Woodward Forest
This is one of our most popular pieces of property. 
Interactive Trail Map
PDF Map
Winter Walk
Find Your Heart in Nature (Valentine's Day Walk, 2/12/23)
Walk in the Woodward Forest 2021 - short essays describing things to see along the trails, a brief history of the land, and information about its natural history
Walk in the Woodward Forest 2022 - the Gratitude walk. Map and essays about the walk including the history of Native Americans and colonists.
Walk in the Woodward Forest 2/12/2023
Photos, Alnylam Work Day
Photos - Gratitude Walk, November, 2022
Trail Gallery
Hand Drawn Map with key to numbers on map.
History of Woodward Forest PPT.
Woodward Forest Short Essay
Map 28 Parcel 34-01 30 Acres Old Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest. Purchased from Russell C. Woodward, this makes up the second major part of the Woodward Forest preserve. It includes the remains of a meadow, and mixed woodland — part upland and part bordering on wetland. There are over three miles of paths in the Forest that sample all of the various habitats. There are three or four vernal pools in the Forest. One, near the entrance at Gateway Lane, includes an old well, and is deeply shaded and small, and spotted salamanders have laid eggs there. Another, along the orange trail, is large, sunny, and has a bottom of grass and sphagnum moss. The third, along the blue trail, is partly shaded and has a bottom of rotting leaves. The LPS web site shows a sampling of the plants to be found along the paths. Purchased March 31, 1982. SIGNED (for valuation see #42)
Map 28 Parcel 35 18.75 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest. Part of the original purchase to create the Woodward Forest preserve, which now totals almost 250 acres. It was part of the old Woodward farm, which was a mixed operation with woodlots and pasture that ran originally from Old Taunton Avenue to the Wading and Three Mile rivers. At one time greyhounds were trained on a portion of the land. There is a continuation of the Shell Oil pipeline through it, which makes a path along one portion. Paths have been cut and are maintained in the land, often with the help of Wheaton College students, and are accessible from the turnaround at the end of Gateway Lane, where the Rowes have build a set of wooden steps to make access easier. Parts of the current paths follow old cart paths established in the 19th century. Bought from Carlton H Woodward April 6, 1979. SIGNED (for valuation see #42)
Map 28 Parcel 36 2.83 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest. Part of the purchase from Russell C, Woodward to make up the Woodward Forest preserve. March 31, 1982. (for valuation, see #42)
Map 29 Parcel 8-01 39.03 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest The Old Calvin Willis Farm is mixed hardwoods, pine and undergrowth. There are many briars in the sunny areas. It includes a vernal pool that becomes extensive wetlands during rainy springs. There are small natural drainage swales trees and snags provide a variety of nesting through it. A number of dead habitat. Purchased from Robert Becker June 12, 1983. Signed. (For valuation see #42)
Map 29 Parcel 64 22.82 Acres Pine Street Rear
Woodward Forest, The Brown Farm Meadow and Woodlot purchased by Kraska and given to the Society as part of the swap for the Smalley woodlots in the Great Woods. It abuts the Three Mile River and is wooded with some low-lying spots that are wet at times. Signed (for valuation see #31)
Map 29 Parcel 65 2.23 Acres Pine Street Rear
Woodward Forest, The Bradford Woodward Meadow. Part of the Foster lease-sale agreement, December 8, 1993. This and Parcels 66 and 67 are identical, adjacent woodlots abutting the Three Mile River with mixed hardwoods and shrubs. Signed.
Map 29 Parcel 66 2.23 Acres Crane Street Rear
Woodward Forest, part of the Brown Farm Meadow. Part of the Foster lease-purchase agreement, December 8, 1993. Signed.
Map 29 Parcel 67 2 Acres Crane Street Rear
Woodward Forest, part of the Brown Farm Meadow. The third small woodlot included in the lease-purchase agreement with Barbara and Marjorie Foster,
December 1993. Signed.
Map 29 Parcel 72 5 Acres Crane Street Rear
Crane Meadow. Purchased from Ina Rubin, whose husband was a lawyer in town for many years and picked up tax lands and other properties scattered about the Town as the opportunity arose. This land is across the Three Mile River from the Woodward Forest, and protects the viewscape from the Forest path along the river. Purchase arrangements completed with Ellen Rubin O'Hearn $5,000.00
Narrative for Map 29
LPS own Woodward Forest. Also some land donated by Kraska and some Conservation Commission land. Unfortunately some of the land along the river has been developed.