Aesthetics

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene c. carolina) is one of six subspecies of the common box turtle and is listed as a vulnerable species. This photo was captured June 14th 2018, inside of the Wood Lot parcel.

The Wood Lot is an area where my Golden doodle can make unexpected friends, such as this Eastern Box turtle.

The Wood Lot is a critical habitat for migratory birds. A mere 9% of 1,451 species of migratory birds receive adequate habitat protection.

Native Milkweed (Asclepias) grows within the Wood Lot. Milkweed is crucial to the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. The plant provides the female monarch a safe place to lay her eggs. Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves.

The Wood Lot is home to a diverse range of toads. Having toads in an ecosystem means that in a single summer 10,000 insects, slugs, and snails are eaten. Having resident toads reduces the need for harsh pesticides or labor intensive controls.

The Wood Lot is connected to the Russell Millpond through the ground water and streams. Russell Millpond is where the threatened Red Bellied Cooters live. This species of turtles is only found in Plymouth Massachusetts.

With the destruction of this globally rare ecosystem we as a people will lose FREE benefits. Public land means that anyone can use the resources provided by the forest included and not limited to, recreational activities (hiking, biking, bird viewing), a place to gather firewood, an area for seasonal hunting, and being a part of the aesthetics.

The meadow of the Wood Lot supports honeybees. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee as an endangered species in 2018.

The White Coral Fungus (Clavicorona pyxidata) is a mushroom that is edible. Mushrooms serve important roles within ecosystems. They serve as food for wildlife, are key decomposers, aid in nutrient recycling, and have symbiotic relationships with trees and plants.