Grade Two students at Sanford’s Lafayette School planted milkweed at the Mousam Way Land Trust McKeon Reserve in Springvale earlier this month, the first conservation effort in the Meadow Restoration Demonstration Project. The students are shown here with their teachers after planting. COURTESY PHOTO
SPRINGVALE — Representatives of the Mousam Way Land Trust were excited to have the assistance of the Lafayette School second graders planting milkweed on June 1.
Early last April, the students sowed milkweed seeds at Springvale Nurseries, under the watchful eye of their teachers and trust president Dr. Gordon “Bud” Johnston.
The seeds took off under the care of the nursery’s staff, and were ready for their permanent new home at the trust’s Meadow Restoration Demonstration Project at the McKeon Reserve in Springvale.
The project is supported by Dead River Company.
While walking the one-third mile trail to the woodland meadow-to-be, an teaching moment was held at a rock maple tree, seemingly growing right out of a very big rock, which Johnston explained is called a glacial erratic, dragged there, likely from the old Acton silver mine area, about 12,000 years ago by glacial action.
At the meadow area under cloudy skies, holes were dug, the young milkweed plants nestled into them, gently packed with new soil, and given a big drink of water, said trust member Kevin McKeon.
After a lunch break, young coneflower plants were also planted, and then all plants were given a second drink of water.
After gathering backpacks, water bottles, shovels and picnic blankets, the students were informed by Johnston that through their hard and careful work, the Meadow Project had officially started, and they are the first group to help with this wildlife conservation effort.
He invited them to come back anytime to check up on their plantings, and to observe the butterflies and birds that their plants will help to support for years to come.
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