Community Collaboration Improves Lake Mansfield, With Volunteers of All Ages

Our town is better, cleaner and healthier because of collaborations with our community organizations and volunteers of all ages.

On Friday June 15, 2018, 18 students and six adults made a difference at Lake Mansfield. Lleaders and student volunteers from Great Barrington Land Conservancy, Housatonic Valley Association, Berkshire Natural Resources Council and Monument Valley Middle School worked together as part of the middle school Youth Engagement Service Day.

Students learned about paddle safety and clean water principles from Alison Dixon. They paddled the lake edges to search for and remove litter. They learned about pollinators from Christine Ward and completed installation of a pollinator Garden. Their work included: removing sod to compost area within the forest; following a garden design to install over 100 native perennials (12 species total), mulching and watering plants. The garden design was donated by Bridghe McCracken owner of Helia Land Design, who provided plants at wholesale cost with free delivery. The demonstrator pollinator garden was installed as a first step in Great Barrington's Pollinator Action Plan. And the town of Great Barrington’s Public Works Department installed a new baby changing station on the outside of the changing rooms.

The garden and the changing station installation, funded through GBLC/ Lake Mansfield, were made possible by private donations and a gift from Highmark Health. In the fall, additional support will go to bring improvements to the loop trail in the conservation forest.

Find out more about the Great Barrington Land Conservancy

View the full photo gallery prepared by Sharon Siter, Alison Dixon, and Christine Ward.