Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife sanctuary in Massachusetts
42°15′22″N 71°20′25″W / 42.25611°N 71.34028°W / 42.25611; -71.34028Area624 acres (253 ha)Operated byMassachusetts Audubon SocietyHiking trails9 milesWebsiteBroadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary is a 624 acres (253 ha) wildlife sanctuary located in Natick, Massachusetts. The sanctuary was created by the Massachusetts Audubon Society after donations of land in 1962 and 1968.[1] Bird watchers have identified more than 175 species on the property.[2]

History

Broadmoor is located on land within the territory of the Massachusett Indigenous nation. Following the arrival of Europeans in the early 17th century, the population of the Massachusett fell by as much as 90% due to epidemics.[3] In 1651, Puritan missionary John Eliot received permission of the Massachusetts General Court to create the town of Natick as one of the Praying Towns. Only Indians who had converted to Christianity were permitted to live in the town.[4] In the 1690s, Thomas Sawin, who lived in a house in nearby Sherborn, was invited by the Natick Indians to build a gristmill and dam on the stream that is now called Indian Brook, creating the Broadmoor Mill Pond.[4][5] Sawin built a house near the mills, and became the first non-Indian resident of Natick.[6] Around 1720, the Sawin family built a sawmill and a new gristmill.[7]

In 1858, the Sawin family sold the mills to John Andrew Morse, and the mills became known as the Morse Mills.[7] The mills operated into the early 20th century.

Broadmoor was created by a 1962 donation of land at Little Farm Pond by Henry S. Channing.[6] After the Morse Mills closed, the land was sold to Carl S. Stillman, whose family donated the land to Mass Audubon in 1968.[4] Foundations of the mills and several old millstones are visible on the property.

During the 19th century, beavers were eliminated from Massachusetts. But state wildlife officials began reintroducing beavers in the 1980s, and a beaver colony was established in Broadmoor's Indian Brook Swamp in 1989.[5]

Land and trails

Broadmoor's 9 miles of trail pass through woodlands, marshland, ponds, and a glacial drumlin, and along the banks of the Charles River.[1] The sanctuary's wetlands feature wood ducks, painted turtles, great blue herons, and river otters.[8]

All Persons Trail

In 2021, Prevention Magazine listed Broadmoor's All Persons Trail as one of the "50 Best Walks in America."[9]

The All Persons Trail as well as the Indian Brook Trail and the Marsh Trail are featured in the Appalachian Mountain Club's Massachusetts Trail Guide.[1]

A 3-mile loop on the Indian Brook Trail and the Glacial Hill Trail is described in the AMC's Best Day Hikes Near Boston.[8]

South Street divides the bulk of the sanctuary from a tract along the Charles River. The Charles River Trail is a 1-mile loop that starts at South Street and follows the riverbank. Great horned owls and Pileated woodpeckers have been spotted along the trail.[6]

Nature center and programs

The Broadmoor nature center is a 1911 horse barn that was renovated in 1983[10] and 2013.[1] Environmental improvements included adding solar collectors on the roof, composting toilets, and rainwater storage. The nature center includes a small shop and a room used for programs and exhibits.

Broadmoor programs include bird-watching, lectures, canoe trips, hiking, and a children's summer camp.[11]

Gallery

  • "All Persons Trail" next to the marsh
    "All Persons Trail" next to the marsh
  • Bridge over Mill Pond was removed early in the 21st century
    Bridge over Mill Pond was removed early in the 21st century

