CSL students tackle Thompson's Field
Published on Tuesday, April 07, 2009
On April 7, 8, and 9th 2009 Cape Cod Tech’s freshman class of a 175 will partner with AmeriCorps Cape Cod, Harwich Conservation Commission, Harwich Conservation Trust, and other schools/groups, including Harwich Elementary School’s 5th graders, Southeastern High, and a local Girl Scout and Brownie Troop to help restore and enhance the scenic views of Thompson’s Field and enhance the habitat to improve wildlife diversity. Students will be taught how to rid the area of invasive plants, hauling trees, and dispersing wood chips. The abundant amount of downed limbs and dead trees that would act as fire fuels creating dangerous fire situations in the upcoming dry months will also be collected and readied for chipping. In addition to rolling up their sleeves, back in their classrooms students will have a pre-education class during their Science Classes on Monday April 6, 2009 informing students about the ecology of the area. The information gained in the field will allow them to participate in reflective activities in their Science classrooms over the next couple of weeks pertaining to what they learned and its effect on their thoughts and future actions toward the environment.
“The partnership between The Town of Harwich, Harwich Conservation Trust, AmeriCorps Cape Cod has been vital for the coordination of this annual event. Students from around the State of Massachusetts make this project successful” states Ryan Mann Harwich Conservation Trust’s Stewardship and Outreach Coordinator.
Thompson’s Field is 57 acres of open space in Harwich bordered by Route 39 and Chatham Road. The Town of Harwich purchased the property in 1984 as conservation land primarily to protect the adjacent public well field. AmeriCorps Cape Cod plays a pivotal role in coordinating volunteers for maintaining the scenic views of open field and enhancing habitat diversity.
Historically, like most of Cape Cod, Thompson’s Field was cleared for timber, grazing, or subsistence agriculture. Currently, some of the land south of the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which roughly bisects the property, has remained open field habitat, but is gradually being succeeded by pitch pine, eastern red cedar and non-native invasive plants. Pitch pine dominates the land north of the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
Over time, invasive non-native plants such as bittersweet, honeysuckle, barberry, autumn olive and others have taken root in the disturbed landscape. The invasive plants can quickly crowd out native vegetation important for native wildlife and species diversity.
For more information, please feel free to visit the following websites or contact the following people.
www.harwichconservationtrust.org – Contact Ryan Mann -508-432-3997
www.capecodtech.us – Beth Leonard 508-432-4500 x349
www.rdoac.org/americorps- Monica Farmer 508- 375-6869