Page 127 - Middleborough 2024 Town Report

R E P O R T O F T H E
FREDERICK WESTON FOREST COMMITTEE
The committee also thanks Alex Mackiewicz for completing
his Eagle Scout project of landscaping five picnic tables. This
entailed sourcing all materials, excavation under and
around the selected tables , use of a weed block fiber mesh,
construction of a low profile frame using pressure treated
lumber, and filling the area with woodchips. This helps both
in appearance and control unwanted plant growth.
The committee wants to express gratitude to Frank Dunphy
for procuring and staining new picnic tables and removing
the old ones that are no longer serviceable.
Relating to forest stewardship, a December 2020 Forest
Management plan, conducted by Benjamin Forestry Service,
cited the most immediate need was for thinning selected
forest stands, The poles for this thinning efort were
generally between 1 and 3 inches in diameter and 6 to 9 feet
in height. A DCR 75/25 matching grant was available for such
a forestry project with a management plan in place. An
$8000 grant application was approved by the Select Board,
submitted to Michael Downey at DCR, and accepted on
March 16, 2023. A Walk and Talk with foresters Phil
Benjamin and Tom Farrell was held on 5/23/23 to explain the
selective thinning process. Committee members and
volunteers joined forces under the direction of both forestry
professionals The goal of clearing 4 to 5 acres was begun in
2023 and carried through June of 2024. The town received
the grant award of $ 8,000 as well as an additional $ 953 for
“substantially exceeding volunteer work hours”. The
committee plans to continue this work in the coming year.
The Weston Forest Committee is excited to learn the town of
Middleborough has been invited by DCR to host the annual
2025 Town Forest Conference and has engaged in
preliminary discussions about this venue. The committee
hopes to highlight its stewardship of the Weston Forest by
site visits during the conference.
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