References

  1. ^ a b c d Burk, John S. (2021). Massachusetts trail guide : AMC's comprehensive guide to hiking trails in Massachusetts, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod (11th ed.). Boston, Massachusetts. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-62842-130-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "Birds & Birding at Broadmoor". Massachusetts Audubon Society. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  3. ^ Tougias, Michael (1997). Exploring the Hidden Charles. Appalachian Mountain Club. p. 73. ISBN 1-878239-60-0.
  4. ^ a b c Fisher, Alan (2000). Country Walks Near Boston. Rambler Books. p. 294. ISBN 0-9614963-7-1.
  5. ^ a b Tougias, Michael (1993). Nature Walks in Eastern Massachusetts. Appalachian Mountain Club. p. 100. ISBN 978-1878239211.
  6. ^ a b c McAdow, Ron (1992). The Charles River. Bliss Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 0-9625144-1-1.
  7. ^ a b Galluzzo, John J. (2005). Mass Audubon. Arcadia. p. 80. ISBN 0-7385-3782-9.
  8. ^ a b Tougias, Michael; Burk, John S.; O'Leary, Alison (2017). AMC's Best Day Hikes Near Boston (3rd ed.). AMC Books. p. 169. ISBN 978-1-62842-042-5.
  9. ^ Natale, Nicole (15 December 2021). "50 Best Walks in America". Prevention. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  10. ^ Mirsky, Steve (2011). Best Hikes Near Boston. Falcon Guides. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-7627-6091-6.
  11. ^ "Programs & Activities at Broadmoor". MassAudubon.org. Retrieved 2 July 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Official website
  • Trail map
  • v
  • t
  • e
Protected areas of Massachusetts
National Historical Parks
National Historic Sites
Other National Park Service Units
National Wildlife Refuges
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Other Protected Areas
Parks
Reservations
Other
Wildlife
Management Areas
  • Agawam Lake
  • Agawam Mill Pond
  • Ashby
  • Ashfield Hawley
  • Attitash
  • Ayer Game Farm
  • Baddacook Pond
  • Bakers Pond
  • Bay Circuit Trail
  • Bearse Pond
  • Becket
  • Bennett
  • Birch Hill
  • Black Brook
  • Blackstone / West River
  • Bolton Flats
  • Boxboro Station
  • Brayton Point Salt Marsh
  • Breakneck Brook
  • Brewer Brook
  • Bullock Ledge
  • Burrage Pond
  • Canoe River
  • Catamount
  • Chalet
  • Chase Garden Creek Salt Marsh
  • Childs River
  • Chockalog Swamp
  • Church Homestead
  • Clapps Pond
  • Clinton Bluff
  • Concord River
  • Connecticut River
  • Cook Pond
  • Copicut
  • Coy Hill
  • Crane Pond
  • Cummington
  • Cusky Pond
  • Dartmoor Farm
  • Darwin Scott Memorial
  • Day Mountain
  • Deerfield River
  • Dogfish Bar Beach Coastal
  • Dolomite Ledges
  • Dunstable Brook
  • E. Kent Swift
  • Eagle Island
  • East Mountain
  • Eastham Salt Marsh
  • Elbow Meadow
  • English Salt Marsh
  • Eugene D. Moran
  • Facing Rock
  • Fairfield Brook
  • Farmington River
  • Fish Brook
  • Fisherville Pond
  • Fisk Forestdale Lot
  • Fisk Meadows
  • Five Mile River
  • Flagg Swamp
  • Flint Pond
  • Four Chimneys
  • Fox Den
  • Fox Island Salt Marsh
  • Frances A. Crane
  • George L. Darey Housatonic Valley
  • Glen Echo Lake
  • Gosnold
  • Grassy Pond (Dennis)
  • Grassy Pond (Plymouth)
  • Green River Access (Franklin County)
  • Green River (Berkshire County)
  • Greenfield River
  • Halfway Pond
  • Hamilton
  • Hancock
  • Harlow / Cooks Pond
  • Haskell Swamp
  • Hauk Swamp
  • Hawksnest State Park
  • Hawley
  • Head Of The Plains
  • Herman Covey
  • High Ridge
  • Hinsdale Flats
  • Hiram H. Fox
  • Hockomock Swamp
  • Hog Pond Lot
  • Honey Pot
  • Hoosatonic River
