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- Information about key Conservation Commission managed properties
Information about key Conservation Commission managed properties
Medfield Community Gardens
Overview
The Medfield Community Gardens is part of the Homlquist Property Area described above. It provides space for people to grow their own plants and vegetables. There are a total of 75 gardening plots available for use. The town provides a ready-to-plant site, including wood chips on paths, compost and on-site water. Gardeners provide their own fencing, seeds or seedlings. This is a community of gardeners who share tips, extra seeds, and their bounty with their fellow gardeners and also supply nearby food pantries.
Details
Community Garden plots are 300 ft 2 or 600 ft 2 in size. New gardeners are encouraged to start with the smaller plot. Participants must follow simple gardening guidelines. Plots must be fenced and kept weed-free throughout the season. Gardeners are not allowed to use any herbicides, inorganic insecticides or plastic mulch.
There is a one-time $20 fee to join the community garden organization. The annual fee for a 15 x 20 ft plot is $18; $25 for a 20 x 30 ft garden. Registration for plots opens yearly on March 1 and closes when the last garden space is filled. The Community Garden site formally opens for the season on April 1 and closes on October 31.
Please note that the Conservation Commission does not run the Community Gardens, but allows the Community Gardens group to use town land. The garden is managed by Betty and Neal Sanders.
Contact information:
Tel: 508 359-9453
E-mail: N_h_sanders@yahoo.com
Location
The Medfield community gardens are located at 45 Plain Street; approximately one-half mile off Route 27.
Site History
Medfield’s first Community Garden opened on May 1, 1976, on town-owned land off Dale Street adjacent to the town garage. The current Community Garden area is located on Plain Street on land managed by the Conservation Commission at the 100-acre Holmquist Farm, purchased by the town in 1999.
photo credit: Neil Sanders
Noon Hill
Overview
Noon Hill Reservation combines land owned by the Trustees of Reservations and the Town of Medfield with 531 acres of land in total. There is an extensive network of trails around Noon Hill providing views to the south and west across Walpole and Norfolk. Upland forest with many stone walls from historical farms. Noon Hill is connected to Shattuck Reservation (245 acres bordering the Charles River) via a short trail across Causeway Street. The Jade Walk Conservation Area (22.8-acres along the Charles River) can be accessed by a short trail from Shattuck Reservation.
Details
Dogs are allowed on leash.
Medfield allows seasonal bow hunting with written permission through a deer management program. Hunting is permitted from the first Monday in October through December each year, from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset, Monday through Saturday (not on Sunday).
The 3.5-acre Holt Pond (created in 1764 to power a sawmill) contains fish and provides habitat for wildlife.
Open year round from sunrise to sunset.
Location
The area is bounded by Noonhill Road, Stop River, the Indian Hill neighborhood and Causeway Street. Parking is available in either of two lots along Noon Hill Road with multiple trails leading from both locations. Additional access points are located on Nauset Street, Mohave Road, Onondaga Lane, Indian Hill Road, and at several locations along Causeway Street.
Property Map
photo credit: John Woodhull
Red Gate Farm
Overview
The Red Gate Farm property, with the adjacent Elm Street Conservation Area, creates 54-acres of contiguous town-owned conservation land. It abuts the Adams Farm conservation area in Walpole. The property is predominantly upland forest (pine and hardwood), with areas of meadow, wooded swamp, a small pond, and a vernal pool. A vernal pool educational sign was erected in 2018 as an Eagle Scout project. The Red Gate Farm trail connects Foundry Street with conservation land in the town of Walpole.
Details
Dogs on leash are welcome at Red Gate.
Seasonal bow hunting is allowed by town permit in Medfield for deer management. Hunting is permitted from the first Monday in October through December. Hunting is allowed Monday through Saturday (not on Sunday).
Open year round from sunrise to sunset.
Location
The conservation area is bounded by Foundry Street, Philip Street, Elm Street and the Walpole border. Signed trails can be accessed from Philips Street (between numbers 90 and 112) and Foundry Street (across from number 44) and from Elm Street (trail easement along town line). The trail heads can be accessed by walking from parking at the Wheelock School. There is also a small parking area on Foundry Street.
Site Map
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/red-gate-farm-conservation-access/
Site History
In 2013 the town of Medfield voted to purchase Red Gate Farm for $1.4 million. The original Red Gate Farmhouse, built by John Adams in 1676, is not town-owned, but is contiguous. Jewells Pond supplies a water-powered grist mill that was used to grind grain to make flour. Ice was harvested from the ponds in winter and stored in saw dust to allow summer refrigeration.
photo credit: John Woodhull