the terrain (this way, you’ll end on a downhill). From Union Street
in Marshfield, follow Maryland Street all the way to the end, and park in the
cul de sac. Facing away from the highway, you’ll see the trailhead on your
left.
Once you
enter the property, you’ll find that there are a number of trail options. An
easy-to-remember route is to just keep taking lefts. This will lead you first along
Route 3, but soon enough you’ll arrive at a hill that looks out onto the North
River and its marshes. A bench at this spot honors Jose Carreiro, who served as
Chair of the town’s Community Preservation Committee and was actively involved
in protecting this small but beautiful parcel from development.
The town’s acquisition
of the Jose Carreiro Woodland in 2009 marked the successful end to a protracted
battle. In the early 2000s, after its longtime owner passed away, the property
was slated for development as the 18-unit “North River Village.” Many local
citizens viewed this as a travesty. Walking trails with gorgeous views had
existed there for years, as well as cart paths that dated back centuries. Plus
there was the environmentally sensitive nature of the area, including a large
vernal pool and the presence of endangered species, as well as some
archaeological ruins. Plans for development prevailed until the recession hit.
Thanks to a significant drop in market value, the Community Preservation
Committee was able to purchase the 11-acre property for $850,000.
Eleven acres
isn’t much, but when combined with the larger, and equally beautiful Two Mile
Farm, it’s a treasure. Continuing with the “just take lefts” exploration of the
Carreiro Woodland will lead you through the forest, along the marsh, to the
southern entrance to Two Mile Farm. The Trustees (formerly Trustees of
Reservations) acquired this 68-acre property in 1995. Continue taking lefts and
you’ll be treated to additional views of the river and marsh.
Eventually,
you’ll begin to head uphill into the woods. Pay careful attention to property
boundaries here (they are well marked). You can continue uphill on a
well-developed trail all the way to the property’s northern entrance on Union
Street. Or if you’d prefer a shorter, less steep hike, take a shortcut (on the
right) down the cart path and back into the Carrerio. If you choose the first
option, you’ll see a number of old stone walls along your way. When you get
finally to the top of the hill (it’s a long, slow climb) take some time at the
kiosk to read about the property’s history. The return trip to the Carreiro is
mostly downhill from there, through some beautiful pine, oak and beech forest.
The woods in
this part of town seem so quiet now. But it isn’t much of a stretch to imagine
how different the landscape was 150 years ago. Back then, the once-bustling
North River shipbuilding industry was already drawing to a close. The lands
that bordered the river had been cleared completely, to make room for
agriculture. The trees had all been chopped down and hauled away to local
sawmills. But now the trees have grown back, and if we’re fortunate – and if we
continue to empower our towns to make good decisions -- this time they will
remain.
by Kezia Bacon
February 2018
Kezia Bacon's articles appear courtesy of the
North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization
devoted to protecting our waters. For membership
information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781)
659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. To browse 20 years of nature columns, visit http://keziabaconbernstein.blogspot.com
