Sudbury Valley Trustees Seeks Public Comments on Field Management Options of Fay Fields, Sudbury
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Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) invites the public to a meeting to discuss management alternatives for the Fay Fields conservation land on Lincoln Road in Sudbury. The meeting will be held at The Grange Hall, 326 Concord Road, on Thursday, November 4th at 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Fay Fields is a 39 acre conservation land that includes 10 acres of open field with a bisecting hedge row and 30 acres of wooded wetlands, abutting the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The property was given to SVT by Willis and Joan Fay; the Fays granted SVT the roadside 10 acres in full in 1959 and then the remaining 29 acres in two half interests in 1960 and 1972. For many years, the open fields were farmed as hay fields by a local farmer, Earl Meador. In 2008, Mr. Meador moved to Central Massachusetts and discontinued his haying operation at Fay Fields. This change prompted a re-evaluation by SVT of the management of the open field areas.
SVT’s mission is to protect land and conserve wildlife habitat in the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord River basin for present and future generations. SVT recognizes local agriculture as an important and historical part of our watershed's landscape and that agricultural lands also provide certain wildlife habitat benefits. In managing its lands, and in acquiring new land, SVT supports the continuation of various farming activities, and will consider the possibility of new ones, where the nature of the land is suitable for that purpose and where farming is consistent with our overall mission of protecting open space character, wildlife, and other natural resources. Where farming is the chosen activity and wherever possible, SVT will promote sustainable, organic agricultural methods.
SVT recognizes that the open fields section of Fay Fields provides habitat for wildlife as well as aesthetic enjoyment to neighbors and the general community. SVT has several management alternatives from which to choose: 1) allow the fields to succeed to shrub and forest over time, 2) maintain the open fields solely as wildlife habitat, with no farming activity 3) resume farming activity with continued hay production or other forage crop, 4) resume farming activity with crops for human consumption.
At the meeting on November 4th, the public is invited to share their ideas and thoughts about the various alternatives. SVT will consider these comments in its final decision-making about management of the fields.
For more information, call Laura Mattei, Director of Stewarship at SVT, at 978-443-5588, ext. 34, or visit them on the web at www.svtweb.org