Landham Brook Marsh
Tucked into the southeastern corner of Sudbury at what was once the site of Johnson Farm, this 33.5-acre parcel of wetland, floodplain, meadows, and forest was purchased by the Town in 2015. This was made possible using Community Preservation funds and debt exemptions, as well as private donations raised by the Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT).
Before the town interceded, the land was slated for development, making Landham Brook an important success story in preserving the natural, agricultural, and historical resources of the Town. Landham Brook Marsh is now managed jointly by the Conservation Department and Sudbury Valley Trustees, with the town having ownership while SVT holds a Conservation Restriction over the property. This arrangement confirms the Town’s commitment to protect this land in perpetuity.
Landham Brook Marsh offers a varied habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life. Even as one of the Town’s smaller conservation areas, Landham Brook Marsh has many interesting aspects to offer visitors. The site features one trail that traverses past two beautiful meadows bisected by wetlands. The trail then enters a dense woodland before continuing into the larger network of conservation properties, including the Sudbury Valley Trustees Lyons-Cutler Reservation, as well as Water District land and Raymond Reservation before exiting onto Raymond Road. To the west is Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, making this property a critical wildlife corridor linkage. Together, these lands preserve over 230 acres on contiguous protected open space
This land contains beautiful wildflowers, interesting fungi, and a thriving wildlife community. In the spring and summer, the meadows are abuzz with bees and other pollinators flitting among the blooming Goldenrods and Asters. Across the property line into Lyons-Cutler, the trail leads past vernal pools full of frogs and salamanders, American Elm trees, and a great blue heron rookery, making it an exceptional birding destination.
A short distance to the north of the parcel, Hop Brook and Landham Brook converge to become Wash Brook, a tributary which proceeds east to join the Sudbury River. A bit beyond the brooks, the Mass Central Rail Trail crosses the town on its west-east course between Boston and Northampton.
Parking
Visitors can access the area via Landham Road, with parking available at a small gravel lot, just south of Stagecoach Drive. Look for the trail sign.
Trail Challenges
The trail is generally flat and easy to traverse. Be sure to be extra careful of ticks during the warm seasons, as the trails pass through meadows that serve as prime habitat for them.
