Grafton Land Trust — Our Properties

Quick Facts

Parcel Name: Great Meadow Conservation Area

Address: 12 George Hill Road

Size: 175.0 acres

Owner: Town of Grafton

Acquired: 1989

Conservation Restriction: No

Trails: Yes

Biking: Yes

Horseback Riding: Yes

Canoe Launch: No

Hunting: Yes

Fishing: No

Camping: Yes

Swimming: No

Directions

The Great Meadow Conservation Area consists primarily of wooded marsh and features abundant wildlife habitat for fish, birds, and mammals. Humans can enjoy a family-friendly 1.3 mile trail loop with scenic views of meadow and marsh wildlife habitat. The opportunities to hike, bird watch, horseback ride, and enjoy this remarkable section of town are an important piece in the quality of life we take pride in as a community.

Field on Great Meadow Gateway parcel

(photo: S. Cardenas)

The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Programs designated this property as a Core Habitat area for aquatic, plant, and wildlife as well as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Grafton's 2007 Open Space and Recreation Plan also designated this property as priority area for conservation.

Grafton’s water supply is under ever-increasing pressure. The town's Frost-Blithewood, Great Meadow, and Great Meadow Gateway parcels are further enhanced by the Land Trust's Nicholson Family Preserve abutting to the west and conserving nearly 200 acres the of Miscoe Brook Watershed and ACEC.

Additional benefits beyond clean drinking water include conserving more of the eastern wildlife corridor near the Henessey property to the north and the Pell Farm CR property to the southeast.

History

The Great Meadow appears on the 1831 map of Grafton:

Great Meadow on 1831 Map of Grafton

There is a folk story in Grafton maintaining that the true location of John Eliot's Shelter Rock is not off of North Street, but instead is the small outcropping of rocks a dozen feet from the north edge of the meadow on the Great Meadow Connector property. The synopsis of the Shelter Rock story is: "John Eliot reputed to have taken shelter here when he first visited Hassanamesit." Either way, it's fun to see the rocks and imagine some true hide-and-seek.


		Great Meadow Conservation Area
Open Spaces Our Properties Other Grafton Open Spaces Trail Maps Hiking Hunting Mountain Biking Horseback Riding		Property Overview Ecology Photos Maps & Trails Quick Facts Parcel Name: Great Meadow Conservation Area Address: 12 George Hill Road Size: 175.0 acres Owner: Town of Grafton Acquired: 1989 Conservation Restriction: No Trails: Yes Biking: Yes Horseback Riding: Yes Canoe Launch: No Hunting: Yes Fishing: No Camping: Yes Swimming: No Directions The Great Meadow Conservation Area consists primarily of wooded marsh and features abundant wildlife habitat for fish, birds, and mammals. Humans can enjoy a family-friendly 1.3 mile trail loop with scenic views of meadow and marsh wildlife habitat. The opportunities to hike, bird watch, horseback ride, and enjoy this remarkable section of town are an important piece in the quality of life we take pride in as a community. (photo: S. Cardenas) The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Programs designated this property as a Core Habitat area for aquatic, plant, and wildlife as well as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Grafton's 2007 Open Space and Recreation Plan also designated this property as priority area for conservation. Grafton’s water supply is under ever-increasing pressure. The town's Frost-Blithewood, Great Meadow, and Great Meadow Gateway parcels are further enhanced by the Land Trust's Nicholson Family Preserve abutting to the west and conserving nearly 200 acres the of Miscoe Brook Watershed and ACEC. Additional benefits beyond clean drinking water include conserving more of the eastern wildlife corridor near the Henessey property to the north and the Pell Farm CR property to the southeast. History The Great Meadow appears on the 1831 map of Grafton: There is a folk story in Grafton maintaining that the true location of John Eliot's Shelter Rock is not off of North Street, but instead is the small outcropping of rocks a dozen feet from the north edge of the meadow on the Great Meadow Connector property. The synopsis of the Shelter Rock story is: "John Eliot reputed to have taken shelter here when he first visited Hassanamesit." Either way, it's fun to see the rocks and imagine some true hide-and-seek.