In the local newspaper last week, I read that a short hike was scheduled for this afternoon at a property on Bates Street and all were welcome.  The day dawned chilly and gloomy, but I took a chance that rain and snow would hold off, and at a quarter to 1, I headed out toward the advertised location.  As it happened, the meeting place was only a ten-minute walk from my house.

Conservation Committee member Anne Hicks and Cynthia Henshaw, a representative from the East Quabbin Land Trust, greeted about two dozen of us North Brookfield residents and explained what this meeting was all about.  The property has come up for sale, and neighbors expressed an interest in maintaining the land as open space, by means of a conservation restriction or some such mechanism.  We were invited to tour the property and then meet at the Haston Library afterwards to discuss our ideas for the future of this property.

As you can see from these photos, the property includes fields and a stream, a solidly-constructed old barn, and wonderful views from the hilltop.

At the entrance on Bates Street, we're looking west

Years ago, children used this hill for sledding

There is a natural spring on this property

Our group hikes up the hill

The property includes this old barn