• Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
  
  
• Hunting is allowed west of Yellow Hill Road in season. Hunting is also permitted on adjacent Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Land.
  
  
• Motor bikes are not permitted at Copicut Woods.

The Trustees reserves the right to photograph or video visitors and program participants for promotional use, and usage of our properties implies consent. Find the full policy here.

Property Acquisition History
Purchased from the Richard G. Hawes family, owners of Acushnet Saw Mills, in 2002 as part of a 3,800-acre Bioreserve acquisition involving state and municipal partners. Endowment was provided by generous gift of Cynthia Hawes Ritter, Mary Ellen Hawes Lees, and Peter J. Hawes.

The 2016 BIG WALK will be Saturday, May 7, 9 a.m. The walk will start and finish at the Freetown State Forest Headquarters, 110 Slab Bridge road, Assonet Village, Freetown, Massachusetts. The BIG WALK route is different each year.
 
The 2016 BIG WALK is approximately 12 miles. Van pick-ups every 2 to 3 miles for those who only want to walk part of the route.
 
This year's loop will take us along single track trails through an Atlantic white cedar swamp, old Girl Scout Camp and through forests of pine, oak and holly.
 
The BIG WALK is free and everyone is invited to participate including friendly dogs on leash.
 
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin a good idea. If you're walking more than a few miles bring water, lunch and a snack.
 
Need more info?
Mike Labossiere
Reservation Superintendent
 
Water Division, Treatment and Resources
Department of Community Utilities
City of Fall River
 
Watuppa Reservation
2929 Blossom Road
Westport, MA 02790
 
508.324.2749
mlabossiere@fallriverma.org

Copicut’s 516 acres are an integral part of the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve, one of the largest unfragmented forests in eastern Massachusetts. Wildlife sensitive to human disturbance find refuge in Copicut’s extensive forests including red-shouldered hawk, Canada warbler, spotted turtle, and, more recently, fisher, a large member of the weasel family. More common wildlife species such as white-tailed deer, coyote, and chipmunks also reside here. In early spring, vernal pools at Copicut explode with life and provide critical breeding sites for many frogs and salamanders, including some that are rare. Atlantic white cedar occurs in remnant stands on the property, offering future restoration opportunities for this once common forest community.

Established in 2002, the Bioreserve, at 13,600 acres, is one of the largest protected tracts in the state and is the first of its kind in the Commonwealth. It comprises the Freetown–Fall River State Forest, City of Fall River watershed lands, and almost 4,000 acres formerly owned by the Acushnet Sawmill Company and located within Freetown, Fall River, and Dartmouth. The private lands were acquired by The Trustees, along with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, in concert with the City of Fall River.

Management Planning for Our Properties
 


Since 1891, The Trustees of Reservations have worked to protect special places in Massachusetts and maintain them to the highest standards. To ensure these standards are met, a program of careful planning and sound management is essential. Comprehensive property management plans are created for each reservation and are completely updated approximately every ten years. We often work with volunteers, property users, and members of the community to carry out this planning, which typically involves several steps:
 


• Describing in detail the site’s natural, scenic, and historical resources; identifying management issues related to the protection of those resources. 

• Describing how visitors use the property; outlining the opportunities that the property provides for people to become involved in the work of conservation and caring for their community.

• Developing a detailed list of management recommendations, a work plan, and a description of financial needs for implementing the actions.

• Developing a prescribed routine management program for the reservation that will guide staff work plans, volunteer involvement, and the allocation of human and financial resources.