Land trust says picnic table at Hidden Meadow Preserve preserved to protect late-blooming gentian; town told area is volunteer-maintained

Residents and Select Board members on June 16 raised maintenance and access questions about Hidden Meadow Preserve, and East Quabbin Land Trust stewards explained that the preserve is largely volunteer-run, that managers have limited maintenance to protect rare late-season gentian wildflowers, and that the property was purchased with a mix of state, town and private funding.

Resident Mike Stahl said he had noticed a picnic table and adjacent parking area becoming overgrown and asked whether the site was being maintained. A land trust representative (a volunteer preserve steward) replied that the East Quabbin Land Trust operates the preserve as a nonprofit with largely volunteer maintenance and one full-time staff member; stewards prioritize safety (trail hazards) and minimize disturbance to natural areas.

The steward said the area around the picnic table is intentionally cleared close to the table but that surrounding growth has been left to protect a population of bottle gentians. The steward described work with a state biologist, moving some plants during parking/access construction and identifying the plants as part of the gentian family; one species under review could be rare for Worcester County. “They are a very late season flower,” the steward said, estimating plants would bloom in late August or September and noting pollination requires certain bumblebees capable of opening the bloom.

The steward and other volunteers named Krista and Kathy as preserve stewards who have relocated and protected several plants. They said the land trust received funding to purchase part of the original tract: the original parcel offered for sale was about 275 acres but the land trust and partners acquired roughly 150 acres. The funding mix identified at the meeting: approximately $75,000 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, about $120,000 from private (land trust) fundraising, and about $450,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for the larger acquisition effort. The state holds a conservation restriction that limits certain activities on the preserve.

Select Board members clarified that the preserve is not town-owned and that the land trust carries liability insurance; the board heard that the town is not responsible for maintenance or liability but that the land trust welcomes donations and volunteer help. The land trust said it will accept funds and volunteer labor to improve maintenance and that the town and volunteers will coordinate if more active upkeep is wanted.

Board members also asked whether the preserve’s trails allow mountain biking; the steward said one trail was laid out with the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) for novice mountain biking while another trail avoids a natural heritage area and sensitive species. The land trust representative said the group would continue to clear immediate access around the picnic table and monitor the wildflower population.

Provenance: public comment by Mike Stahl and subsequent extended response from land trust stewards appear in the open-session public comment portion of the meeting.