The Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust (M-BELT) is seeking volunteers for its its annual Brooks Estate Fall Cleanup, to assist with maintenance of the trails and grounds on the city’s historic property. Help is needed with sweeping the boardwalk to Brooks Pond; cleaning/scrubbing the sign by the pond; trimming growth along paths and drive; basic landscaping around the Shepherd Brooks Manor, like mowing the lawn; and general trash pickup. M-BELT will provide gloves, bags, cleaning supplies, brooms, plus some loppers and trimmers. If you have supplies like gardening clippers, please bring them. Please let M-BELT know if you’ll be joining the cleanup by filling out this online form. Check out other volunteer opportunities within that form as well.

Parking note: Do not park in Oak Grove Cemetery or on Grove Street; best to park on nearby side streets off of Grove Street and walk up the access drive to the estate. Limited spaces are available at the Boardwalk lot along the access drive, and at the Manor, with preference at the Manor for handicapped parking.

M-BELT is a nonprofit organization that manages the Brooks Estate, owned by the City of Medford. A former Victorian summer retreat for Peter Chardon Brooks and Shepherd Brooks, the property is graced by two Victorian buildings, the Shepherd Brooks Manor and Carriage House (1880), both slated for adaptive re-use as community assets. The property also offers Brooks Pond and 50 acres of open space for birds, wildlife and nature lovers.