Upcoming Events
2023 Fall Hike Series
Hike From Essex to Beverly (5 miles) with Jeff Cochand
Sunday, Oct 1, 2023 10 am to 2 pm
Register Here
This is a long hike (5 miles, 3 to 4 hours), starting
Hike From the Atlantic White Cedars to the Cathedral Pines with MECT Trustees
Saturday, Oct 7, 2023 2 pm to 4 pm
Register Here
A short walk starting west along the boardwalk, south along the Cedar Swamp trail (by Atlantic Cedars), east along Rt 128, and north alongside Shingle Place Hill and back to the parking lot. See the remaining trees which gave these areas their name, as well as the water supply in the Cedar Swamp area and its relation to existing threats including Shingle Place Hill. Atlantic white cedar trees are evergreen trees.
The name Cedar Swamp must have seemed more appropriate when this area was dominated by Atlantic White Cedar. Today we see the snags of large cedar trees looming over the boggy wetlands of Cedar Swamp. The Cathedral Pines was once a magnificent grove of old-growth Eastern White Pine and Hemlock. The main road made an “S” turn through it before School Street was relocated. MECT Trustees will guide you through these landscapes in the Wilderness Conservation Area off School Street, Manchester.
Fall Colors with Tom Henderson, Manchester Tree Warden
Sunday, Oct 15, 2023 10 am to Noon
Register here
Join Manchester Tree Warden Tom Henderson as he leads us on a rambling hike through the streets of Manchester. Along the way Tom will have stories about nearly every tree we pass. Foliage colors should be near peak, and you will learn so much about each type of tree we encounter.
Mosses and Liverworts with Sue Williams
Sunday, Oct 22, 2023 10 am to Noon
Register here
Sue Williams is a bryologist from Rowe, Massachusetts who has studied mosses for over thirty years, taught about their importance for over twenty-five years. She is currently one of the best field bryologists and bryo-teachers in the NorthEast. She finds neat things that the rest of us walk by, and she usually knows what they are before she gets her magnifying lens out.
Founders Board Walk Dedication
Sunday Oct 29, 2023 2 pm
Hike from MECT’s first conservation parcels to our most recent acquisitions with Jeff Cochand
Sunday Oct 29, 2023 2:15 pm – 4 pm
Register here
Back in 1963 Frances Burnett, Gid Loring, and Al Creighton began conserving land along the Manchester/Essex line . In 2023, 60 years later MECT continues to receive donations of land and has accelerated our acquisition of parcels. We’ll walk from the first parcels to the most recent.
Family Hike and Intro to Orienteering with Colin Kilpatrick and Troop 3 Scouts
Saturday, Nov 4, 2023 2 pm to 4 pm
Register here
Come join Colin, Troop 3 Scouts, and family members of all ages to learn some simple orienteering skills while traversing through the woods east of Southern Avenue to some parcels that MECT is in the process of acquiring. There is a huge erratic rock perched on ledge known as Tiltin’ Rock to visit along the way.
Lichen Learning with Elizabeth Kneiper
Saturday, Nov 11, 2023 10 am to Noon
Register here
Lichen expert Elizabeth Kneiper will teach us how to identify and understand the role of lichens in nature and explain what these organisms tell us about the health of our environment. Elizabeth became interested in lichens while teaching high school. She took field courses at Eagle Hill in Steuben, Maine and attended Tuckerman workshops during which lichenologist generously taught me lichenology. She has taught beginning lichen classes at the Native Plant Trust in Framingham. She is a member of the Friends of the Farlow Herbarium at Harvard University, and she is the current curator of the New England Botanical Society Cryptogamic Herbarium that is housed in the Harvard University Herbarium. She recommends bringing a small magnifying glass to get up close and personal with lichen along the way. This event has a rain date of November 18th. Please register to receive updates.
Past Events
Cleanup at Manchester’s Western Woods
Saturday, June 10, 2023 9 am to Noon
Please join us for a cleanup of a section of Manchester’s Western Woods. We’ll be entering from the Beverly town line, but the woodlands and the periphery of the wetlands are located on Manchester-owned property.
