SLT staff and volunteers have been hard at work this month at Fuller Farm! Over this past year of uncertainty, Fuller Farm has remained one of our most popular preserves for visitors. To improve accessibility to this preserve, we’ve renovated our parking lot and increased its capacity. Thank you to our donors for making improvements like this possible!
Please note changes to Fuller Farm’s parking lot:
Visitors may now park nose-in along the berm, perpendicular to Broadturn Rd, and nose-in along the opposite side of the lot facing the field. The parking lot is now one-way traffic only, as indicated by the new “Entry” and “Exit” signs. This change creates a safer, more predictable parking lot pattern for busy days. Please, do not park on the grass outside of the lot, or on the shoulders of the driveway or Broadturn Rd. If the lot is full, come back later or visit another preserve.
While Fuller Farm is a popular destination amongst hikers, it is also a critical habitat for ground nesting birds, especially bobolinks. The North American Breeding Bird Survey identified a 65% population decline in Bobolinks between 1966 and 2015. To protect these grassland nesting birds, particularly from human and dog disturbance, the Hayfield Trail has been rerouted to the left of the parking lot. The new trail follows the tree line, crossing a small stream and allowing a long view across the field to the dooryard maples and old foundation. The reroute provides recreational and habitat benefits alike, adding 0.2 miles to the trail network and bypassing the large muddy area in the middle of the field. The new trail favors a simpler, cleaner crossing with a short span bridge, allowing for the muddy area of the field to return to its natural state as a small wetland. This reroute also allows SLT to keep the Hayfield Trail open year round, even during Bobolink nesting season in the spring and summer. Please note: the field is closed during nesting season (May to August), so stay on marked trails and keep your dog leashed when close to a field. Yes, even your Very Good Dog!