By Richard B. Primack
“Let a slight snow come and cover the earth, and the tracks of men will show how little the woods and fields are frequented.” - Henry David Thoreau in his Journal.
The COVID-19 pandemic began in March. Soon large numbers of people thronged to the Webster/Hammond Woods for some exercise and fresh air during the lockdown. While it was good that people were using the Woods, the hikers and mountain bikers widened existing trails and made many new trails. The Newton city government reacted by putting up signs stating that using bicycles and making new trails were not allowed. By July, fewer people were coming into the Woods and human impacts were reduced. City officials are considering closing off the new trails later in autumn.
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| A new trail formed in the Woods by hikers and bikers. |
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| The city put signs to discourage biking in the Woods. |
This summer also
marked one of the most severe droughts in Boston’s history. Streams and springs in the Woods ran dry.
Black birch leaves turned yellow and began to fall in August, especially on the
ridges. Leaves of coast pepperbush and sassafras were drooping with thirst. The
soil was dry and cracked and mushrooms of all types were almost completely
absent. The forest was quiet as the
drought was too severe to support an active community of birds and insects. Such
extremes of weather are one of the predicted outcomes of climate change.
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| Sassafras leaves drooping due to drought stress. |
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| Early yellowing of black birch leaves due to the drought. |
For more details, see:
Newton Tab:
https://newton.wickedlocal.com/news/20200514/popularity-of-newtons-parks-during-pandemic
Boston Globe:
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