Mandell Hill Hardwick

	Mandell Hill: Mandell Hill is the southern unit of the 200-acre Morss-Mixter Estate owned and managed by the East Quabbin Land Trust. This is a dynamic property, anchored by the active agriculture on the land that is designed to promote both local, sustainable farming and fully functioning ecological systems. At the heart of this is the cooperative efforts of the Land Trust and a local organic grass-fed beef operation: the Land Trust providing prime grazing land and the farmer providing active management of the landscape, highlighted by the 25-acre agricultural grasslands of the property grazed on rotations that allow for the fledging of grassland birds such as bobolink, savanna sparrow and eastern meadowlark. This cooperative has also spawned extensive landscape restoration efforts centered upon the reclaiming of acres of former pasture lands from invasive plants so that these areas can once again function as important grazing land as well as important grassland and early successional habitat. Birding is interesting at Mandell Hill year-round. Summer offers grassland birds, many breeding eastern bluebirds, and even breeding American Kestrel around the active farmland. The steep, rich slopes below the agricultural lands offer breeding forest species such as Scarlet tanager, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker and an assortment of warblers. Autumn can especially interesting at the site, especially following rains,as the puddles in the fields attract migrating shorebirds such as Least Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs, as well as an assortment of waterfowl. This also a nice spot to catch migrating Common Nighthawks. Winter can be very quiet - and windy - but the fields often produce Snow Buntings and Horned Larks, and Northern Shrike is seen on occasion. Spring is an exciting time as the dusky fields are alive with displaying American Woodcock, wet depressions support migrating Wilson's Snipe, and a host of other migrants and breeders, from Killdeer to Olive-sided Flycatchers pass are either establishing territories or stopping over on their push northward. Getting There The main entrance to Mandell Hill is on the south side of Barre Road, across from the intersection with Ridge Road in Hardwick. From Hardwick Common (Route 32A), follow Barre Road east for approximately 1.5 miles and the parking lot will be on the right side of the road. From Route 32 follow Barre Road approximately 1.5 miles west, up the long, winding hill. The parking lot will be on the left, at the crest of the hill. Look for the kiosk and the white wooden fence. Exploring Mandell Hill The Mandell Hill property can be a rewarding place for a quick visit or a full day exploration. Just keep in mind that this site is both a working farm and can often be active with restoration activity. Please stay on trails, be mindful of electric fencing, and do not bring dogs. Also, keep a distance from any heavy equipment: dozers, excavators and logging equipment may be in operation from time to time as larger restoration projects are in motion. For a general summary of restoration activity on the property, please see THIS page. For a general description of the Mandell Hill trails, click HERE. From the parking lot on Barre Road, the main section of the property can be accessed by the dirt farm road that bisects the main hayfields on Mandell Hills open plateau. The East Quabbin Bird Club has put out a large number of bluebird boxes along this road and along the margins of the fields and several of these annual support multiple broods of eastern bluebirds, along with tree swallow, house wrens and black-capped chickadees. Additionally, EQBC has placed several kestrel boxes at the margins of the large fields which have produced American kestrel young an a near annual basis. Walking along this road in spring and summer look and listen for bobolink, savanna sparrow and eastern meadowlark. Bobolink and savanna sparrow numbers continue to grow as restoration efforts continue, and it is expected that soon meadowlarks will become a prt of this grassland. Just through the gate and to to the east is the foundation of the Mandell family homestead. The barn foundation is a striking stone structure dating to the 1700's and at its height supported an on-site cheese factory. Nearly forgotten and enshrouded by Asiatic bittersweet, this historic landmark was reclaimed in 2004 by the East Quabbin Land Trust and a great historic treatment on the Mandell family was researched and written by a local historian. This account is available by contacting EQLT. Beyond the Mandell Barn Foundation is the recently reclaimed pasture land formerly known as "The Tangle". No longer an invasive patch of Asiatic bittersweet and multi-flora rose, these pastures are well on their way to becoming prime pasture land again and supporting early successional birds. These pastures are surrounded by electric fencing, so do not enter them. Still, from outside of the fence chestnut-sided warbler, blue-winged warbler, indigo bunting, gray catbird and brown thrasher can be seen or heard. Additionally, the slopes of this reclaimed area support a healthy population of American butternut, a somewhat rare tree in Massachusetts. Back on the main trail, look left at the longview of the Ware River Valley, including Winimusset WMA, and the broadside look at Mount Wachusett in the near distance. Soon the trail will fork, and bearing left will take you through a forest loop marked by yellow blazes. This is a one mile round-trip and provides a nice tour of the semi-rich forests of the Mandell Hill-Ruggles Hill slope. This is the slope that supports the very rich forests of the Moose Brook Reserve just to the north, also described on these pages.

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