Chatham Conservation Foundation, Inc.

Chatham's Land Trust - preserving land for the benefit of people, plants, animals, and ecosystems.

E - News
Morris Island Loop Trail Sign, photo by Carolyn Hanrahan
Featured Trail - Morris Island Loop Trail
Greetings!

Happy Start of the Summer! The season is really ramping up, and in this email we are announcing a Virtual Garden Tour , an update to our Annual Meeting , and our regular bi-monthly Featured Trail email.

Virtual Walk - July 10th, 10am
CCF Trustee Cathy Weston is hosting a live virtual walk through her native pollinator and woodland gardens. Click here to tune into the Zoom meeting, or Click here to request a sharable link and a list of phone numbers to listen in.

Annual Meeting - August 17, 5:30PM
For the safety of our members and community, we have made the difficult decision to move our Annual Meeting from the Wequassett Resort to an online platform. We will miss seeing you all in person, and hope you can attend the virtual Annual Meeting. Annual Reports and Ballots are being mailed to our members, and the link to our meeting will be on the homepage of our website.


Featured Trail

Now more than ever it is important to feel connected in nature, and we hope you take an opportunity to visit the beautiful Morris Island Loop Trail this summer. This trail offers fantastic ocean views, serene wooded paths, and serves as an important nesting site for native endangered birds.
The area surrounding the Morris Island Trails is particularly interesting, with sections being owned by the town of Chatham, The Monomoy Wildlife Refuge, and The Chatham Conservation Foundation. This protected conservation land is home to a wide array of species, including seals, different species of whales and dolphins, and important endangered birds such as the Piping Plover, Red Knot, and Roseate Tern.

The trail has some inclines and steep staircases. Always remember to stay away from poison ivy (a glossy three leafed plant) on the edges of the trails, and check for ticks! The Morris Island Loop Trail is open half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset and is only accessible during low tide . Click here for maps of other great walking trails around Chatham, or check the box of maps by the info panel in front of the Mayo House. Please stay healthy everyone!

-The CCF Team

Featured Property - Morris Island Loop Trail

This .75-mile loop trail is located on Morris Island at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. Parking is located at the Visitor’s Center on Wikis Way and additional spaces are available on the Morris Island Road Dike. Follow the wooden boardwalk down to the beach and detailed signage will lead you to the Morris Island Loop Trail.

The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1944 to provide habitat for migratory birds, spawning horseshoe crabs, and other wildlife. It encompasses an area of over 7,600 acres of ocean, marshes, dunes, and ponds, all bustling with life. The Refuge’s headquarters is located on Morris Island and consists of a visitor’s center, beach, overlook area, and trail system.

The Morris Island Trail Loop itself traverses through beach, forest, dunes, salt marshes, and tidal flats. It is a pristine location for bird watching, with visitors being able to view magnificent migratory birds such as piping plovers, roseate terns, and red knots. Local flora includes the Virginia Rose and Native Columbine. Keep in mind that the trail is inaccessible during high tide. We hope that you enjoy your walk!


A Message To Pet Owners


Due to the Morris Island Trails containing important nesting sites for endangered birds, your canine companions are unfortunately not allowed on the beaches & trails during summer. Come back anytime between September 17th and April 30th with your pets!

Pictured here: Dorothy's cute dog Nola, who will not be on this trail until the Fall.
Thank you for supporting CCF
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