The Orleans Conservation Trust protects and restores natural lands—for people and wildlife, the health of our waters, and the character of our community. | | Something Special is Taking Shape at Cedar Pond | | |
We're excited to announce that OCT has received a $260,000 grant from the Massachusetts Conservation Partnership Grant Program to help protect 3.78 acres of land along Cedar Pond. This brings us closer to our $585,000 goal to purchase and preserve Cedar Pond's ecologically rich shoreline and surrounding habitat, and to create official public access to the pond for the first time.
Cedar Pond is the town's fourth-largest pond, and its shoreline supports nesting egrets and other wading birds. This acquisition will expand an existing 12-acre corridor of nearby protected land, including an Atlantic white cedar-red maple swamp just to the west. While some paddlers have used a small, unofficial kayak put-in for the pond at the end of Cedar Pond Road, access is limited and difficult to maneuver. This project hopes to protect the wildlife habitat while opening the pond to responsible public access.
As OCT Executive Director Steve O’Grady shared in a recent press release, “[Cedar Pond] is an ideal location to improve equitable access to nature and recreation.” The site’s proximity to downtown, the Cape Cod Rail Trail, and nearby affordable housing makes it especially meaningful for Orleans.
This project is part of a broader $12 million statewide investment in land protection and outdoor access. OCT joins fellow recipients Barnstable Land Trust, Harwich Conservation Trust, Orenda Wildlife Land Trust, and Truro Conservation Trust in advancing conservation across Cape Cod.
With the state grant secured, we now hope to partner with the Town of Orleans through Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to complete the acquisition, and we will continue to raise private donations to bring this project across the finish line. Every contribution helps protect Cedar Pond for wildlife and future generations.
Learn more and support our efforts at orleansconservationtrust.org.
| | Cedar Pond from above. Photo by Hardie Truesdale. | | |
Wednesday, November 19, 10am - 12:00pm
135 Quanset Road, Orleans
Join us for a 2-hour walk around Meadow Bog, Sarah's and Twinings Ponds through more than 80 acres of OCT-protected land, highlighting the connections between lands and waters.
Use the link below to save your spot; pre-registration is required.
| | Upcoming Preschool Exploration Programs | | |
Fall is a wonderful time to explore the great outdoors! If you have a youngster aged 2–5 ready for adventure, join Naturalist Ms. Andrea Higgins for one of OCT’s Preschool Exploration walks. Together, we’ll visit unique conservation destinations in Orleans to watch colorful leaves twirl to the ground, breathe in the crisp air, and look for signs of wildlife. Get outside, get creative, and get moving while learning about the land we live on.
Our remaining 2025 dates (Nov 10, Dec 1, Dec 8) are currently full. However, we encourage you to join the waitlist by clicking "Notify Me" on SignUp (link below). Spots tend to open up closer to the program date!
Andrea Higgins is a Naturalist and Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Locations and directions will be provided leading up to the program date.
Preschool Exploration dates for January - March will be announced soon. Stay tuned for registration details!
| | | “ReWilding: An Intro to Natives” with Trevor Smith | | |
Trevor Smith, Design and Education Director at Weston Nurseries in Massachusetts as well as the ReEarth Studio of Social Impact Collective in Boston
Wednesday, November 12, 6:30pm (Doors open at 6 pm)
CHO Meetinghouse (Centers for Culture and History in Orleans)
3 River Road, Orleans, MA
Native plants and pollinators are all the buzz these days. What are natives? Why should we plant natives? How can we work them into our landscape and gardens?
Join OCT in this brief class providing you with all you will need to know to make informed decisions for your fall planting.
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In Case You Missed It...
"13 Moons" Recording is Now Available
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On October 8, Orleans Conservation Trust hosted Darius Coombs, Cultural Outreach Coordinator for the Mashpee Wampanoag Education Department. Darius, a member of the Wampanoag Nation himself, spoke to a crowd of over 70 about the rich history of the tribe on the land we now call Cape Cod, the impact of colonization, and the lives of Wampanoags in Mashpee and beyond in present times.
You can now view the recording on our YouTube channel from the link below.
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Volunteer Workdays are scheduled for the first and third Thursday of each month. Can't make Thursday work, but still want to participate? Contact Sam O'Neill at sam@orleansconservationtrust.org
We're using SignUp to organize our Volunteer Workdays!
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click here to see OCT's SignUp page.
2) Review the events listed and choose the spot(s) you'd like to sign up for.
3) Sign up! It's easy - and you will not need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.
| Invasive Removal at Cullen Conservation Area | |
Thursday, November 6, 9:30-11:30am
Meet at 203 S Orleans Road, Orleans
Join us as we work to remove invasive privet and brambles from a restored meadow habitat at our Cullen Conservation Area. Removing invasives makes room for our native pollinators and grasses to spread and flourish.
Be sure to dress for off-trail travel and bring work gloves (a necessity today; these invasives are thorny!), water, and any personal items you might need.
As parking is limited, we will meet at the OCT office at 203 S. Orleans Rd (MA-28) in Orleans, and carpool to the property.
| Restoration Maintenance at Ice House and Reuben's Ponds Conservation Area | |
Thursday, November 20, 9:30-11:30am
Meet at 245 Tonset Road
Help us maintain the trail at Ice House/Reuben's Ponds Conservation Area. We will spend the day trimming nuisance Greenbriar from the site and opening space for the native grasses and shrubs.
Be sure to dress for off-trail travel and bring work gloves, water, and any personal items you might need.
We will meet at the Ice House/Reuben's trailhead located at 245 Tonset Road.
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Upcoming Programs:
- *Preschool Exploration Walks (11/10, 12/1, and 12/8)
- Three Ponds Walk (11/19)
Upcoming Events:
- “ReWilding: An Intro to Natives” Lecture with Trevor Smith (11/12)
*Preschool Exploration dates for January - March will be announced soon. Stay tuned for registration details!
| | Orleans Conservation Trust is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1970. Over its 50-year history, the Trust has preserved more than 660 acres in Orleans. Among the most active land trusts on Cape Cod, OCT stewards a range of ecosystems, from freshwater ponds and wetlands to saltmarshes, wooded upland, and coastal grasslands, managing its lands to protect and enhance wildlife habitat, restore native ecosystems, and provide public recreation and education through a network of trails and informational signage. OCT also educates residents and visitors about important natural values and environmental issues in Orleans and around Cape Cod via guided walks, free lectures, its website, newsletter, and other communications. | | | | |
