Preservation of Open Space Needs your help

Please show your support for local land conservation and our purchases of Hardy Pond parcels by donating to our year-end appeal.

Common Good cafe coffee mug is placed on a table above an image of the Waltham Land Trust Logo

Common Good Coffee Co. Give Back

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31

Enjoy a delicious cup of java at the locally-owned Common Good Cafe coffee shop and co-working space "focused not just on profits, but on creating a wave of positive change for all mankind."

Head over to 419 Moody Street in Waltham and raise money for the WLT by purchasing a “Common Good coffee,” which gets you a hot or iced, light or medium blend coffee and a token for their “Giving Wall” where you’ll place the token in the box under WLT’s poster. Token is valued at $3 and can be bought with something other than a coffee, just tell the cashier you also want to buy a token.

Get out on the trails

You can hear the trails calling your name... go for a walk!

Open space needs your help

Protecting and preserving takes time, energy and your support.

Please consider a year end donation to help protect and preserve open space in Waltham.

Thank you!

A Commitment to Open Space

The Waltham Land Trust: Protecting, preserving and connecting since 1999

News

Green Possibilities Forum 2023 – City Councillor Candidates

October 13, 2023

On October 11th and 12th, the Waltham Land Trust held the Green Possibilities Forums for City Councillor candidates. With the At-large Councillor candidates on the first night and the Contested Ward Councillor candidates on the second night, these forums provided Waltham’s voting public an opportunity to directly hear candidates’ views about environmental and conservation topics.…

Read More

Waltham Land Trust Secures New Office Space

August 8, 2023

The Waltham Land Trust is excited to announce the relocation of our administrative offices to downtown Waltham. It is with mixed emotions that we depart from 240 Beaver Street, where we rented from the University of Massachusetts starting in 2002. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the collaborative and inspiring Waltham Field Station community comprised…

Read More

Green Space Blues Jam – June 3, 2023

July 27, 2023

84 nature and music lovers turned out for our annual gala, which was once again held at 500 Totten Pond Road thanks to the continued generosity of Boston Properties. There were items from the online auction, food from Ruth’s Chris, Brelundi, and Star Market, plus beverages from Boston Beer Company and Sav-Mor Liquors. A Band…

Read More

18th Annual Green Space Blues Jam, July 30, 2022

August 1, 2022

On a lovely evening at 500 Totten Pond Road, the WLT held its biggest annual fundraising event of the year. Boston Properties kindly donated the space, which was expansive and included lots of popular outdoor seating. Items from the silent auction were spread out, ready for bidding! Ruth’s Chris and The Local provided hors d’oeuvres…

Read More

Prospect Hill Park Plant Communities Walk, July 16, 2022

July 16, 2022

WLT Director Lesley Sneddon led a group of sixteen flora enthusiasts on a walk in Prospect Hill Park. Using her book “A Walk in the Park” as her guide (available for purchase on the WLT website), Lesley highlighted special and endangered plant communities on the way to the top of Little Prospect. More photos  

Read More

Animal Adaptations Program for Kids, April 2, 2022

April 2, 2022

To kick off Earth Month, thirty-four 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and their families came to Prospect Hill Park for a visit with Debbie from Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm, who brought a rabbit and an opossum! Afterwards, folks were encouraged to check out the new park amenities and the view of Boston from the base…

Read More

Chateau Group Table, March 31, 2022

March 31, 2022

Eleven WLT supporters gathered at The Chateau restaurant the last day of March to share food, drinks, laughs and good times while raising money for our mission. Several others stopped by to say hello. Join us next time!  

Read More

Cub Scout Walk Along the Charles, March 27, 2022

March 27, 2022

On a brisk March Sunday, fourteen members of Cub Scout Troop 250 and their parents joined WLT Steward Darnell and ED Sonja for a stroll along the Charles. We meet at the Woerd Ave Boat Launch and walked towards the Watch Factory, explaining the Woerd Woods plant restoration project Darnell was a part of and…

Read More

Hike from Paine Estate to Shady’s and Back, March 13, 2022

March 13, 2022

After two postponements, sixteen hikers finally took to the woods for a 3.75-mile trek along the Western Greenway trail. WLT VP Barbara Jacobs led the group from Stonehurst through the Chester Brook corridor to the Shady’s Pond Conservation Area and back. Lots more photos!

Read More

MCRT Cleanup w/RotarAct, March 5, 2022

March 5, 2022

RotarAct, a group of Brandeis students connected with the Rotary Club, and members of the Waltham Chamber of Commerce cleaned a section of the Mass Central Rail Trail and around the McDevitt School. Litter was a little tough to see since there was still plenty of snow on the ground, but we found some! More…

Read More

Upcoming Events

Chester Brook Corridor North Walk

12/09/2023 1:00 pm - 12/09/2023 2:30 pm

Specials To Support WLT!

Common Good Coffee Co. Gives Back

Enjoy a delicious cup of java at the locally-owned Common Good Coffee Co. shop and co-working space "focused not just on profits, but on creating a wave of positive change for all mankind."

Raise money for the WLT by purchasing a “Common Good coffee,” which gets you a hot or iced, light or medium blend coffee and a token for their “Giving Wall” where you’ll place the token in the box under WLT’s poster. Token is valued at $3 and can be bought with something other than a coffee, just tell the cashier you also want to buy a token.

This wonderful give back from Common Good Coffee Co. is good through Dec 31st, 2023. They are located at 419 Moody Street, Waltham MA. Hours open: Mon-Fri: 7-5, Saturday: 8-5, Sunday: 8-3.

Buy Chateau gift cards online

Any gift cards purchased online with the coupon code WLT will earn the Waltham Land Trust 5% of that sale. Get yours today!

Waltham Wildlife

We aren't the only ones that benefit from preserving open space in Waltham. Here are some pictures of Waltham wildlife that you could find living on or passing through the open spaces in Waltham. Some of the pictures were taken at night with a camera that was triggered by a sensor.

The Rat Poison Problem:
How Rodenticides Harm People, Pets, & the Planet

Climate change, a construction boom, and growth in human population density have led to a dramatic rise in rats and mice in and around metro areas like Boston. Rat poison usually is the main method for dealing with the problem. But these poisons are killing local wildlife and pets and endanger our young children, while not actually proving at all effective in reducing rodents.

On May 6th, 2023, local naturalist and conservation advocate Laura Kiesel gave a presentation that reviewed the history of rodenticides, their impact on our health and environment, and solutions for a way forward that preserves our planet.

You can watch the recording of the presentation by Laura Kiesel, and also look at the slide show that Laura Kiesel presented.

The Waltham Land Trust is advocating for solutions other than rodenticides. We hope that you will too.

Waltham Land Trust Annual Meeting 2022

The Waltham Land Trust held their Annual Meeting in person at First Parish and also broadcast it live for people at home using the webinar feature of Zoom. Below is the Waltham Land Trust's slide show from the meeting, as well as the the slide show about Frederick Law Olmstead that the guest presenters Isabel Schulman and Sophia Bass Werner used, in two parts.

Our Mission

Founded in 1999, the Waltham Land Trust’s mission is to create a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring, and acquiring open space.

The Land Trust envisions growth in public appreciation of natural resources, preservation and restoration of native habitat, and increased biodiversity to foster a healthier environment.