Lowell Holly Reservation

IUCN Category V - Protected Landscape / Seascape

The Conaumet Bay in reserve

Lowell Holly Reservation is a 135 acre (0.5 km ²) large nature reserve on the urban areas of Mashpee and Sandwich, Massachusetts in the United States, which is administered by the organization The Trustees of Reservations.

History

The present sanctuary was named after its original owner, Abbott Lawrence Lowell, who inherited it in 1942 to the Trustees. Since there flourish about 250 American Holly ( ilex opaca ), the name of the protected area has been supplemented by its English name Holly.

Although the area is one of the few locations on Cape Cod, where older forests are still to be found, it is clear to see which style in horticulture Lowell preferred. After he bought the land from John Rothery, who had in turn bought the Wampanoag Indians Fred Jonas, Lowell planted at various locations Rhododendron ( Rhododendron ponticum and rhododendron catawbiense ) and heather ( kalmia latifolia ). Although rhododendrons on Cape Cod do not occur naturally provides the mild climate of the region in conjunction with the acidic soil an ideal habitat for this plant.

Lowell inherited the reserve the Trustees in the hope that the local plant diversity would be preserved. 1949 led Wilfred Wheeler, Sr. continued his work and planted another 50 holly. Today it is the most northerly region, which enables the study of holly. 1973 were able to purchase more parts of the trustees for sale.

Sanctuary

Through the reserve lead about 4 mi ( 6.4 km ) hiking trails partly along old carriage paths that follow the shoreline of Mashpee Pond and the adjacent Wakeby Pond. The lakes have sandy beaches and rich fish stocks. In each of the two lakes in each protrudes a peninsula of the protected area, from which there is a good view of the lake.