Another Successful Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day

More than 50 Volunteers Donate Time to Annual Cleanup and Planting

By Radha Iyengar

On Saturday, April 28, the Belmont Citizens Forum (BCF), in conjunction with the Judy Record Conservation Fund, held its sixth annual Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day. More than 50 volunteers of all ages, including students from Chenery Middle School and Belmont High School, donated their time on this picture-perfect sunny day.

At the Pine Allee, in just two hours, the efficient volunteers planted more than 60 white pine saplings (of which 30 were transplants from Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary). At the other end of the property, the volunteers collected 12 bags of trash, a big box of recyclables, one sneaker, a broken cast-iron pipe, and some heavy-gauge wire. This year single-use plastic bags, baby wipes, and cash-register receipts were among the most abundant items collected.

BCF is grateful to Sanctuary Director Roger Wrubel for sharing Mass Audubon volunteers and instructing them on how to handle saplings. We also thank David Ropes and James Sacco of Tree Specialists Inc. for supervising the planting, and the Judy Record Conservation Fund for funding their ongoing work and purchasing the trees. And a big shout-out goes to Jeff North for his help in coordinating the Pine Allee work; to Ellen O’Brien Cushman, chair, Land Management Committee for Lone Tree Hill, for ensuring the downed trees from the recent storms were removed by Saturday; and to Michael Santoro, DPW, Highway Division manager, and his staff, for picking up the trash.

Radha Iyengar is treasurer of the Belmont Citizens Forum and the organizer of BCF Volunteer Day.

 

 

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Thank You to Our Corporate Sponsors

Platinum Level Sponsor: Northland Residential

Gold Level Sponsors: Anne Mahon Realty, Belmont Land Trust, Cityside Subaru, East Boston Savings Bank, and Watertown Savings Bank

Silver Level Sponsors: Artefact Home and Garden, Belmont Savings Bank, Cambridge Savings Bank, Century 21 Adams Lawndale, East Cambridge Savings Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank, and Renaissance Realty

Community Cosponsors: Belmont Land Management Committee for Lone Tree Hill, Belmont Vision 21 Implementation Committee, Mass Audubon Habitat Sanctuary, and Sustainable Belmont.

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Lone Tree Hill: What to do if you see a problem

Your help is vital to keep Lone Tree Hill safe and enjoyable for everyone. If you see any problems—such as downed trees, broken limbs, or dangerous or excessive trash—please report it to the Land Management Committee for Lone Tree Hill by sending an email to grimble.lmc@gmail.com.  Emails are checked regularly, but not daily, so you can expect an answers in a few days. If this is a time-critical issue of safety, please dial 911.

Your email should be as specific as possible about location, what you observed, when you observed it, and any suggestion you may have for resolving the issue. A member of the committee will address the problem and get back to you. For more information, visit the Lone Tree Hill page on the town website at belmont-ma.gov/land-management-committee-for-lone-tree-hill.

If you witness a more serious or urgent public safety issue, such as a crime or fire, please report it immediately by calling 911.

And while you’re walking on Lone Tree Hill, why not carry along a bag to collect and dispose of any trash you may see along the way?

Thank you for your assistance!