|
|
Friends of Myles Standish State Forest
Volunteers supporting the largest Forest Reserve in southeastern Massachusetts!
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Pond boneset, salicicola.com |
Eastern towhee, Bill Thompson |
Buck moth, Gerald J. Lenhard |
Dear Friend,
The Myles Standish State Forest (MSSF) is the largest forest reserve in southeastern Massachusetts. What is even more important than its size, the Forest contains the second greatest area of intact pine barrens in the world. It provides shelter to a number of unique plants, such as New England blazing star, broom crowberry, pondshore boneset, and Plymouth gentian. It is home to several bird species that are declining regionally: whip-poor-will, nighthawk, eastern towhee, brown thrasher, and others. Rare insects, including more than a dozen rare moth and butterfly species, are found here. This wonderful place needs your help.
Please join, renew your membership, take up a leadership role, or sign up to volunteer at a work party today. Your support, no matter how you give it, is critical to the FMSSF mission of preserving the Forest and the region's pine barrens. Please read on to find out ways you can help.
Looking forward to seeing you in the Forest,
Sharl Heller, President
Friends of Myles Standish State Forest
Join/renew membership with Friends of MSSF today. Sign up to volunteer!
Volunteers needed to help stop the spotted knapweed invasion!
Spotted knapweed is invading MSSF! Why is this a problem? Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) is known to emit substances in the soil which hamper and disrupt growth of other plants around, so that it promptly becomes the sole proprietor of the area it invades. Native plants have little defense against this offender which is known to produce 30,000 seeds per square meter!
Thanks to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Regional Planner Jim Baecker and FMSSF Board Member Irina Kadis, FMSSF received permission by the MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program to remove spotted knapweed from the Forest. If enough volunteers cut and bag the flowering stalks, we can eventually kill the plants. Please volunteer a couple of hours over the next few months to help us control the spread of spotted knapweed.
The First Spotted Knapweed Eradication Work Party
Sunday, August 7, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Meet at the MSSF Headquarters. Bring clippers, choppers, or favorite plant cutting tool, gloves, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and water.
For more information visit www.friendsmssf.com
Download DCR Spotted Knapweed Management Plan MSSF PDF
ACTION ITEM: The Myles Standish State Forest Resource Management Plan Draft public comments due September 16, 2011
Thank you, all who participated in the Friends of MSSF Resource Management Plan (RMP) workshops and took time to comment on the RMP Draft. Your input is helping create a thorough management plan that should ensure a consistent vision for the Forest's future. The RMP planning process is not yet complete. DCR is seeking public input on the final Draft. Please review the Myles Standish State Forest RMP Draft. You have until September 15 to submit your comments to DCR.Updates@state.ma.us
Resource Management Plan Myles Standish State Forest Planning Unit Draft (PDF File)
For more information on the DCR's RMP process, visit the Friends of MSSF web site
or DCR's RMP Pages
The 3rd Annual FMSSF Photo Contest deadline is August 31, 2011!
You are invited to share your admiration of the Myles Standish State Forest by taking part in the FMSSF amateur photography contest. Photos may be entered in the following categories:
1) Landscape
2) Plants
3) Animals/birds/insects
4) Recreation
5) Memorable Event
6) Historic
Click here for entry form
Photo contest winners will receive their awards at the FMSSF 5th Annual Fishing Event, Take Me Fishin'!, on September 24, 2011, Fearing Pond, MSSF. Your photographs may be selected for use in publications that benefit FMSSF and the Forest!
Foster homes sought for native plants
Native Plant Kits are now available at no charge for planting in home gardens for Friends of MSSF members who agree to care for them and to share their seeds. Each plant kit contains a variety of plants, specially selected to grow in your yard. Foster growers must be willing to provide a brief report on how well the plants are doing at the end of the growing season (this can be a quick email), and promise to collect and return seeds for further propagation to the Friends of MSSF. If you’d like to add lovely native plants to your home landscaping and help restore the natural flora of the pine barrens (region), please respond to Irina Kadis
 |
From Frank Werny our first Native Plant Foster Parent:
"Thanks again. Will let you know how they are doing occasionally, and when they bloom.
Regards,
Frank"
Photo courtesy of Frank Werny, taken in his yard!
|
WANTED: Youth Education Coordinator and Committee Members
Exposing children to nature is essential to ongoing stewardship of the environment. FMSSF is looking for volunteers interested in developing nature programs and educational materials for local youth with a focus on the pine barrens of southeastern Massachusetts. We need volunteers who love nature and know how to engage children for this important program. We are open to your ideas and would like to involve local schools and DCR interpreters. If you can help, please contact Sharl Heller.
FMSSF Hiking and Birding Meetup Group for current MSSF activities and trails maps
FMSSF's 5th Annual Take Me Fishin'! Family Fishing Derby and Nature Appreciation Event needs your support
Please sign up to volunteer for Saturday, September 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, Fearing Pond, MSSF.
If you can fish or are ready help with other youth nature activities designed to encourage a love for the out-of-doors, please sign up for a shift!
We are always looking for sponsors too! If you or your business can help provide free snacks for fishing families, prizes for the Derby winners, or supplies for various activities you will earn a place on our flyers and posters, and in our hearts!
Contact Sharl to donate or volunteer. And thanks! We can't do it without you.
Check out our Sponsor Page!
FMSSF is a non-profit charity. All donations are tax deductible and will be gratefully acknowledged
|
FMSSF fashion model Melissa Guimont
wears the latest tee-shirt design
while volunteering for MSSF.
|
FMSSF offers "Rediscover Nature—Myles Standish State Forest" tee-shirts for sale!
We probably have your size. Contact Friends@friendsmssf.com to order.
$15 if picked up, $17.50 for mailing (multiple shirts placed in same package to save shipping)
Shirts are forest green with "Rediscover Nature—Myles Standish State Forest" on the front and the FMSSF logo on the sleeve.
Sale of the tee-shirts benefits MSSF and allows the FMSSF to keep working!
|
|
|
August 5, 2011
In this issue:
Amy and the DCR Interpreters would like help for summer fishing program!
Volunteers are needed to help at the DCR Fishing clinics planned for the Becoming an Outdoors Family at MSSF.
The two dates/times are:
Saturday, August 13th from 12:30pm to 4:00pm
Sunday, August 14th from 9:00am to 10:30pm
Clinics will be held at Barretts Pond Camping Area and volunteers must pre-register with Amy by email or by calling 508.866.2580 x126
Let's meet up!
Visit the FMSSF Hiking and Birding Meetup Group for a current list of events. Looking forward to seeing you in the Forest!
Please support the businesses supporting FMSSF:
New full-color version of Frank Werny's book, Hike Plymouth!: Over 70 Great Walks among the Pines and Ponds of Plymouth, MA, and Surrounding Areas
and
Walks Among The Pines and Ponds Of Plymouth And Surrounding Areas: Easy Hikes in and around the Plymouth, MA, Area. Both books are available directly from the author for a discount over the regular cost PLUS—$2 will go to FMSSF!
Contact Frank at frankwerny@gmail.com
Ross MacVicar Chainsaw Art
Forward this message to a friend.
|
