Invasive Plant Monitoring - Millborn Farm

Overview
We are seeking a small group of volunteers to assist with invasive plant monitoring at Millborn Farm. Millborn Farm is a 195-acre, recently acquired Trustees property opening in June of 2026. Several invasive plants have overtaken the fields and stone walls, including asiatic bittersweet, glossy buckthorn, multiflora rose, and garlic mustard. To inform further land-use decisions, we will be monitoring invasive and native plant percent cover 1-2 times per month at three sites. This data will provide information on how rapidly each invasive species spreads and outcompetes natives.

Training on the monitoring process will be provided to volunteers. Volunteers will monitor three sites, which will be simple 50 meter transect lines. Every 5 meters, volunteers will place a 1-meter quadrat on the ground/brush and estimate species percent cover. For example, if half of the quadrat is covered in asiatic bittersweet, the percent cover of asiatic bittersweet would be 50%. This will provide 10 points of data per transect line. Ideally, we would like to monitor each site 1-2 times per month.

After expressing interest below, volunteers will be contacted by staff to participate in a brief training that will go over this monitoring protocol. Once trained, volunteers are encouraged to join regular group monitoring sessions, but can self-schedule if the times do not work for their schedule! We will establish the time and dates of regular sessions after discussion on when works best for everyone.

Benefits:

• Experience doing ecological monitoring - applicable for environmental careers and similar volunteer work
• Experience collecting field data
• Contribute to valuable data collection

Qualifications:

• Interest in ecology and environmental monitoring
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Ability to walk over uneven terrain
• Previous experience with plant identification is a plus, but not required
• Previous experience with ecological monitoring is a plus, but not required
• A willingness to learn and collaborate!

Time Requirement:

• About 4-6 hours per month, but is variable depending on availability. Volunteers can monitor anytime Millborn Farm is open to visitors (sunrise-sunset any day of the week). 

Location:
Volunteers will meet at the front entrance to Millborn Farm at the start of each shift. Millborn Farm is located between Millis and Sherborn at 97 Bullard Street, Sherborn, MA. 

Questions? Contact Lily Pelton at [email protected] or (860)-770-8699

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For more information
Contact the Volunteer Services Team at [email protected]

To explore other volunteer opportunities, visit our volunteer page at http://volunteer.thetrustees.org/
 
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Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 125 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our 116 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.
 
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