SUMMER program aims to restore health of Beechwood’s Macoun Marsh

Foxes, salamanders, blue herons, frogs, turtles, woodpeckers and groundhogs. These and 1,500 other species find their home in Beechwood Cemetery’s Macoun Marsh. The ecosystem, tucked away in the cemetery’s southeast corner, is more than a green space. Macoun Marsh is a living classroom for students, a place of reflection for community members and a rich source of insights for scientists. So, when Beechwood’s team noticed low water levels threatening habitat conditions, they sprang into action to restore the precious wetland.

“We’ve teamed up with local partners such as ASL Contractors and Jennifer Lamoureux, a volunteer biologist, to enhance the marsh, which serves a vital purpose to the species that rely on it and is a place of enjoyment for visitors,” says Erika Wagner, Beechwood’s programming and fundraising coordinator. “The drought years we are experiencing have reduced the marsh’s water levels. We’ve also noticed an increase in the number of non-native invasive plants and cattails, which have grown to the point where there is little water visible from any safe point.”