Green Plan Final web - 9

Boyd Park-Cabin Branch. The largest of Cheverly’s natural areas, the Boyd Park-Cabin Branch Hub, includes the flood-plains of Lower Beaverdam Creek and Cabin Branch, and Boyd Park. The floodplains preserve the largest patches of wildflowers in Cheverly, perhaps only because they are mostly inaccessible for much of the year. The creeks support species found only around water, such as ducks, herons and kingfishers and even the occasional otter. Boyd Park contains a small patch of hardwoods, a hard surface fitness path, a playing field and picnic area, and the Cheverly Community Gardens. The floodplain is already under federal protection, but its vegetation is severely threatened by invasive species.

Euclid Park. The Euclid Park Hub adjoins Cheverly Euclid Park, an active-recreation area. Comparatively it is the richest area in both plant and animal species and thus functions as a source area for biodiversity that can generate a surplus to replenish the smaller hubs. It is especially rich in tree and shrub species and the herbaceous plant layer is slowly returning as invasive species are being removed. A deep stream ravine, gullies, scrub pine stands and prairie type grassy glades offer unique microhabitats for a diversity of vegetation. Tributary 1, which runs along the park’s western border, is essentially devoid of aquatic life due to heavy siltation from a construction site. The wetland adjacent to the creek is also affected by sediment runoff and disturbed hydrology and needs to be protected. The park playing field runoff is also eroding gullies in the woods. Euclid Woods has been the site of a youth science study and an historical-archaeological survey.

Woodworth Park. The Woodworth Park Hub is unique in having a wide variety of terrain from hilly upland to a marsh being fed by Tributary 3. The marsh filters and purifies the water, enabling the downstream part of the creek to support a variety of aquatic life. The park also includes some very old trees, mountain laurel, native azaleas and a small population of wildflowers. Woodworth Park has been the focus of educational, stream restoration and invasives removal activities by Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek.

Nature Park. The Cheverly Nature Park Hub, with its alternating ridges and ravines, provides adequate cover for smaller animals and woodland birds. Pine and hardwood trees dominate, with chestnut oak being the most plentiful. Mountain laurel is common and along with other shrubs has recently filled in the shrub layer. Ground level vegetation includes locally rare Indian cucumber-root, spotted wintergreen, ground pine and partridgeberry. It is also the free- flowing headwaters of Quincy Run. English Ivy and Oriental Wisteria are the predominant invasive plants.

Cheverly East Park. The Cheverly East Park Hub borders Tributary 4, with a wooded area adjacent to Route 50. It also has some very old trees and a well developed shrub layer. Removal of the invasive plants could allow the previously rich herbaceous layer to recover. Tributary 4 is another dead creek bereft of aquatic life, largely due to the fact that it derives most of its input from several outfalls channeling polluted water from town streets. Some creek restoration is planned by M-NCPPC. Additional tree buffer will help filter pollutants and prevent erosion of the stream banks.Corridors. Connecting corridors between the separated natural area hubs are essential to maintaining a healthy biodiversity. Cheverly’s currently available corridor routes (see map) can be enhanced in the future to complete the links among our natural areas. Directly connecting hubs with natural area corridors is preferred. Where this is not possible or practical due to other uses (such as roads and buildings) some landowners already voluntarily maintain these sites resulting in fewer gaps between hubs.

Backyard Woods. Many of Cheverly’s deep backyards,

• wooded areas -- our “green ribbons.” These areas range from less than an acre to nearly three acres in size. Protecting nature in your own back yard can contribute to keeping Cheverly green. Join with your neighbors to preserve, maintain, and increase these natural treasures.

• Form “block parties” to share ideas, plan, and carry out your block’s green management.

• Community organizations can help block groups survey their trees and other vegetation, provide information about removal of invasives, trees to plant or to avoid, and best practices.

• The town will provide incentives to homeowners to preserve their backyard woodlands, replace downed trees, or plant trees to fill gaps in the woodland connection; encourage homeowners planning building additions to preserve rather than cut trees; and post information on the town web site and other town media.

Want to know more? Read the proposal for Cheverly's Green Ribbons program, June 12, 2010.