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A Message From the PresidentThe Grafton Land Trust has had another year of excellent progress I’d like to focus on a few issues that come to mind as I look ahead to the remainder of 2007. Land PreservationDevelopment pressure has abated slightly with the slowdown in the housing market, but this is only temporary. The Open Space and Recreation Committee of the Town of Grafton has developed a broad set of goals in its Plan. The Land Trust will contribute to their implementation, in cooperation with the town or independently, as opportunities arise. Our tools must be flexible and collaborative. Wouldn’t it be fine if, 50 years from now, people can look back and be pleased with Grafton’s choices? Land ManagementHaving land also means having the management responsibilities for preserving those lands and, when possible, making them accessible to the public so that their value can be enjoyed and appreciated by all. This includes new signs, trails, trail guides, and forest management. Some of the tools, such as mapping, graphics technology and professional forestry surveys, are in place. What needs attention is the most important tool of all: an expanded network of volunteers who know Grafton’s natural environments well, care for them, and want to preserve them for future generations. The magic word is stewardship: an attitude of concern, affection, and respect. In the long term, the establishment of a core of land stewards will make it possible for the Land Trust to carry out its mission economically and thoughtfully. Please start thinking about which property has a special place in your heart! EducationEnvironmental awareness and education are at the heart of our mission, which the writers of the original Grafton Land Trust Charter laid out with astonishing prescience: For the purpose of the following: to engage in scientific study of, encourage others to engage in scientific study of, and to educate the public regarding the soil, vegetation, waters, and wild-life of Grafton…. Later the charter was amended to focus on land preservation, open space advocacy and assistance to Town government. When open space is available and nearby, people can observe the natural world and its wonders “in their own backyard”. With observation come curiosity, discovery, learning, appreciation, and stewardship. There is a fullness of heart and being that a connection to nature engenders. The unfortunate realities of our time – widespread alterations in habitats, global climate change, and vanishing species – also become real and meaningful. How can the Land Trust contribute to this deeper consciousness? Our means are modest, and there are many other priorities. Nonetheless we are pursuing a variety of types of educational outreach, including talks, canoe paddles, collaboration with other groups like Mass Audubon, programs for kids, and grants and professional development for teachers. One idea is to choose a yearly theme to focus attention on one topic and give Land Trust programs more coherence and continuity. This year’s theme is Water: From the Source to Sea. We will select speakers and programs related to our local water resources that begin in tiny streams, form the Blackstone River, and end up in Narragansett Bay. Future themes might include forests, critters, agriculture, or stewardship. In the end, they all overlap and connect. How else could the Grafton Land Trust support environmental education in this community? Your suggestions are welcome! ParticipationIn May the Board of Directors began reviewing our mission, and we hope to sharpen our understanding of these issues and how best to carry them out. We already know, however, that for these initiatives to become a reality, volunteers are needed. The Land Trust has a wonderful membership base but needs to develop a lively participatory process that invites members in, takes advantage of their skills and creative energy, and puts them to work on these interesting and rewarding projects. That’s our next big task. We’ll be in touch. |