The old cart roads used to provide people with access to dump trash in this woodland and wetland area. While the placement of the gates has helped immensely to reduce dumping, we came across loads of trash while we were collecting data to certify vernal pools on the town-owned land. This is not good for the wildlife, nor for our drinking water, hikers and mountain bikers.
This is a cooperative effort with the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Cape Ann Trail Stewards – working together for the health of our environment and enjoyment of our open spaces and recreational trails. The meet-up location will be provided after you register. See you soon!
Please Register Here
Essex in Bloom – Guided Hike in Essex
Saturday, May 20, 2023
9 am to noon
We’re celebrating spring with Essex in Bloom! Join MECT for a guided 5 mile wilderness hike of moderate difficulty through mossy glens, by lichen-covered ledges and across quiet streams. Timing is perfect for blooming ephemerals like lady’s slippers, goldthread and dwarf ginseng. See some of the conservation land that MECT has protected piece by piece over the past 60 years. After the hike, join other Essex in Bloom celebrations at local establishments. So much! So Close!
Please register here
Ye 400 Acres with Jeff Cochand and Anita Brewer
Sat, Apr 8th, 10AM – 11AM
Please register here
Back in 1636, Salem granted 400 acres to 9 “freemen” in Jeffrey’s Creek. This was way out in the boonies, not the highly desirable land near downtown Salem. The 400 acre boundary ran right through what has become Powder House Hill. In 1645, Jeffrey’s Creek was renamed Manchester and the rest is history, well a lot of history. Join us as we traverse the boundary in PHH, now marked by a stone wall, and discuss what we’ve discovered about the entire boundary and Ye 400 Acres.
- Meet at the Scout House, 74 School St, Manchester
MECT is pleased to announce our Annual Meeting and Fall Hike Series!
Annual Meeting featuring “Bears in the Neighborhood”
Guest Speaker: Dr. Ben Kilham of the Kilham Bear Center
November 6, 4 PM – 6 PM
Dr. Kilham will raise our curiosity, dispel our fear, and educate us about living amongst black bears, as they are soon to be our newest neighbors here on the North Shore.
We’ll also have a short Annual Meeting to present 2021 financial results, 2022 activities (including an update on the ongoing defense of Shingle Place Hill), our plans for the future, and to elect/reelect Officers and Trustees.
Join the MECT community of friends and supporters for our return to in-person events. We can’t wait to see you! All are welcome to this free event. We’ll meet at beautiful Riversbend in Essex, thanks to the generosity of the owners. We’ll enjoy a cash bar and free Pizza Bar, courtesy of our sponsors. Gluten-free pizza options are available.
We are thrilled to meet in person at Riversbend, 35 Dodge Street, Essex, at this beautiful venue, courtesy of the owners. We are grateful for the generosity of our local business sponsors.
Dr Ben Kilham has authored several books on his experience with bears, including Among the Bears: Raising Orphan Cubs in the Wild and Out on a Limb: What Black Bears Have Taught me about Intelligence and Intuition, and his research has informed and influenced international bear conservation efforts.
October 22, 9 AM – 12 PM
Fall Trail Clean-up Day
with MECT Stewardship Committee volunteers
Roll up your sleeves and join MECT as we take a morning to nurture the trails we love! We’ll remove fallen limbs, replace signage and blazes, repair the boardwalk, and more. All ages and skill sets are welcome (including teens trying to fit in some community service hours). This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow MECT community.
October 23, 10 AM – 12 PM
Fall Hike – Sketching on the Boardwalk
with Slow River Studio
Sketching can change the way you see the world, tuning your eye to notice shapes, juxtaposition, and patterns. Sketching is known to strengthen focus and strategic thinking, enhance creativity, and improve memory. Join us for an Intro to Pen Sketching. Adults and kids are welcome, just bring a sketchbook and a pen. Slow River Studio will be on hand to run a lesson on MECT’s picturesque boardwalk and around Heron Pond. Maybe you’ll be inspired to incorporate sketching into a daily diary!
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Did you hear?
After the Zoning Board of Appeals in Manchester denied the permit for the affordable housing at Shingle Place Hill, the applicant appealed the decision to the State Housing Appeals Committee.
Our board of trustees voted unanimously in September to continue our efforts to protect Shingle Place Hill, in coordination with the town of Manchester, and other organizations seeking appropriate affordable housing.