The Orleans Conservation Trust protects and restores natural lands — for people and wildlife, the health of our waters, and the character of our community. | |
Invasive Plant Removal at Henson's Cove | |
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Thursday, September 12, 9:30-11:30am
Meet at 203 South Orleans Road, Orleans
Help us support OCT’s habitat restoration efforts at Henson’s Cove with an invasive species removal project.
Please bring work gloves, proper clothes, water, and any other personal items you may need for off trail travel.
We will meet at OCT’s Office located at 203 S. Orleans Rd and drive to Henson’s Cove as a group to reduce vehicle traffic.
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Saturday, September 14, 12:30-1:30pm
203 South Orleans Road, Orleans
In support of the Orleans Pond Coalition’s 2024 Celebrate Our Waters event, OCT is installing a rain garden to act as a filter for water runoff from our parking lot. Come learn about how rain gardens protect our groundwater and provide valuable wildlife habitat as we install our very own!
Please bring gloves, water, and any other personal items you may need.
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Meadow Bog Eco-Restoration Maintenance | |
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Wednesday, September 18, 9:30-11:30am
174 Quanset Road, Orleans
Join us as we remove those pesky invasive plants that have regrown within the recent restoration area by the Meadow Bog Trailhead (174 Quanset Rd).
Please bring work gloves, proper clothes for off-trail travel, water, and any other personal items you may need.
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Orleans Pond Coalition's Celebrate Our Waters 2024 | |
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This is Orleans Pond Coalition's signature event of the year, now bigger and better than ever! OPC is offering dozens of events around Orleans to celebrate the beauty of our environment and our waters. Tour Orleans' new wastewater treatment plant, bring your family to OCP's Rock Harbor family fun tent, go on eco hikes, kayak tours, sailing, and much, much more!
Click the image to see the full schedule and details.
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Preschool Explorers with Andrea Higgins | |
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Friday, October 4, 9-10:30am
Orleans; location given at registration
Fall is a wonderful time to explore the great outdoors! If you have a youngster aged 2-5 ready for adventure, we hope you’ll join Naturalist Ms. Andrea for this Preschool Exploration sponsored by Orleans Conservation Trust and Harwich Conservation Trust.
We will gather at a unique conservation destination in Orleans to watch colorful leaves twirling to the ground, breathe in the fresh air, and see signs of wildlife. Get outside, get creative, and get moving while learning about the land we live on.
Location and driving directions will be included in your registration confirmation email.
Photos courtesy of Gerry Beetham.
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Upcoming Walks:
- Hike to Pochet Island - registration full (9/15)
- Get to Know OCT Walk (10/3)
- Preschool Explorers (10/4)
- Woods Cove (10/10)
- Three Ponds (11/13)
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Upcoming Talks:
- "Coexisting with Our Wild Neighbors" by Stephanie Ellis (10/9)
- "Birds, Bees, and Butterflies in Your Backyard" by Mark Faherty (11/6)
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October Sneak Peak:
- 10/3: Get to Know OCT Walk: join OCT trustees for a leisurely stroll through one of our gorgeous conservation areas.
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10/9: "Coexisting with Our Wild Neighbors" Lecture: Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care’s executive director, will discuss human impacts on the lives of our native wildlife and offer tips for how we can all coexist. She will suggest alternatives to rodenticides for controlling rodent populations, dispel myths about coyotes, and describe how we benefit from Virginia opossums and other creatures that share our outdoor space.
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At Home with Nature
Nature-friendly practices you can adopt for your yard
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What is a Rain Garden?
Rain gardens play a crucial role in managing stormwater runoff by capturing and filtering rainwater, preventing it from overwhelming drainage systems. Designed with native plants that absorb and slow water flow, rain gardens reduce erosion and promote groundwater recharge. This eco-friendly approach not only mitigates flooding but also conserves water resources by encouraging natural infiltration. Read about how to build a rain garden here.
Check back monthly for more At Home with Nature tips, and visit our new webpage!
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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. | | | | |
