Get to Know the Waltham Land Trust

June 28, 2025

On May 7, Waltham Land Trust Executive Director Sonja Wadman was the featured guest in the League of Women Voters’ Know Your City series. In this engaging conversation, Sonja dives into the heart of the Land Trust’s mission, ongoing projects, and its growing impact on the Waltham community.

🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube

🌿 What Is the Waltham Land Trust?

Founded in 1999, the Waltham Land Trust (WLT) is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to conserving open spaces, restoring ecosystems, and connecting the community to nature. The idea was born out of frustration that the city was neglecting opportunities to preserve green space. Citizens joined forces to create a city-wide organization—and the WLT was born.

Since then, WLT has:

  • Trained over 300 trail stewards
  • Supported native habitat restoration
  • Advocated for land conservation protections
  • Launched community programs like Save Waltham Wildlife
  • Hosted signature events like the Green Space Blues Jam and 5K Trail Run/Walk

🧤 Powered by Volunteers

WLT thrives because of its passionate volunteers—especially the Trail Stewards who help maintain local trails, remove invasive species, and plant native vegetation. There’s also a core group helping with outreach, mailings, and events. WLT volunteers are truly the lifeblood of the organization.

💡 Education & Advocacy

From informative e-newsletters to hands-on events, WLT keeps the public engaged and informed. The team also advocates for conservation restrictions on city-owned land, ensuring green spaces are preserved for future generations.

WLT has also been instrumental in raising awareness about the dangers of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), which pose serious threats to local wildlife and pets. Through the Save Waltham Wildlife campaign, they are working with the city and institutions like Brandeis to promote safer alternatives.

🗺 Trails and Access

Waltham is rich in trails, but many residents don’t know where to go or how to access them. WLT offers printable maps and guides on their website for dozens of open spaces. While many trails are wooded and not ADA-accessible, WLT is working to identify and highlight more accessible options.

Some trail hubs include:

  • Prospect Hill Park
  • Mass Central Rail Trail
  • Charles River Pathway
  • Beaver Brook Reservation

🛠 Big Projects Underway

Sonja shared updates on several exciting projects:

  • Connecting the Western Greenway to the Mass Central Rail Trail, including a proposed bridge over a waterway near the Lyman Estate.
  • Lakeview Preserve—WLT’s first owned land on the shores of Hardy Pond, where green infrastructure will reduce runoff and improve water quality.

🎶 A Night to Remember: Green Space Blues Jam

Held at the historic Stonehurst Estate, the Blues Jam is one of WLT’s biggest fundraisers. Attendees enjoy live music, local drinks, and a silent auction—all supporting land conservation. Discounts are available for members and attendees under 40.

💚 Become a Member or Supporter

WLT is funded through memberships, donations, grants, and event sponsorships. Annual membership starts at just $25, with a “living lightly” option at $15 for seniors, students, and others. Members receive newsletters, discounts to events, and the satisfaction of supporting Waltham’s green future.


Want to get involved?

Recent Posts

By N/A N/A June 2, 2026
Help pick up litter and remove invasive plants from along the Mass Central Rail Trail on National Trails Day, when people all over the country are celebrating trails. Supplies will be provided, but please bring work gloves if you have them. Poison ivy will be present--dress appropriately. Bring water, sunscreen and insect repellent for ticks.
By N/A N/A May 18, 2026
BY NEWSROOM ● May 18th, 2026 ● The Waltham Times
By N/A N/A May 18, 2026
It’s time to start the garden and yard projects! Buy seeds, plants, garden supplies, groceries, deli sandwiches, flowers, fruit baskets, fish, etc., and and the Waltham Land Trust gets 20% of your purchase with this coupon .
By N/A N/A May 6, 2026
Support the mission of the Waltham Land Trust by bidding on items in our silent auction.
By N/A N/A May 6, 2026
Thank you everyone for coming! The online auction is still going through Sunday 17th at 6pm.
By N/A N/A April 30, 2026
WLT expert birder Emily Szczypek led a group of nine birders along the Charles River to admire resident birds and those who were migrating through the area, plus some other riparian wildlife. This was a joint program with Brookline Bird Club and Menotomy Bird Club. It was a chilly morning, but everyone saw lots of birds and had a lovely time. At the end, they ran into magnet fisher and WLT steward Alessio with a helper at the Mary Early footbridge!
By N/A N/A April 25, 2026
To kickoff the huge annual Earth Day Charles River cleanup, WLT ED Sonja Wadman joined the leadership of DCR and other nonprofits who organize the event along with Waltham Representatives Lawn and Stanley at the Hatch Shell in Boston. Then on April 25, about 125 volunteers of all ages helped remove litter and invasive plants from along the Charles River in Waltham. Most met at Shaw's on River Street, while others worked in "the Island" neighborhood, around the Mount Feake Cemetery, and all along the river path.
By N/A N/A April 8, 2026
WLT officially kicked off its 2026 stewardship season with a lunch for all current and prospective stewards at the Prospect Hill Park Lodge with 34 folks attending. Ranger Adam Green was our host who also assisted WLT ED Sonja Wadman with presentations about what it takes to be a steward and how to identify native versus invasive plants. We then went out into the park to see examples of invasives in the wild, plus admire the new native plant/tree nursery.
By N/A N/A March 20, 2026
About twenty people enjoyed tasty food, delicious drinks, and exciting ping pong at Craft Food Hall to celebrate the Vernal Equinox. This was our first event at CFH, and we'll be sure to schedule another one there in the future. Please join us!
By N/A N/A March 20, 2026
25 folks and one dog celebrated the Vernal Equinox with a chilly walk at Prospect Hill Park. We met at Craft Food Hall and trekked on the "alternate" New Year's Day hike route on the park's west-side to the vista at Little Prospect.