Wellfleet Conservation Trust

Fourth Annual Walk, Fox Island Marsh/Pilgrim Springs Upland

Nearly 60 walkers took part in the Fourth Annual WCT Walks in Wellfleet on September 11, 2010. The three mile walk started at the Fox Island Marsh/Pilgrim Springs Upland Conservation Area in South Wellfleet, proceeded to Whale Bone Point and then followed a path along Black fish Creek to Pleasant Point and around Drummer Cover to the recently acquired Town owned conservation area and ended at the Pond Hill School. At points along the way there were talks on the history of the area and conservation efforts that have preserved this land for future generations.

Third Annual Walk, Herring Pond

The walk took place with about 40 walkers – fortunately after the rain at 4 am this morning and before the rain at 2 pm this afternoon. A great day – in addition to the three mile walk, John Portnoy spoke on the geology of the Cape and the origin of the ponds, Jeff Hughes, Wellfleet Herring Warden spoke at Herring Pond on the life cycle of herring and Ginie Page read from Thoreau’s book when he visited the Oysterman’s House on Williams Pond. A terrific day. Hope you’ll join us next year.

August 8, 2009, Annual Meeting and 25th Anniversary

Held to celebrate the 25th anniversary and conduct annual business – another successful year for the trust.

See presentation slides.

September 27, 2008, Forces of Nature

A staged dramatic reading of a Stephen Most play depicting the relationship, and sometimes conflict, among three giants of the late nineteenth century conservation movement. Wellfleet resident and experienced stage performer Stephen Russell played Scottish immigrant John Muir, one of the first modern preservationists. Eastham resident and actor Jack Kerig played Teddy Roosevelt, and Zachary Soule Philbrook, a local teacher, director and stage performer played Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. The play focused on the differing views of Muir and Pinchot on land preservation, their common interest against the reckless exploitation of natural resources, and Roosevelt’s pivotal leadership role in establishing National parks. It was an unforgettable performance.

Second Annual Walk, Bound Brook Island

On an overcast, and sometimes drizzling Saturday morning, over fifty walkers gathered at the Atwood Higgins House on Bound Brook Island to participate in the second annual Wellfleet Conservation Trust “Walks in Wellfleet.”

Park Ranger Brent Ellis and National Seashore volunteers provided historical perspective and informative anecdotes about life on the island in the 1800s. The event included a tour of the Atwood Higgins House, a visit to the site and monument commemorating the Island Schoolhouse which was built in 1840, the Lombard Family Cemetery and overlooks of Cape Cod Bay.

Walkers chose among three walks of varying length. As with the walk on Griffin Island in 2007, the feedback from veteran Wellfleetians and visitors alike was positive without exception, and reinforced the conservation mission of the Trust, the significance of our local history and the importance of the National Seashore as a resource to be preserved, protected and enjoyed by all.

August 16, 2008 Annual Meeting and Review

Mr. Seth Rolbein, Editor of The Cape Cod Voice, discusses the Cape Cod National Seashore.

View PowerPoint Presentation by President Denny O’Connell

The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts bestowed the 2007 Award for Excellence in Open Space Preservation to Robert Hankey, a resident of Wellfleet and one of the original founders of the Wellfleet Conservation Trust.

Robert’s fame in conservation circles is well known. He served as President of the Wellfleet Conservation Trust from 1990 to 2003. Under his guidance the WCT grew from a fledging non-profit to a major force for conservation in the Town. He led the successful initiative to designate Wellfleet Harbor as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and his strong partnership with the Town Open Space Committee led to many of the Town’s conservation purchases. His personal contacts with local private landowners led to dozens of land gifts to WCT and he has strongly supported and worked on behalf of regional cooperation on land conservation.

For over 30 years, Robert and his wife Eleanor Stefani have operated The Colony of Wellfleet, a retreat of cottages nestled on the slopes off Chequessett Neck Road designed by famed architect Nathaniel Saltonstall.

First Annual Walk, Griffin Island & Herring River Restoration

907walkmarsh On Sunday, September 16, 2007, seventy five individuals participated in the first annual “Walks in Wellfleet” sponsored by the Trust in cooperation with the Cape Cod National Seashore, Herring River Restoration Project and the Town Open Space Committee. There were four walk options available ranging from one mile to three and three quarter miles along different paths throughout Griffin Island, Wellfleet.

907wallkhill But this was more than just walks over the dunes and through the woods. Following a brief orientation by Denny O’Connell, Trust President, three highly professional and knowledgeable National Seashore ecologists, John Portnoy, Stephen Smith and Evan Gwilliam each led walkers through different areas of Griffin Island and gave presentations along the way on the Herring River Restoration Project, cultural landscape restoration, upland plant and marsh ecology, and the historical development of the land.

The walks were acclaimed by the participants to be highly informative and enjoyable because of this unique educational feature and the opportunity to see and learn about a portion of Wellfleet that many, even a few long-time Wellfleet residents had not visited.

See September walk brochure.

Fox Island Trails Walk

Fox Island Marsh – Pilgrim Springs Woodlands – Whale Bone Point

Aerial photograph taken from above Indian Neck, looking east across Fox Island, Fox Island Marsh and Conservation Trust Land, Black Fish Creek, Pleasant Point, and Drummer Cove to the Atlantic Ocean at the top of the picture.

At right shows the 181 acre conservation area that has been preserved through the efforts of the Town of Wellfleet, the State Fish and Game Department and the Wellfleet Conservation Trust since 1992. It is the largest publicly-accessible conservation area on the Outer Cape outside of the National Seashore.
The left side of the photo shows 71 acres on the south end of Indian Neck owned by the State Fish and Game Department and Field Point owned by the Trust. Fox Island is clearly shown in the center of Fox Island Marsh. On the right is Whale Bone Point and the upland known as Pilgrim Springs Woodlands.