North Andover, Massachusetts

Total Acres: 50

Year Conserved: 1972

Property Description

The Farnsworth Reservation is adjacent to Town Farm, forming a greenbelt with a state agricultural preservation restriction on Smolak Farm, state wetlands alongside Bruin Hill, and town conservation land. Look for vernal pools, sedge meadow, Great Horned Owls, and snakes on this property. During drier months, a vernal pool may appear as a depression in a wooded area. See if you can find signs of where the water has been.

Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds are temporary pools of water, which tend to reach their greatest depth in spring, due to snow melt. They are usually devoid of fish, and therefore allow the safe development of newly hatched amphibians, like tadpoles, toads and salamanders.

For more information about vernal pools, consult the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team at www.capeannvernalpond.com.

Sedge Meadow: Sedge meadows form in bottomland floodplains of fairly sizable creeks. The periodic flooding keeps woody undergrowth to a minimum.

Parking

Parking is limited to four cars.

Park on South Bradford, on the same side as the entrance to the woods. Be aware of traffic speeding around the blind curve of South Bradford.

Directions

From Route 495:

Take Exit 43 onto Massachusetts Avenue and proceed 1.8 miles to North Andover Center. In the center of town, veer left onto Salem Street and travel 0.6 mile to Dale Street. Turn left onto Dale Street and go 1.2 miles to Coventry Lane. You will pass Town Hill Farm on your right along the way. Turn right onto Coventry Lane, and drive 0.5 mile. Turn right onto South Bradford Street, then proceed 0.3 mile to the trail head on the left.

From Route 95:

Take Exit 53B onto Route 97 North towards Georgetown. The very first left will be Pond Street, marked also with a green sign that says Boxford Village. Take this street 0.5 mile, then turn right onto Ipswich Road. Drive 4.8 miles on Ipswich Road, which becomes Dale Street at the Winter Street intersection. Proceed 1.0 mile on Dale Street to Coventry Lane. You will pass Smolak Farm on your right along the way. Turn left onto Coventry Lane, and follow for 0.5 mile. Turn right onto South Bradford Street, then proceed 0.3 mile to the trail head on the left.