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Places to Walk
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The Westport Land Conservation Trust is pleased to announce the opening of its newest Conservation Area, Dunham’s Brook, on Sunday, July 6 at 11 am. This event is open to the public and will be followed by light refreshments and walking tours of the property.
Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area is made up of two parcels of land. A 60 acre piece, known as King Hill, was donated to the Westport Land Conservation Trust in 2006 by the Krapf Family. The Land Trust was able to purchase adjoining land from the Giblin Family in 2008 thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Westport Land Conservation Trust, the Town of Westport’s Community Preservation Fund and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs. Protection was achieved with the support of the Trustees of Reservations.
These two pieces of land together created one of the largest conservation areas open to the public in Westport. The land contains trails, cultivated fields and important wetlands. The ecologically significant Dunham’s Brook originates to the north, flows through these properties, and then flows through 200 acres of preserved land before emptying into the West Branch of the Westport River. It provides an important source of high-quality fresh water for the Westport River Estuary.
The Forge Pond Conservation Area
 Forge Road Thanks to the combined efforts of the Westport Land Conservation Partnership and the Town’s taxpayer-supported Community Preservation Fund, a new, 9-acre reserve has been added to the land trust’s holdings. The land in central Westport consists of two lovely, wooded parcels surrounding scenic Forge Pond, located between Westport Factory and the Head of Westport near the junction of Forge and Reed Roads. Walkers can follow trails on the property as it rises to give a beautiful view of the pond below. Then they can descend to fishing spots along the pond or the Noquochoke River, following the trail until it connects with town land. Click here for directions.
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Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge
 Old Harbor Road The 53-acre Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge in Westport Harbor was a gift from Burton D. and Patience B. Bryan with 30.8 acres donated in 1975 and the additional 22.5 acres donated in 1993. The well-preserved stone walls running through the property indicate that it was originally used for pastures which in turn were overtaken by juniper and blueberries and finally by maple and oak. There is also swamp azalea surrounding the vernal pools on the north trail in July.
As well as two trails traversing the 53 acres, old "Records Lane" runs along the north side of the property. Predating River Road, this laneway was the original lane from Old Harbor Road to the West Branch of the Westport River. (The Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge property actually goes through to River Road although wetlands preclude walking the full distance.) Along the laneway is a cellar hole and well indicating a former house site although it is known to have been demolished by 1920. The apple trees, pear trees and day lilies which still grow around the foundation must have been planted by the residents.
The Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise, 365 (or 366) days a year. Click here for directions.
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Herb Hadfield Conservation Area
 Herb Hadfield The Town of Westport and Westport Land Conservation Trust opened the 50-acre Herb Hadfield Conservation Area on Adamsville Road in 2004 for the enjoyment of area residents. Thanks to the support of many Westporters and a generous donation from the former owners, William and Cynthia Krause, the Town, the land trust and The Trustees of Reservations purchased the beautiful, woodland property along Angeline Brook in 2002. The Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife acquired a conservation restriction on the 50-acre parcel.
The Herb Hadfield Conservation Area will join another public land trust property, The Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge, in offering passive recreation opportunities to area residents. The property will be open from sunrise to sunset daily for walking, fishing, hunting in season and picnicking and will be accessible from a small parking lot located half ways between Westport Central Village and Adamsville on the south side of Adamsville Road.
Angeline Brook runs through the property and is crossed in several places by the newly cleared trails. The brook has been recognized as the least degraded of the few remaining cold water streams in Westport that support a native anadromous brook trout population. The presence of this sea-run trout species is an indicator that the Angeline Brook watershed is relatively healthy and undisturbed. The age and structural diversity of the upland forest on the Herb Hadfield Conservation Area shows little history of human use and may represent primary forest. In addition to these significant ecological attributes, and in part because of them, Angeline Brook is an important source of high quality fresh water for the Westport River estuary. Click here for directions.
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