About the Bedford Conservation Land Stewards

The Bedford Conservation Land Stewards were started in May of 1995 by Yan Thomas, a former member of the Bedford Conservation Commission. It was her idea that the steward should "monitor the trails and pick up the trash" ..."taking the burden off the Conservation Commission". Twenty-two Bedford residents signed up to adopt twenty sites.

Most stewards "adopt" a town-owned conservation area and act as a watchdog, caretaker, and advocate for that area. Caretaking usually takes the form of picking up litter, clipping brush along the trails, and developing management recommendations for review by the Bedford Conservation Commission.

Some Stewards have gone beyond these activities to helping build new trails, flora and fauna surveys, sign maintenance, improved trail maps, nature photography, articles featuring the conservation areas for the local newspaper, grant proposals for acquisition and trail projects, and participation in preparation of the Open Space & Recreation Plan. The Stewards meet twice a year and welcome others.

How to become a steward

There are still conservation areas in need of adoption. All citizens who wish to take an active part in caring for local conservation land are invited to join the Stewards. For more information about the Stewards or to find out how you can help, please contact the Conservation Office at Town Hall, or apply to be a steward by completing the Enrollment Form and mailing it to the Bedford Conservation Land Stewards.

Our goal:

To provide volunteer labor to maintain and monitor conservation areas managed by the Bedford Conservation Commission

Objectives:

• Ensure that a Bedford Land Steward is assigned to each conservation area.
• Provide training and support for stewards.
• Ask each steward to survey and report on their adopted conservation area each Spring (April) and Fall (October).
• Hold a steward meeting each Spring and Fall to discuss current conservation area needs.
• Report on conservation area needs to the Conservation Commissioner, and when appropriate, to the Bedford Trails Committee.
• Represent the Bedford Land Stewards on the Bedford Trails Committee.
• Provide publicity for the Bedford Land Steward program when appropriate.