Forest Bells Restoration

The Bells are Back! – March 2014

George Brackett and bell “rider” during installation. Can you spot him?

Visitors to the Forest Bells on the GCT’s Blackman Field and Woods property know that three of the bells have been missing since fall 2013. They were removed for repairs, and we’re happy to report that all six bells are up and making wonderful music again.

The Forest Bells were created by local artist and craftsman Paul Matisse in 1995, commissioned by the inaugural Artist’s Valentine project, and installed on land owned by Arthur and Camilla Blackman. The Blackmans donated the land to the GCT in 2000, and the Trust has been the steward of the land and bells since then.

Like any piece of outdoor engineering, the Bells require attention and maintenance. Paul and his staff have been both attentive and generous in helping to keep the Bells in good working order. Over the years, we’ve discovered that the main spring at the top of each bell is prone to failure. When this spring breaks the hammer rests against the bell, making it impossible to ring. We’ve also found that the arm and hammer assembly can dent and damage the bells as they swing around.

Local arborist and bell-hanging wizard George Brackett provides the expertise to both install and remove the Bells. Last fall he took down the three non-working Bells and they were delivered to Paul’s shop in Groton. Paul’s staff analyzed the failures and found solutions. Modifications were made to the arm and hammer to prevent further damage, and a wholly new spring design was installed. The bells were also re-coated with Nyalic a transparent protective coating.

But there were still three Bells in the forest without these improvements.

Ken and Joseph installing a new spring.

Paul, George and Ken and Joseph from Paul’s staff set out on June 19th to set up a field repair shop in the woods to complete the job. The three repaired bells were re-installed, and then each of the three remaining bells was taken down. All modifications were installed and each was re-coated with Nyalic. The completely refurbished Bells were then rehung in their proper locations.

Paul has since re-visited the site and reports they are again ready to make beautiful music in their hemlock grove. All they need are visitors to explore, discover, and ring them!

To find the Forest Bells, take Old Ayer Road south toward Ayer from Main Street near the Mobil Station. Then, turn left onto Indian Hill Road and go all the way to the end. Park cars, but not near the house at the end. Walk back to the end and bear left up a dirt road into the trees. Continue along this road, passing at one point under power lines and continuing down into forest. At the next obvious fork, with the main path going up to the right, turn sharp left on to the side road. About 50 yards later there are a group of fallen trees barring an old road leading uphill to the right. Walking over or around the fallen trees, follow that road up the hill. Continue until you find yourself in a grove of hemlocks, quite different from the pines and oaks all around. You are at the Forest Bells.

Joseph and Ken repairing the Hammer Mount.

Paul Matisse and George setting up.

George is ready for the last installation.

The Groton Conservation Trust (GCT) announced that the MA Department of Fish and Game has received a Conservation Restriction (CR) from the GCT that will put the Bruner Land and the Mason Back 100 into permanent protection. While these two properties are owned by the GCT, the CR guarantees permanent conservation protection, which the Commonwealth has the power to enforce.

The project was a remarkable collaboration between Massachusetts and a federal program, the Forest Legacy Program (FLP), which assists the state with costs associated with obtaining the CR. In Massachusetts, the Forest Legacy Program is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in cooperation with the US Forest Service. Since joining the program in 1993, Massachusetts FLP has protected more than 16,000 acres of forest land on more than 100 properties.

Anne Gagnon, the Northeast District Land Agent for the MA Dept. of Fish and Game, worked with GCT Trustees Rick Muehlke, Ed McNierney, Chuck Vander Linden, Mark Gerath, and former GCT President Ted Lapres to secure the funding from the federal program for this CR through a much larger Forest Legacy Project named the Nashua Wild & Scenic Rivers and Forests Project. This multi-million grant application includes 19 additional tracts of land involving 9 communities and 2,098 acres of Land. Muehlke applied for the funding through the Forestry Legacy Program Steering Committee, which reports to the Nashua River Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council.

The Steering Committee was led initially by Al Futterman of NRWA, and more recently by Anna Wilkins of North County Land Trust in Leominster. Patience and perseverance were what led to ultimate success. “Five years of monthly meetings with homework was a lot. But it was worth it”, said Muehlke, who was GCT’s representative on the Steering Committee. The first Forest Legacy application didn’t rank high enough across the country, but with some tweaking and application was re-submitted and became approved.

“This is a great example of how ecologically valuable land can be permanently protected by conservation agencies working together,” said Gagnon. “The Groton Conservation Trust has been a great partner, providing knowledgeable assistance to MA Wildlife as we work to conserve key areas of the state, and create protected corridors across New England.”

Gerath, who championed the process once he became President of the GCT, said this kind of state and federal coordination will be key to the future of land protection. “Local land trusts are key in identifying key areas. Supportive partners at the state level, like Anne, ensure our local protection efforts are as successful as they can be. It’s a win all around.”

In 2013, the Department of Fish and Wildlife acquired title to an 80-acre portion of the Mason Back 100 and a 20 acre parcel named “Bruner North” from the GCT. This is a prime habitat for Blanding’s turtles, an endangered species as well as other state-listed species. The area is also the site of the largest peat bog in the area, rare this far south in New England. This first acquisition allowed the state to create and later expand the Unkety Brook Wildlife Management area, now preserving over 400 acres in Groton, Dunstable, and Pepperell.

With this new CR in place, the rest of the Bruner property and the portion of the Mason property still owned by the GCT will be permanently conserved.

The Bruner Land and Mason Back 100 properties are located off of Old Dunstable Road. While the Bruner Land is trailless, it is open to the public. The Mason property trails will still be open to the public. However, no motorized vehicles are permitted.

Susan Hughes, President of the GCT, confirmed the grant of the CR by the GCT to MA Dept of Fish and Game and acknowledged the central role played by Anne Gagnon.

“While the GCT has been working for over 60 years to protect land in Groton, conservation requires partnership. We are very lucky and grateful to work with Anne. Her passion for protection and land knowledge has helped the GCT identify areas that are valuable to our core mission of habitat protection, recreation and climate resiliency.”

Conservation efforts also require persistence, said Hughes. “Special thanks to Mark and Rick for shepherding this project through the years and seeing it to completion.”

You can read about the history of Bruner Land and the Mason Back 100 by following these links.

Groton Conservation Trust

Groton, Massachusetts

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