It’s fair to say that the weather has not looked favorably on our Monthly Hikes with Faith. So far, I have had to prepare for ice, snow, wind, rain, mud, and flooded trails. No sun. Even so, someone always shows up. On one cold, rainy May morning, three people came out to look for spring flowers. As we walked slowly looking avidly at the ground, what was cold and wet became refreshing. Invigorating. We exclaimed over every subtle blossom – the bright star flowers, foamflowers, and just-out-of-sight jack in the pulpit. We saw trillium-gone-by, and lady slippers-to-come and a fascinating slime mold.
What can I learn from this? North County Land Trust’s community includes people who eagerly venture outside, even just to catch a glimpse of the fleeting beauty of nature. Birds, amphibians, and the quiet progression of plants all occur just out of sight – a flick of a feather or a peeking petal – and we enjoy coming together to celebrate their beauty.
Budding Pink Lady’s Slipper
Yellow Jelly Spot
Scarlet Tanager
Painted Trillium
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Baltimore Oriole
While that’s very true and I know NCLT has many readers who love a good walk in the rain, we must acknowledge that cold, wet, and soggy are not exactly everyone’s idea of a good day out. In fact, some people are not so keen on the outdoors on the best of days, fearing everything from ticks to bears. As people who care about protecting land and trails, we have our work cut out for us when it comes to making the case that everyone benefits from contiguous forests, intact wetlands, and the trails that traverse them. With that in mind, I reached out to the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation for some data about how open spaces and trails support community health. They replied that Outdoor recreation in Massachusetts provides significant economic, quality of life, and health benefits, contributing to both individual well-being and statewide prosperity. For example:
- Economic Benefits – Outdoor Recreation contributed over $13 billion to the Massachusetts economy supporting over 103,600 jobs; local recreational resources enhance property values and support small businesses in rural and gateway communities.
- Health Benefits – access to trails within our communities increases passive activities that promote better physical and mental health. Children in particular benefit from time outdoors.
- <<READ MORE from the November 2024 Report>>
Of course, this report does not even touch on the community benefits that come from the way forests and wetlands help address the impacts of climate change by reducing the impacts of flooding during high precipitation events, providing natural cooling, and carbon sequestration. Not to mention the value of conserving essential habitats for invertebrates, birds, reptiles, and mammals – the very things that give us a thrill when we catch a glimpse of them in their day-to-day routines. But that’s ok. The primary message here is that conserving contiguous forests, fields, and wetlands makes for healthy communities. And that’s where you come in!
As a part of NCLT’s community, we hope you take every opportunity to share the importance of what we do together. Invite people out on our events, or introduce them to our properties and trails. Landowners, tell you stories of land protection, especially your reasons. Whether it’s for the birds, the views, or for your children, there are people out there who are waiting for you to open the door and take them outside!