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Date: 11/9/2022
HOLLAND – The Stevens Brook Sichol Community Forest is officially open to the public following a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 2.
About 30 people gathered for the unveiling of the elongated project and went on a guided tour of the wooded area.
Since 2015, the town of Holland has been working with Opacum Land Trust to come up with funds to purchase and preserve the Stevens Brook Sichol Community Forest.
Town Administrator Stacy Stout explained that the 176-acre property comprises forest and wetlands, with Stevens Brook, a cold-water fishery and the second-largest source of freshwater to Hamilton Reservoir, running through its center. A total of 17 acres of land are for municipal use and the remaining 159 acres is town owned, conserved open space that can be utilized by the public for outdoor recreation including hiking, nature viewing, hunting and fishing.
The town of Holland granted Opacum Land Trust a permanent conservation restriction on the Stevens Brook Sichol Community Forest, ensuring that it is never changed from its intended conservation purposes.
Before the ribbon cutting, Laney Wilder, executive director of the Opacum Land Trust, acknowledged a few members who played a vital role in this project. This includes President Leslie Duthie, Vice President Howie Fife, founding member Al Smith, Director Marita Tasse and Chief Operating Officer Amy Connery.
Wilder said the forest is a “great resource for people,” and its wildlife.
She went on to thank the people of Holland for approving the purchase of this property, which was voted on during the 2019 Annual Town Meeting.
Neal Bungard from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service said this project was one out of the 100 projects they have worked on across the state. He noted that he was there from the beginning and is glad to see it completed.
Aside from preservation and recreational use, Bungard said the forest can be used for educational benefits for the local schools, along with providing environmental and economic benefits to the town.
Since closing on the Stevens Brook Sichol Forest property on June 30, there have been many improvements. This includes trailhead parking, reimbursement for the state funds and submitted and received approval for the Forestry Management Plan.
State Rep. Todd Smola earmarked $50,000 to help the town of Holland complete this project. Smola said he looks forward to recommending people to visit the Stevens Brook Sichol Community Forest “for many years to come.”
“[There is] still a lot more to do,” said Stout. She explained that the town did an open space survey to gather feedback on what residents want to see the land used for. Stout shared that a lot of residents expressed interest in hiking/biking trails, historical sites and water resources, to name a few. She said they are also looking at developing recreational fields or other services for the town.
Richard Haller, chairman of the Holland Open Space and Trails Committee, provided a roughly one-hour tour to those interested in exploring the forest.
This project received funding and support from the following: Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity Grant Program, USDA Forest Service through the Community Forest Program, Fields Pond Foundation, Opacum Land Trust, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Friends of Hamilton Reservoir, state Sen. Anne Gobi and Smola. From the town of Holland, support came from the Trails Committee, Open Space Committee, Stout, the Board of Selectmen, Finance Board, town treasurer, Conservation Commission, Community Center and Highway Department.
The Stevens Brook Sichol Community Forest trailhead is located at the end of Blodgett Road.