  • Hoosic River
  • Hop Brook
  • Housatonic River
  • Hubbard Brook
  • Hunting Hills
  • Hyannis Ponds
  • Ipswich River
  • John J. Kelly
  • Joint Base Cape Cod
  • Jug End
  • Jug End Fen
  • Kampoosa Fen
  • Katama Plains
  • Knops Pond
  • Konkapot River
  • Lackey Pond
  • Lake Lorraine
  • Lake Rohunta
  • Lake Snipatuit
  • Lake Warner
  • Lanesboro
  • Lawrence Brook
  • Lawrence Pond Lot
  • Leadmine
  • Leyden
  • Lilly Pond
  • Little Alum Pond
  • Long Sought For Pond
  • Maple Hill
  • Maple Springs
  • Martha Deering
  • Martin H. Burns
  • Mascuppic Lake
  • Mashpee Pine Barrens
  • Mashpee Pond Lot
  • Mashpee River
  • Mckinstry Brook
  • Meetinghouse Swamp
  • Merrill Pond
  • Miacomet Heath
  • Mill Brook Bogs
  • Mill River
  • Millers River
  • Mine Brook
  • Montague
  • Montague Plains
  • Moose Brook Access
  • Moose Brook
  • Moose Hill
  • Mossy Pond
  • Mount Watatic Reservation
  • Mt. Esther
  • Mt. Toby Highlands
  • Mt. Toby
  • Mt. Tom
  • Muddy Brook
  • Muddy Pond
  • Mulpus Brook
  • Nashua River
  • Natty Brook
  • Nemasket River
  • Nissitissit River
  • Noquochoke
  • Nordeen Marsh
  • North Brookfield
  • North Shore Salt Marsh
  • Northboro
  • Oakham
  • Olivers Pond
  • Orange
  • Otis
  • Packard Pond
  • Palmer
  • Pantry Brook
  • Pauchaug Brook
  • Peru
  • Peterson Swamp
  • Phillipston
  • Podunk Marsh
  • Poland Brook
  • Popple Camp
  • Popponesset Spit
  • Poutwater Pond
  • Powell Brook
  • Prince River
  • Provincetown Route 6 Corridor
  • Purchade Brook
  • Quaboag
  • Quacumquasit
  • Quag Pond Bog
  • Quashnet River
  • Quashnet Woods State Reservation
  • Quinapoxet River
  • Quinsigamond Marsh
  • Quisset
  • Raccoon Hill
  • Rainbow Beach
  • Red Brook
  • Richardson
  • Robbins Pond
  • Rochester
  • Rocky Gutter
  • Rowe
  • Salisbury Salt Marsh
  • Salisbury Salt Marsh WMA
  • Sandwich Game Farm
  • Sandy Pond
  • Satan's Kingdom
  • Savage Hill
  • Savoy
  • Sawmill River
  • Scorton Creek Coastal
  • SE Mass Bioreserve
  • Sevenmile River
  • Shattuck Brook
  • Sheperds Island
  • Shubael Pond
  • Sibley Brook
  • Sly Pond
  • South Barrier Beach
  • South Meadow Pond
  • South Shore Salt Marsh
  • South Triangle Pond
  • Southampton
  • Southwick
  • Spectacle Pond
  • Springhill Lot
  • Sputtermill Pond
  • Squannacook River
  • Stafford Hill
  • Sudbury River
  • Sunderland Islands
  • Taconic Mountain
  • Taunton River Access
  • Taunton River
  • Tekoa Mountain
  • Thad Ellis
  • Thayer Pond
  • Three Mile Pond
  • Townsend
  • Townsend Hill
  • Trapfall Brook
  • Triangle Pond
  • Tully Brook
  • Tully Mountain
  • Tully River
  • Wakeby Pond
  • Wales
  • Walnut Hill
  • Ware River
  • Warwick
  • Wendell
  • West Meadows
  • Westboro
  • Westfield River
  • Westfield
  • Weymouth Back River
  • Whately Great Swamp
  • Whately Ponds
  • Whately
  • Wilbraham Game Farm
  • William Forward
  • Williams River
  • Williamsburg
  • Winimusset
  • Wolf Swamp
Wildlife
Sanctuaries
  • Billingsgate Island
  • Carr Island
  • E. Howe Forbush
  • Egg Rock
  • Grace A. Robson
  • J.C. Phillips
  • Knight
  • Penikese Island
  • Ram Island (Mattapoisett)
  • Ram Island (Salisbury)
  • Susan B. Minns
  • Tarpaulin Cove
  • Watatic Mountain
  • Black Pond Bog
  • Boat Meadow
  • Francis Newhall Woods
  • Grassy Pond
  • Greene Swamp
  • Halfway Pond Island
  • Hawley Bog
  • Hockomock Swamp
  • Hoft Farm
  • Homer-Watcha
  • Katama Plains
  • McElwain-Olsen
  • Miacomet Moors
  • Reed Brook
  • Roger and Virginia Drury
  • Sandy Neck
  • David H. Smith Preserve and Fire Trail
  • Stacy Mountain
  • Tatkon
Other