Trustees Receive $49K State Grant For Weir Hill Restoration

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover's Weir Hill Reservation is in line for habitat restoration work after the Trustees of Reservations were awarded nearly $50,000 by the state this week.

The Trustees will get a $49,050 Climate Change Habitat Resilience Grant to restore oak-hickory barrens at the North Andover site, according to a news release from the Baker-Polito Administration.

The state awarded $216,078 in grants to five conservation groups and municipalities Tuesday as part of the grant program administered by MassWildlife.

According to the release, tree mowing and timber harvesting at Weir Hill will prepare the site for a prescribed fire.

"These actions will allow yellow indigo plants to thrive while serving as a critical host plant for endangered pollinators such as the frosted elfin butterfly and the scrub oak feeder moth," the release said. "Exposed bare mineral soil from these management actions will also benefit a highly specialized state-listed plant."

Other grants went to work at Coonamessett Fields in Falmouth, the Housatonic River and Rising Pond in Great Barrington, the Desert Natural Area in Marlborough, Chapin Meadow in Monson and Wales and Bartholomew’s Cobble’s Ashley Pasture in Sheffield, another Trustees property.

"The Commonwealth’s investments in improving wildlife habitat will assist in the restoration of regional biodiversity throughout the state," Gov. Charlie Baker said. "Through the Climate Change Habitat Resilience Grant Opportunity Program, the positive management actions being taken are natural solutions that will result in a more diverse, resilient landscape of wildlife, plants and other natural environments."

"I am thankful to the Department of Fish and Game for granting Weir Hill Reservation a Climate Change Habitat Resilience Grant," said North Andover state Rep. Christina Minicucci. "The preserved land at Weir Hill Reservation sits on our town reservoir and ensuring its continued environmental health is essential to the overall health of our community. This grant will allow for the cultivation of plant life necessary to host endangered pollinators, a critical component of long-term environmental sustainability."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.