Robs Photos Rob MacDonald Photos

Wildlands Trust

Founded in 1973, Wildlands Trust is one of the largest and oldest regional land trusts in Massachusetts. With numerous preserves spread primarily across southeastern Massachusetts, Wildlands Trust is working to ensure the protection of 14,000+ acres of natural and agricultural lands across 59 towns and cities. Photos below are from Wildlands Trust preserves including Striar Conservancy in Halifax, Willow Brook Farm Pembroke, Great River Preserve Bridgewater, Tucker Preserve in Pembroke.

Photos from Wildlands Trust preserves around the the South Shore and southeastern Mass.

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Indian Head River Trail

In 2018, a 3-year Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant was awarded to Wildlands Trust to expand and improve what was a loose confederation of trails crossing both public and private properties. Using the funds from the RTP, Wildlands Trust planned out the route, blazed the trail, built and installed both trail head kiosks as well as informational signage along the trail.

During the buildout, the Indian Head River Trail Alliance (IHRTA) was established and it is composed of representatives from Wildlands Trust, The North South River Watershed Association, Town of Hanover, Town of Hanson, Town of Pembroke, and Plymouth County. The role of the alliance is to monitor the trail, recommend and execute required maintenance, meet on a periodic basis, etc.

Following completion of this work in late 2021, the area now has over six and a half continuous miles of trail, connecting 325 acres of conservation land along the Indian Head and North rivers. The neighboring trail systems of Wildlands Trust’s Tucker Preserve, Hanover’s Chapmans Landing - Iron Mine Brook, and the Mattakeeset Trail are now linked with the Indian Head River Trail, offering one complete loop of these conservation properties.

The North South River Watershed Association is now leading the effort to remove two dams on the IHR as steps in bringing this river back to it's natural state.

https://www.nsrwa.org/indian-head-river-restoration-project-update/

The photos in the gallery below are less about the trail itself and more about what can be seen while hiking the trail.

Photos included in this gallery were all taken along the Indian Head River between Chapman's Landing and State Street in Hanson. Also included are some historical photos that give a glimpse into the industrial history along this scenic stretch of the river.

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Nature

Flowers and plants, Bugs, Creatures, Fungi, Vernal Pools, and River Herring.

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Norway and the Lofotens

Many of these photos were taken while onboard the Hurtigruten Kong Harald, also known as the coastal express. We boarded the ship in Bergen and disembarked at Svolvaer on the Lofotens. Photos are in no particular order.

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South Shore and South Coast of Massachusetts

Photos taken in the towns of the South Shore and South Coast regions of eastern Massachusetts.

Miscellaneous photos taken in the areas known as the South Shore and South Coast of Massachusetts.

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Birds

Photos broken into two categories, terrestrial and pelagic. The pelagic shots were taken mostly on Stellwagen Bank and the the Canadian Maritimes. Terrestrial shots taken in New England, Canadian Maritimes, and western US.

Bird photos mainly from New England and the Canadian Maritimes

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Interesting Places

Zion National Park, Bath Maine, White Mountains, Canadian Maritimes, Quebec & Western US.

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A Bear Just Knows - By Maggie Downey and Matthew MacDonald | A Bear Just Knows

Authors Maggie Downey and Matthew MacDonald wrote this story in memory of their nephew Avi, who was stillborn in 2023. A Bear Just Knows is a tale of wisdom disguised as a children’s book.

Glass Negatives

Photos scanned from old glass negatives I have.

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Stellwagen Bank

The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is one of 14 marine preserves in the National Marine Sanctuary system. It is located off the coast of Massachusetts, 25 miles east of Boston, and covers a 842-square-mile area.

Photos from Stellwagen Bank National Marine sanctuary.

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Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area

This area was once known as the Great Cedar Swamp until lumber, industrial, and agricultural endeavors transformed the landscape to what we see today. After all of the cedar trees had been harvested, Albert C. Burrage purchased sections of this area in the early 1900’s and built a large factory on a 40 acre site at what is now the corner of Pleasant and Hawkes Ave. This industrial complex consisted of 4 factory buildings, offices, workers homes as well as a small hotel. After a large fire in 1919, the factory was closed and next came large scale cranberry farming which continued till 2002 when the property (1600+ acres) was purchased by the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Photos captured within Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area, located along a section of land shared by Hanson and Halifax.

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Ships, boats, bridges, etc.

Ships, fishing boats, bridges, and other objects associated with the maritime industry. Included here are some photos of Soviet era ships in port at Halifax Nova Scotia.

Ships, Boats, Bridges, etc.

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Cranland Airport, Hanson, MA

Cranland Airport is located in Hanson Massachusetts just off Route 58 near the Halifax town line. Most if not all of the photos in this gallery were taken at the EAA flyins held on the third Sunday of each month (May thru October).

Cranland Airport - Hanson MA

This small airport, surrounded by cranberry bogs, was opened in 1960.

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Hanson, MA 02341

Several photo galleries broken out into the following categories which includes The Last Meadows Hiking Trails, Wild Hanson, Around Town, Various Hanson Conservation properties.

Photos from around the town of Hanson

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Robs Photos

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