Here in our local communities, Upper Charles continues to pursue preservation of open space throughout our watershed.  Some of our current projects include:

• Land protection: ongoing efforts to permanently protect the 155 acres of the Norfolk Hunt Club land in Dover and Medfield, and continued dialogue with municipalities in our watershed to acquire and/or permanently conserve properties
• Recreational trails: expansion of trails in Dover, Medfield, and Medway by supporting local Friends groups, Trail Clubs, and Community Preservation Committees
• Natural resource conservation: lobbying the State Legislature for the Public Lands Preservation Act (PLPA) and the Bottle Bill
• Public awareness: guided walks reading the land and forest and updated signage and trail maps·
• Land stewardship: updated foot bridges and trail maintenance in Wenakeening Woods, along with pursuit of invasive plant control and forestry management plans on our properties

In addition to our own projects, we also work with other local conservation organizations across our watershed. Some of our past collaborative projects include:

• Lobbying the State Legislature to pass the Community Preservation Act that was adopted by Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway, and Millis
• Upper Charles Trail – 14 miles of a recreational trail in Holliston, Milford, and Sherborn
• Preservation of the 279 acres of land at the former Medfield State Hospital along the Charles River (pictured above)
• Pegan Hill (40 acres) in Natick and Dover
• Chicken Brook Trail – Wetland crossing boardwalks in Medway – totaling 325 feet