Trail Crew
Hanae Garrison (RRCT Stewardship Director) here! If you have any questions, concerns, or visions for Trail Crew, you can reach me at (973) 255-7513 or Hanae@RRCT.org.
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Wednesday, December 11th, 10:00 am - (Weather dependent) - Today we'll be at a different North Yarmouth conservation easement, Dunn's Depot Trail! The trail spur along the river banks could use winter preparation. We'll open up the trail corridor by trimming back overhanging branches, removing encroaching brush, and improving visibility for winter conditions. We also have new wooden trail signs and a map to put up on the trail. If the ground isn't completely frozen, we'll pull up invasive shrubby honeysuckle and glossy buckthorn plants along the way.
RRCT will bring loppers, hand saws, pole saws, and a chainsaw if needed. We'll have extra plastic trail blazes, and a driver and screws for the signage. Feel free to bring your own tools and work gloves. Don't forget a water bottle, sturdy shoes and warm layers!
Parking for Dunn's Depot Trail is available at the Town's small Route 9 boat launch parking lot next to Old Town House Park. When that parking area fills up, please park along the shoulder of Route 9. GPS Address: 512 Memorial Highway (512 State Route 9), North Yarmouth
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Wednesday, December 18th, 10:00 am (Weather dependent) - Join us and the North Yarmouth Parks Committee at Chandler Brook Preserve, where RRCT holds a conservation easement. On Dec 4th, we accomplished Projects #1 and #3 on the map below, which involved rerouting two trail sections and closing off eroding stream banks.
Today we'll focus on Project #2 - Clearing the overgrown South Brook Trail so it is wide enough for the North Yarmouth Public Works crew to mow, allowing it to be used year-round. We'll start at the northeast section, cutting back encroaching plants, especially invasive shrubby honeysuckle.
RRCT will bring loppers, hand saws, pole saws, rakes, a chainsaw, a weedwhacker, and other useful tools. Feel free to bring personal tools that may be helpful. Don't forget a water bottle, work gloves, and sturdy boots.
We'll meet at the parking lot, GPS address: 1409 North Road, North Yarmouth. When you see a blue "Chandler Brook Preserve" sign, take a right onto a gravel driveway. Stay left as the driveway forks. The parking lot is at the end of the driveway, just before a railroad crossing and kiosk.
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Wednesday, December 25th - No Trail Crew. Happy Holidays!
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Royal River Conservation Trust’s weekly volunteer trail upkeep and construction program is prepped by RRCT staff and complements our annual stewardship fieldwork. Work sessions are planned for two hours on Wednesdays at 10:00 am. Our work focuses on RRCT’s many public access properties, often spending several weeks in a row at the same site. RRCT is also happy to help out our trail neighbors when the Trail Crew has availability. Trail Crew attendance ranges from 2-10+ volunteers each week.
There is a job for everyone, no matter your shape, skills, or strength. Join us the one week you have time or interest, or put Trail Crew on your calendar as your regular Wednesday morning ritual. It's a great way to experience a new preserve, get to know someone new, and learn new trail work techniques. Trail Crew focuses on creatively, sustainably, safely, and efficiently completing RRCT’s physical work goals. Trail Crew tackles a variety of trail projects including route finding and trail alignment, clearing trail corridors, constructing bog bridging and bridges, tread stabilization, invasive species removal, blazing trails, and improving signage.
RRCT brings specific tools that will be helpful. We encourage volunteers to bring personal tools as well. Hand saws, pole saws, and loppers are favorites. Crew members should bring a water bottle, and wear sturdy shoes, work gloves, and the right clothes for the day. Tick checks are a must and bringing bug repellent ain’t a bad idea.
*Photography and Filming Note: Your attendance at Trail Crew may be photographed or filmed and your attendance indicates consent to have any images or footage featuring you at the event to be used for RRCT-related materials and outreach. Should images or footage appear in marketing materials that you don’t wish to be featured in, you must notify RRCT at Info@RRCT.org, and RRCT will cease to further use your image or footage for any new materials going forward.
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