Long Crouch Woods Demonstration Project

The Franklin Park Coalition is partnering with the Boston Parks Department to test each component of the proposed Woodlands Management Plan. Here's what park users can expect to see in Long Crouch Woods, the small woodland around the old Bear Dens near the Egleston Square corner of the park, over the coming months:

•  Tree pruning and dead tree removal. You may hear contractors with chain saws and see bucket trucks. Diseased limbs will be pruned to prevent the spread of rot and extend the life of trees. Dead trees will be cut to open space for young trees to thrive.
• Volunteers clearing invasive plants, especially glossy buckthorn. Big orange weed wrenches help pull these densely growing small trees out by the roots.
• Path maintenance by FPC's summer Youth Conservation Crew. To repair paths and prevent erosion, water bars will be installed, mulch spread, and ruts filled in. Desire lines that are bordered by trees that are being damaged may be closed. If you see a narrow path with big logs blocking it, please don't jump over them to use the path - we're trying to save the trees on either side.
• Signs alerting you to herbicide use. We will rope off and post signs in a few small areas where the most intractable invasives cannot be removed manually by volunteers. If you have concerns, please read the detailed plan and background for the decision to use low-toxicity herbicides.
• Scattered grains of soil enrichment material. Volunteers will use hand held spreaders with cranks to counter the high acidity in park soils and add nutrients that will aid new plantings.
• Clearing of dense bush to improve public safety. Sight lines will be created through the trees and eliminate the possibility of people hiding to engage in illegal activity in the park.
• Newly planted saplings and understory plants! We hope you'll join us for the most fun aspect of the work. In spring and fall native trees, shrubs, and grasses will be planted in areas where invasives have been removed. We'll select plantings from the recommended list of native trees and plants and Olmsted's original Emerald Necklace Plant List.