Bill and Marian Harman Gift Land to SVT

Bill Harman of Westford stands at the entrance to the land that he and his wife Marian recently donated to SVT.
Long-time friends of SVT and avid conservationists Bill and Marian Harman, leaders in the Westford Conservation Trust (WCT), have generously donated 8.16 acres of beautiful wooded mature upland forest to SVT.  This property, which straddles Westford and Chelmsford, has been protected and managed since the mid-1980s by WCT under a conservation restriction (CR) donated by the Harmans.  WCT will continue to hold and enforce the CR, which was established for the express purposes of protecting the land predominantly in its natural, scenic and open condition, for forestry, passive recreation, and the protection of natural and watershed resources.  With SVT now holding the title to this conservation-restricted property, both SVT and WCT will further their mutual interests and the Harmans’ vision of protecting it forever in its natural state.
A public trail system traverses the Harman property and connects to trails on the abutting 18-acre WCT-owned Lambert Land, part of the Francis Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, on which SVT holds a conservation restriction. 
An old deed mentions Rowdle Towdle, a puzzling name that leaves one guessing as to the property’s original, possibly Swedish, roots. Gideon Pasture and Spaulding Pasture are also mentioned, but there are no pastures here now.  The land is completely wooded, dominated by oak, maple, ash and white pine. When the Harmans first walked this land in 1973, the dense underbrush made it difficult to navigate. Conditions have changed a lot in 28 years. Trees are bigger, the understory is more open, and well-maintained trails crisscross the property among old stone walls.
Red and grey fox, opossum, skunk, fisher, white-tailed deer and coyote are regular denizens.  The Harmans, avid birders, frequently walk the trails with field glasses hoping to spot some of the abundant and diverse birds that reside here  year-round or in the summer or migrate through here seasonally, including wood thrush, great crested flycatcher and a variety of warblers.   Red-tailed hawks are common residents and the whistle of a broad-winged hawk can be often heard calling from high above the canopy.  Great horned owls are frequently heard, and barred owls and screech owls have been heard and seen in the past. 
Wildflower enthusiasts can find spring-time delights such as round-leaved pyrola, false Solomon’s seal, rattlesnake plantain, Indian cucumber and Joe Pye weed blooming along the trail.  Towering red and black oaks dominate one drier section of the forest, and a wet area on the property features hemlock, Jack-in-the-pulpit and other wetland plants.   Spicebush, with its delightful aroma, is also abundant in this part of the forest.   A bed of lush ferns forms an inviting understory in some areas.
As Bill and Marian explained, "It's evident to us that this land is a local oasis and travel corridor for wildlife.  We enjoy seeing many birds which nest and feed here, and indications that coyote and other animals travel through regularly.  Having enjoyed this woodland for many years, it's a great comfort to know that Sudbury Valley Trustees will be keeping it protected for future residents, people as well as wildlife."
SVT thanks the Harmans and WCT for their generosity and the opportunity to collaborate on this exciting conservation project and newest addition to SVT’s western watershed properties.  We hope many of our members will visit it soon.  When you do, you might also enjoy some of the other trails in Westford, which are shown on the Westford Conservation Trust site.