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Roots & Rivers

Haverhill Conservation in Action

February 2026

Let's Hike Haverhill in 2026!

Join Team Haverhill and Essex County Greenbelt Association for FREE monthly guided hikes around Haverhill's beautiful open spaces. Check out the list of planned hikes and add the registration dates to your calendar (generally 4 weeks prior to hike date). Spots fill quickly! The first hike this year is a winter walk at Tattersall Farm on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 1am-noon. Get outside to enjoy a wintery walk and hot cocoa at this cherished historic site! *Note: Spots are already filled, but you can join the waitlist in case someone cancels!

Plan for the Future of Your Farm

Have you thought about the future of your farmland? Want to learn how to plan for, protect, lease, finance, or pass on your farm?

Essex County Farm Bureau, American Farmland Trust, and Essex County Greenbelt invite you to join your fellow Essex County farmers, landowners, and farmer support organizations to learn about tools and resources for helping you put into motion your goals for your land. This special event will include speakers from American Farmland Trust, Land For Good, MA Department of Agricultural Resources, Essex County Greenbelt, The Carrot Project, Metrowest Mediation Services, The Bernardin Law Firm, and more. There will be lots of time for questions, networking, and resource-sharing.

This event and dinner are FREE! Advance registration is required.

EVENT DETAILS:

Wednesday, March 4th, 2026

6:00pm-8:00pm

Topsfield Fairgrounds

Coolidge Hall

207 Boston St, Topsfield, MA

The event is capped at 40 farmers, and advance registration is required, so reserve your spot now! Please CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and reserve you spot. Reach out to Jamie Pottern, jpottern@farmland.org or 413-240-4621 with any questions.

MassWildlife Invites Public Feedback on Proposed Changes to Hunting Laws

To increase access and opportunity for hunting in Massachusetts, there are limitations in place that would require legislative action to change Sunday hunting, hunting with crossbows, and the minimum discharge setback distances for hunting.

Learn more about why MassWildlife is collecting feedback.
Participate in a public listening session TODAY February 3 at 1 pm on Zoom
Or submit the public feedback online form by February 6th at 5 pm

Valentine's Day Cards for the Wild at Heart

Valentine’s Day is around the corner! Here’s a card for every occasion 😃💘 Send a card with an animal native to Haverhill to a loved one for a good chuckle. Click on an image or go to this link to download a card.

Valentine's Day Cards for the Wild at Heart | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Happy World Wetlands Days!

Wetlands: Sacred. Life-sustaining. A timeless legacy. Ours to protect.

Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services and functions for humans, including clean water, open space, habitat, economic vitality, and cultural heritage. Less than 1% of Earth’s freshwater is usable and most of that is contained in wetlands, including about a third in rivers and lakes.

Yet, wetlands are among the most vulnerable ecosystems globally. In the US, we have lost more than 50% of all wetlands since the 1780s.

The degradation of wetlands undermines human wellbeing, impacts human rights and erodes traditional knowledge systems. Valuing, conserving, restoring and financing wetlands is no longer optional – it is essential to securing the foundations of life on earth.

Take a moment to celebrate wetlands and learn a little more about why they are so valuable.

Visit a Winter Crow Roost

Clever and loud, crows are a common sight in Haverhill throughout the year. In fall and winter, groups of crows (usually called a murder) scavenge for food and flock around the city throughout the day before meeting thousands of others in their nightly communal roost. While this behavior is not entirely understood, scientists believe crows roost in such masses to avoid predation, build bonds, and socialize. Lawrence has seen an annual winter crow roost for decades. Winter Is the Perfect Time to Take Up Crow Watching, so plan a visit to Lawrence to experience this incredible show! Learn more about Lawrence's Winter Crow Roost.

Watch this video of a crow roost in Lawrence by GBH News

Haverhill's #BestInSnow Winter Landscapes!

Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing? On a winter hike looking for wildlife tracks? Pretty sunset or neat angle? Making snow angels and snowmen? Whatever it is - get some fresh air, explore Haverhill's park system, and show us how you spend winter outdoors in Haverhill! Share your photos of what's #BestInSnow in Haverhill with conservation@haverhillma.gov or tag us on Facebook or Instagram!

We'll give credit to the photographer when we use the photos in our socials and e-newsletters.

Mass Audubon Outdoor Almanac

What does Mother Nature have in store for the coming weeks? Learn about everything happening in Massachusetts-from the phases of the moon to bird and wildlife happenings-in Mass Audubon's Outdoor Almanac.

Haverhill Trails Stewards

Do you love spending time in Haverhill’s parks and open spaces? Give back to the trails you hike, bike, birdwatch, or ski by becoming a Haverhill Trails Steward! Stewards work on their own time by reporting issues, picking up litter, clearing small debris, and performing light trail maintenance and also join group workdays to tackle larger projects as a team.

Learn more about the program and sign up to join the team!