Above: This weekend is the annual Earth Day Cleanup. Other “Planet Palooza” activities celebrating conservation include a guided walk to do some bird peeping. (photos cropped from Facebook L-R by Rotary and SOLF*)
The Open Space Preservation Commission is inviting the public to take part in their annual Planet Palooza this weekend. The Earth Day celebrations are dedicated to the memory of late naturalist Linda Hubley.
This weekend’s activities are in partnership with the Southborough Library, Southborough Open Land Foundation, the Southborough Rotary Club, and the Stewardship Committee. They include the town-wide Earth Day Cleanup and a birding walk at Beals Preserve tomorrow (Saturday, April 27th) and an event at Breakneck Hill on Sunday (April 28th). Plus, OSPC is asking for help cleaning up its pollinator garden at the Library both days.
Below are more details from this morning’s announcement. (I inserted maps and photos to help identify locations mentioned):
Planet Palooza A Weekend of Celebrating Earth Day 2024
A Weekend of Earth Day Activities in Southborough Dedicated to the Memory of Southborough Naturalist Linda Hubley Organized by the Southborough Open Space Preservation Commission
Starting Saturday April 27th join , Southborough Library, Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF), The Rotary Club of Southborough and Stewardship Committee in a weekend of activities Celebrating Earth Day. Dedicated to the memory of Southborough naturalist Linda Hubley.
Throughout the weekend there will be numerous activities sponsored by a multitude of town organizations all under the Planet Palooza umbrella.
The Rotary Club of Southborough is sponsoring it’s 32nd Annual Earth Day Clean Up on Saturday, April 27th. The starting time is 8:30 am at the Southborough DPW Building, 147 Cordaville Road (off the driveway for the Transfer Station).
Saturday April 27th SOLF will Host a birding walk at the Beals Preserve led by Marha Gach form Mass Audubon. Meet at the Beals Preserve Main Street Field at 8AM. SOLF | Southborough Open Land Foundation
Saturday April 27th 12:30 PM, the OSPC will host an Earth Day Outdoor Garden Clean up at the Library. Stop by to learn about ecological gardening, and pitch in to help tidy up. bring gloves and clippers if you have them. Meet at the Pollination Preservation Garden next to the library parking lot
Sunday April 28th 8AM to Noon. MEET THE STEWARDS! Stop by Breakneck Hill Conservation Land and find out about all the current activities, including nesting birds, the Farm Dump Cleanup, the new roadside meadow installation and take a self-guided walk on the trails after viewing the new Art Trail Map. Meet at the Trail Head parking lot.
Sunday April 28th 12:30 PM, the OSPC will host the 2nd of 2 Earth Day Outdoor Garden Clean up at the Library. Stop by to learn about ecological gardening, and pitch in to help tidy up. bring gloves and clippers if you have them. Meet at the Pollination Preservation Garden next to the library parking lot.
Please consider supporting The Linda Hubley Memorial Scholarship. This Scholarship is given to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to their community through volunteerism, environmental protection and/or ongoing education in these areas. Help support Southborough students who follow Linda’s footsteps caring for environmental causes. Donations to the Linda Hubley Memorial Scholarship, can be made to: Town of Southborough – Scholarship Committee. Southborough Town House, 17 Common Street, Southborough, MA 01772, Please specify you are donating to the Linda Hubley Scholarship. Or you can make your donations through the town’s secure online https://unipaygold.unibank.com/transactioninfo.aspx?TID=17964
The Open Space Preservation Commission hopes you can get out to CELEBRATE PLANET EARTH and take advantage of one or more of these activities.
In looking for cover images for this story, I came across the below Facebook post from 2012 that feels very appropriate to share. SOLF posted a photo of their 2011 bird walk that appears to have been contributed by the person that Planet Palooza is dedicated to — the great photographer Linda Hubley (who owned and ran SouthboroughNews.com):
Updated (4/26/24 10:55 am): I added maps and photos above to help readers identify the meeting locations referenced in the announcement.
Updated (4/26/24 4:18 pm): I initially missed that there was a flyer for the Linda Hubley Scholarship.
*(Note: The birding walk in the top right cover picture took place at Breakneck Hill in 2018. This year’s walk will be at Beal’s Preserve, with a different event planned at the Town-owned Conservation Land.)
