Places to Explore — Metro West

Not Ready for Visitors

Brewster Woods Wildlife Sanctuary, Concord

131 ACRES

Brewster Woods Wildlife Sanctuary is situated along the banks of the Concord River, bordered to the west by Monument Street and to the south by Ball’s Hill Road and the October Farm Riverfront conservation property (Town of Concord / Concord Land Conservation Trust). The property was formerly part of the country homestead of William Brewster (1851-1919), an early leader in American ornithology, curator at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the first President of Mass Audubon. The property includes a private residence used for Mass Audubon staff housing.

Conservation Features: The site is predominantly forested with extensive wetlands on the eastern side and smaller wetlands throughout. Two sizeable meadows provide some open habitat in addition to lawns near the buildings. The floodplain forest along the Concord River is the most significant natural community found on the property. A wetland impoundment area was apparently created by William Brewster to provide habitat for ducks and other water birds.

Farrar Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, Lincoln

16 ACRES

Farrar Pond Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in a residential area, bordered to the north by Route 117 (South Great Road) and to the south by Farrar Pond. The property includes a private residence used for Mass Audubon staff housing, but a public walking trail through the wildlife sanctuary connects with trails in town and other nearby conservation lands.

Conservation Features: Most of the wildlife sanctuary consists of upland forest with a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees. Although the habitat types present at Farrar Pond are not rare, the mixed forest is of relatively high quality, having few non-native species present and closely resembling oak-hemlock-white pine natural community type as described by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.