Trail starts with a short accessible trail to picnic tables near wildflower meadows and views of Groton Hill Music Center. Trail turns left and becomes a ½ mile, steep hike to top of hill with western views of GHMC, Mt Wachusett’s and more. Connects to Hurd and Blackman trails.
Size: 38.5 acres
Owner: Groton Conservation Trust
The Bates Land consists or two connected parcels, one of 38.5 acres given by Natica Bates in 1968, and the other of approximately 10 acres donated by Arthur and Camilla Blackman in 1984.
Since 2022, the Groton Conservation Trust (GCT) enhanced community accessibility for this flagship property by installing a six foot wide accessible path to the picnic area and installing accessible picnic tables. GCT also restored and improved the overall property. Volunteers cleared an extensive overgrowth of invasive plants from around an existing picnic area to open views across the adjoining stream and meadows, worked on improving the trails, and have begun restoring and upgrading the meadows to encourage native plants.
The Bates Land has an accessible parking space and an accessible trail that extends from the parking lot, over James Brook, through several meadows and around a picnic area with accessible tables. The meadows were restored in 2022/2023 and include a mix of native wildflowers and grasses. There is an ongoing effort to remove invasive plants around the meadows and along the banks of James Brook and Cady Pond Brook.
Moderate
