Volunteers gather at Pillings Pond for Planting Day!

Saturday, May 1 volunteers gathered at the Town’s Rotary Park site on Pillings Pond, kicking off the final phase of the Conservation Commission’s Demonstration Bank Planting project.

The objective of the project is to improve water quality and better manage buffer zones along any bank areas by reducing overall lawn area with small, medium, and large‐scale bank planting plans. Expected outcomes are minimized shoreline erosion, improved pond water quality, reduced goose grazing, and enhanced wildlife habitat.

From this demonstration model, partner Ipswich River Watershed Association and the Conservation Commission will make available bank planting plan templates designed to be easily understandable, practicable, and replicable by Pond abutters for their own shoreline properties.

Volunteers planted nearly 100 native perennials and low shrubs. The area is staked to allow the plantings to establish. The Conservation Commission thanks the Fire Department's Captain Kevin Mutti, and Fire Fighters Stephen Groussis and Nick Holmes who watered in the plantings.