Conway

  • Town of Conway Massachusetts
  • 32 Main Street
  • 413-369-4235
  • Contact Us

Forest and Trails Committee

Additional Page(s)

foresttrails@conwayma.gov

Meeting Schedule: 4th Wednesday at 6:30 PM

Next 2 meetings:

Members

5 of 6 seats. 3 years each seat.

  • Cynthia Lawton-Singer, Associate. June, 2025.
  • Deb Donaldson, Co-chair. June, 2027.
  • Courtney Gilligan, Member. June, 2025.
  • Jennifer Heilig, Member. June, 2027.
  • Priscilla Lynch, Secretary. June, 2026.
  • VACANT

Forest and Trails Committee

In 2020 the town engaged experts in forestry management to help the community assess our vision and desires for the two town-owned parcels of land, the Fournier Lot and the Town Farm Forest. The products of that contract are two very detailed Forest Stewardship Plans.

During the process of developing those plans, it became clear after surveying our community that our top priorities for these parcels were:

  • To value the gifts of clean air, water, carbon sequestration and to support the biodiversity that our forests provide.
  • To enjoy the beauty of wildlife and nature allowing only the natural forest processes to change over time, while also maintaining our access to the woodlands.

In June 2021 the Forest & Trails Committee was formed to implement these plans. We see our tasks as the following:

  • Foster community, education and connection with our woodlands.
  • Prioritize and implement aspects of the Forest Stewardship Plans and encourage the health of the town forests.

The committee generally meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 6:30pm. Please join us.


Land acknowledgment

We recognize and honor that these are the unceded lands of the Pocumtuck and Nipmuc. Many Indigenous people survived the brutal practices of colonization by the European settlers of North America and live today in the area of what is now known as Conway. It is imperative that we both see and hear them.  

As Indigenous cultures teach us, the land is part of who we are. We honor native connection to the land as well as native respect and gratitude for all beings. We honor the trees and forests, the lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, all plants and beings.

The Conway Forest and Trails Committee is committed to working with local Indigenous people and to continue the path of healing from the cultural and social effects of colonization.


Volunteers wanted

One stated objective of the Stewardship Plans developed to guide the care for these properties is removing invasive species which have become numerous in some areas on both properties. Asiatic bittersweet, honeysuckle, barberry and multiflora rose are some of the most commonly found perennial invasive species. They threaten the healthy native plant communities which sustain biological richness, plant diversity and forest resilience.

If you are interested in invasive species removal, in planting native ground covers, shrubs and understory trees or in trail maintenance, please let us know by texting or calling Deb Donaldson at ?(508) 380-4154? so we can keep you informed when these work dates are being planned.


Resources

The Forest Center of Northwest Massachusetts (sponsored by the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts  MVP program) is a resource provided by the Forest Climate Resilience Program, a multi-partner initiative hosted by Mass Audubon. This website provides community members with information on the region's forest, threats to their healthy functioning, and options for land stewardship.


 

Previous meetings:

