LINCOLN LAND CONSERVATION TRUST

EDUCATION: EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN 2024 INCLUDED 20 IN-PERSON TRAIL WALKS, WORKSHOPS, OR OTHER OUTDOOR LAND-BASED PROGRAMMING, AND 35 VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON LECTURES. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE SPRING BIRDING WALKS, A FIREFLY WALK, TWO PLANT IDENTIFICATION WALKS, AND A FERN IDENTIFICATION WALK. LLCT ALSO EXPANDED ITS POPULAR NOTICING WALK SERIES TO INCLUDE EIGHT WALKS PER SEASON. FOR WINTER ZOOM PROGRAMS, LLCT HOSTED SPEAKERS ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: BATS, SPOTTED TURTLES, WELL MEADOW FAUNA, SOIL BIODIVERSITY, FALL FOLIAGE, AND VERNAL POOLS.IN ADDITION, LLCT HOSTED TWO LECTURES ON COYOTES, AN IN-PERSON VERNAL POOL STORYTIME AND WALK, AND A SEED PAPER-MAKING WORKSHOP FOR KIDS. LLCT'S ANNUAL MEETING FEATURED THE EYES ON OWLS LIVE ANIMAL PROGRAM.LLCT CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH FARRINGTON NATURE LINC, HOSTING TWO LECTURES AS PART OF THE ON BELONGING SPEAKER SERIES. LLCT AND RLF ALSO HOSTED A LINCOLN WINTER CARNIVAL EVENT WITH NATURE LINC WHICH INCLUDED A NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT AT LINCOLN STATION.LLCT PUBLISHED THE 2025 OPEN SPACES CALENDAR IN FALL 2024.IN 2024, LLCT'S SCARECROW CLASSIC 5K ATTRACTED 653 PARTICIPANTS AND WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY 50 SPONSORS AND 60 VOLUNTEERS.

STEWARDSHIP: LLCT STAFF WORKED WITH VOLUNTEERS, FIELDWORK ASSISTANTS, AND TOWN OF LINCOLN CONSERVATION STAFF TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN DEEDED LAND AND OVER 40 MILES OF PUBLIC TRAILS. TRAIL MAINTENANCE INCLUDED REMOVING DOWNED TREES BLOCKING TRAILS, PRUNING VEGETATION, AND REPAIRING DUCKBOARDS AND BRIDGES. IN ADDITION, NEW DUCKBOARDS AND BRIDGES WERE CONSTRUCTED FOR TRAILS WHERE NEEDED. LLCT STAFF MONITORED DEEDED CONSERVATION LAND AND CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS, AS WELL AS CONSERVATION LAND AND RESTRICTIONS OWNED/HELD BY THE TOWN OF LINCOLN. LLCT WORKED WITH VOLUNTEERS, SUMMER STAFF AND TOWN OF LINCOLN CONSERVATION STAFF TO REMOVE/CONTROL INVASIVE PLANTS, INCLUDING GARLIC MUSTARD, WATER CHESTNUT, BUCKTHORN, BURNING BUSH AND JAPANESE KNOTWEED. WORK ON THE POLLINATOR ACTION PLAN CONTINUED. WE ADDED ADDITIONAL PLANTS TO ALL OF OUR EXISTING POLLINATOR GARDENS, AND SPONSORED A NEW GARDEN ADJACENT TO THE TOWN HALL. WE HOSTED A WORKDAY FOR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ON THEIR DAY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO PLANT A NEW POLLINATOR GARDEN IN CHAPMAN PASTURE WHERE WE ADDED OVER 350 PLANTS TO THE SITE. WE ALSO HOSTED VOLUNTEERS AND CAMP GROUPS AT THE POLLINATOR MEADOW TO HELP WEED AND LAY MULCH ALONG PATHS. THREE STUDENTS AND LLCT'S TWO INTERNS PROVIDED ONGOING SUMMER MAINTENANCE OF THE GARDENS AND THE POLLINATOR MEADOW. PERMANENT EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE WAS INSTALLED AT FIVE OF THE POLLINATOR SITES WITH PRINTING COSTS OFFSET BY A GRANT FROM THE LINCOLN CULTURAL COUNCIL.