Case Estates Ecological Management Plan 

The final draft of the Case Estates Ecological Management Plan (EMP), prepared by Mass Audubon and the Conservation Commission, is now available for public review prior to the Commission’s October 27th hearing on the plan. The EMP provides recommendations for the care and stewardship of this unique 62.5-acre open space property over the next seven years. 
 
The Case Estates is an historically-significant property in the geographic center of Weston. It features forests, fields, trails, and remnants of horticultural gardens. Throughout the 1900s, the property was home to an experimental farm founded by Marian Case and later a regional horticultural center for the Arnold Arboretum. The history of this land can be found on the Town's website. Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved the purchased the Case Estates in 2006, partially using Community Preservation Act funds, for its iconic open space and rich history. After a 10-year battle to close on the property, the land finally belongs to the Town.
 
The EMP focuses on seven short-term goal for the land:

1. improve the meadows for pollinator habitat
2. reduce invasive plant infestations to minimize spreading and improve habitat quality
3. manage field edges to retain the extents of the fields
4. maintain stone walls for scenic qualities
5. protect specimen trees and shrubs, including both historic and recent plantings
6. welcome passive recreational users to the property, including users of all mobility levels
7. accomplish the management activities as efficiently and economically as possible

The EMP recommends that dogs be permitted on-leash only at the Case Estates and that commercial dog-walking be prohibited at the property. The Conservation Commission will consider these recommendations and others in the EMP during an online public hearing on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting link will be available on the posted agenda at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Subscribe to receive email/text notification of the agenda posting at Weston.org/StayInformed.

Comments on the draft can be shared with the Conservation Commission by emailing them to Schadler.e@westonma.gov no later than Thursday, October 22 at 12:00 p.m. 

Legacy Trail and Connector Path

The construction of the Legacy Trail and its connector paths at the Case Estates is moving full-steam ahead and is on-track to complete the trail system this fall. As a set of stable-surfaced paths meeting US Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) standards and permitted by the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB), the Legacy Trail and its connector paths will provide access for users of all abilities. They will also provide a way for residents to access and enjoy this beautiful 62.5 acres of open space. 
 
A series of public meetings was held in December 2018 and January 2019 to complete permitting, gather input from various boards and the public, and finalize the design of the Legacy Trail and Connector Paths. Community Preservation Act funding was approved by the 2019 Annual Town Meeting. This current project does not include the Ash Street sidewalk, which will eventually connect the Legacy Trail network with the Ash Street Reservoir. Designs are currently being finalized for that sidewalk; a request for construction funding will be brought to a future Town Meeting.

Don’t Dump, Scoop, or Rake Those Leaves!

It's not 'natural' to dump - A lot of people think that because leaves, grass clippings, brush, and other yard waste are ‘natural’, it is ok to dump huge piles in the woods or wetlands. However, dumped yard waste destroys the underlying vegetation and wildlife habitat; and prohibits new trees and shrubs from growing.

Water Pollution from leaves? - Leaf dumping near water bodies has resulted in flooding problems upstream. Roadside ditches and catch basins, used to remove storm water runoff, can get clogged from leaves dumped there by residents and landscapers. The excessive nutrients from the piles of leaves leech into local waterways and can lead to water pollution problems, such as toxic algae blooms.

Make all natural lawn and garden fertilizer - Make room for a small composting bin or area in your yard. The leaves bring in added nutrients when mixed with kitchen scraps and creates garden gold. You can learn more about leaf composting, as well as leaf mulch and mold from The Spruce. Alternatively, you can save your hands and back from raking by mowing the leaves into your lawn. Raise the blade on your mower and shred them right into the grass. It'll break down over winter and provide rich nutrients for the grass in the spring, as well as help keep weeds out. Ask your landscaper to help you out, if you use a service. The leaves can also be vacuumed shredded with a leaf blower and used as a mulch around your landscape plants. This provides healthy nutrients and insulation over winter and spring.

Appropriate Recycling - Weston residents can bring their leaves, as well as grass and other yard brush to the Transfer Station off of Church Street or the Composting Facility (Brush Dump) on Merriam Street, which opens on Oct. 17th for six consecutive Saturdays. A valid transfer station permit is needed. If you have a private hauler, Recycle Only permits are available and will gain you access to both facilities. More permit information is available on the town's website.

Some Good Apples

Did you know there’s an apple orchard on Weston Conservation Land located on the northern property of Concord Road adjacent to the Campion Center campus? Apples are first come, first serve. Residents can enjoy picking their own apples (for free!) thanks to dedicated volunteers who maintain the orchard. 

Deer Hunting Season 

Bow hunting has been permitted in Weston since 2014. The seventh season begins in early October continuing the ongoing effort to protect our forest from dense deer populations. The Conservation Commission issues permits to approved hunters to setup and bow hunt from temporary and stationary tree stands that are located well off the walking trails. Each hunter is required to pass a proficiency test as well as hold a Massachusetts’s hunting license. Bow hunting is allowed dawn to dusk Monday through Saturday and ends on December 31.

Drain Swimming Pools Wisely

Never drain pool or hot tub water directly into a body of water. The best option is to discharge chlorinated water over landscaping using the following steps:

1. shut off the chlorination system or stop adding chlorine one week before draining pool water
2. make sure the pH level is between 6.5 and 8.5, the normal pH range of surface and ground waters
3. Drain pool water where it will not flow directly into a street, gutter, someone else’s property or wetland

Composting at Weston's Transfer Station

Organic materials, such as food scraps, contribute to approximately two-thirds of the solid waste stream. Not only is it heavy, it is often wet and takes more energy to incinerate. By keeping organic materials out of your trash bag, the annual solid waste tonnage that is hauled away is decreased - ultimately saving you money.

If you are an avid composter at home, you already know the benefits composting brings to your trash bag and most especially your garden. But, the program at the Transfer Station is a commercial composter, which means additional benefits to home composters, like:

• meat and seafood, raw or cooked (including bones and shells)
• dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc.)
• cooking oils and grease (leave jars next to bin)
• toothpicks, popsicle sticks, chopsticks, small wood produce containers
• wine corks (real cork, not the synthetic type)
• compostable tableware and coffee pods (must be BPI or CMA certified)
• food-soiled napkins and paper towels (no cleaning chemicals)
• pasta, grains and bread
• nut and coconut shells
• cookies, cake and candy

So, get another compost bucket to fill with these extra scraps and bring it with you to the Transfer Station! If you have a private hauler but are looking to increase your recycling efforts, a Recycle Only permit is available. This will get you access to all of the recycling opportunities at the Transfer Station, including yard waste, textiles, electronics, and much more.