Forest and Trails Comm Meetings

Name Uploaded Date
   FT work party - December.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-11-18 11:01:51
   FT Minutes 2024-09-25.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-11-14 08:34:09
   FT Minutes 2024-07-24.pdf 2024-10-24 08:27:57
   FT Minutes 2024-06-26.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-09-16 09:50:29
   FT Minutes 2024-04-24.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-06-25 08:38:09
   FT Minutes 2024-03-27.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-05-15 08:52:51
   FT Minutes 2024-02-28.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-04-25 09:28:08
   FT Minutes 2023-11-12.pdf 2023-11-29 10:22:38
   FT Minutes 2023-10-25 .pdf 2023-11-29 10:22:36
   FT Minutes 2023-08-23.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-11-02 09:21:36
   FT minutes 2023-07-26.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-08-24 09:59:41
   FT Minutes 2023-06-28.pdf 2023-07-31 08:45:43
   FT Minutes 2023-05-24.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-06-29 11:12:35
   FT minutes 2023-02-02.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-03-23 11:07:23
   FT Minutes 2022-12-28.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-02-03 09:26:21
   FT agenda 2024-12-18.pdf 2024-12-16 10:05:44
   FT Agenda 2024-11-20.pdf 2024-11-18 08:36:24
   FT Agenda 2024-10-23.pdf 2024-10-21 08:39:45
   FT Agenda 2024-09-25.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-09-23 08:41:08
   FT Agenda 2024-07-24.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-07-22 08:45:44
   FT Agenda 2024-06-26.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-06-21 08:33:41
   FT Agenda 2024-05-22.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-05-21 09:03:08
   FT Agenda 2024-04-24.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-04-22 08:41:48
   FT Agenda 2024-01-24.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-01-19 09:31:39
   FT agenda 2023 04 26.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-04-24 11:07:31
   FT Agenda 2023-12-27.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-12-21 08:39:00
   FT Agenda 2023-11-28.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-11-21 08:48:39
   FT Agenda 2023-11-05.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-11-02 09:17:09
   FT Agenda 2023-10-25.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-10-23 09:05:19
   FT Agenda 2023-09-27.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-09-25 09:04:09
   FT agenda 2023-08-23.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-08-21 10:24:23
   FT Agenda 2023-07-26.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-07-24 10:32:13
   FT Agenda 2023-06-28.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-06-27 08:24:10
   FT agenda 2023-05-24.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-05-22 08:43:37
   FT agenda 2023-03-22.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-03-20 09:31:11
   FT Agenda 2023-02-02.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-01-30 10:21:46
   FT Agenda 2023-01-25.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-01-23 10:40:00
   FT agenda 12-28-22 .pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-12-23 08:58:56
   FT agenda 1-22-25.docx (View on Calendar) 2025-01-17 16:53:45
   FT 2022-07-27 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:44
   FT 2022-06-22 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:41
   FT 2022-06-22 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:39
   FT 2022-06-02 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:37
   FT 2022-06-02 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:35
   FT 2022-05-25 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:33
   FT 2022-05-25 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:30
   FT 2022-04-27 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:28
   FT 2022-04-27 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:26
   FT 2022-03-23 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:23
   FT 2022-03-23 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:21
   FT 2022-03-13 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:19
   FT 2022-03-13 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:17
   FT 2022-02-23 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:15
   FT 2022-02-23 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:12
   FT 2022-01-26 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:10
   FT 2022-01-26 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:08
   FT 2021-12-22 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:05
   FT 2021-12-22 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:03
   FT 2021-11-17 Minutes.pdf 2022-08-31 16:35:00
   FT 2021-10-27 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:34:58
   FT 2021-10-27 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:34:56
   FT 2021-10-05 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:34:54
   FT 2021-10-05 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:34:51
   FT 2021-09-22 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:34:50
   FT 2021-09-22 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:34:49
   FT 2021-09-13 Minutes.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:36:00
   FT 2021-09-13 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-08-31 16:35:58
   FT 2021-08-25 Minutes.pdf 2022-08-31 16:35:56
   FT 2021-08-25 Agenda.pdf 2022-08-31 16:35:53
   FT 2021-07-28 Agenda.pdf 2022-08-31 16:35:51
   FT 2021-06-23 Minutes.pdf 2022-08-31 16:35:46
   FT-Minutes-2023-04-26.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-05-30 08:47:29
   FT-Minutes-2022-10-26.pdf 2022-11-17 09:09:21
   Forest Trails 11-20-2024 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-11-18 13:36:39
   Forest Trails 10-23-2024 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-10-21 12:54:44

Forest and Trails Files

Name Uploaded Date
   Workshop-For-Private-Forest-Landowners.pdf 2022-08-15 15:55:36
   Woods Walk Flyer Conway.pdf 2023-04-21 08:58:53
   Town Farm Forest Stewardship Plan.pdf 2022-08-15 15:50:51
   Sept Oct 2023 party.pdf 2023-08-02 08:45:41
   Nature Journaling announcement .pdf 2024-03-01 12:56:48
   ft snow.png 2024-11-25 08:44:48
   FT Minutes 2022-11-16.pdf (View on Calendar) 2022-12-29 09:00:58
   FT Agenda2023-10-20.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-10-17 08:45:05
   FT Agenda2023-10-20.pdf (View on Calendar) 2023-10-17 08:45:05
   FT Agenda 2024-03-27.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-03-25 08:44:22
   FT Agenda 2024-02-28.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-02-23 08:32:54
   Fournier Trail Map.JPG 2023-08-18 20:33:43
   Fournier Lot Forest Stewardship Climate Management Plan 2022-2032.pdf 2024-11-22 09:28:24
   Fournier Lot-The Grammar School-Forest Stewardship Plan.pdf 2022-08-15 15:49:01
   Forest Trails 12-18-2024 Agenda.pdf (View on Calendar) 2024-12-16 15:21:54
   Conway Town Farm Forest Stewardship Climate Management Plan 2022-2032.pdf 2024-11-22 09:25:23