Hale Reservation and Nature Jay
To Live In
Westwood
This weekend, as my family and I went on the family walking club nature walk at Hale Reservation, I was reminded of what must certainly qualify as one of the best resources in Westwood: Hale Reservation. Hale was even singled out in a Boston magazine article recently as one of the reasons Westwood is the "Gold Standard." However, an even greater resource is found in the person of "Nature Jay" who leads many of the nature hikes and is ubiquitous at community events where he shares his love of nature with kids. You certainly don't have to be a Westwood resident to enjoy the benefits of Hale, but it's great knowing it's only 5 minutes away.
The short hike on Sundays takes a while...because there is so much to see. The kids are curious and Nature Jay encourages them and is amazingly patient. But I learned a lot too. Did you know that poison oak mimics the plants it grows near? I know the difference between Virginia Creeper (growing up in Virginia) but I didn't realize that poison ivy/oak can be hard to identify because the leaves do vary slightly as they blend in with other plants. Did you know that the shelves of fungus you see on dead trees are all part of one big mushroom that is devouring the dead tree from the inside out? Do you know how to estimate the age of a pine tree sapling without cutting it down to count rings? Do you know how to tell the difference between coyote and fox "evidence?"
I grew up in a very rural environment...4 acres in southeastern Virginia with nothing but farms around me. I spent my childhood exploring the woods and always felt a strong connection to the natural world. You don't expect to find that kind of connection in a suburb 10 or so miles away from Boston, but in Westwood, you do.
Hale Reservation is more than just 1200 acres of woods however. "The mission of Hale Reservation is to provide stewardship of its land and resources and to offer educational experiences that foster responsibility, leadership and appreciation for the natural environment." The Hale website describes the many programs underway to serve this mission.
