Let’s adventure to Willowdale State Forest to hike their trails. Afterwards we can venture down the street to Marini Farm to check out their Christmas Tree Jubilee.

I will try to find a 3.5-4 mile hike in this Forest.

**TREE JUBILEE**
Over 100 Decorated Trees & Wreaths to Win!
Tour the gallery of uniquely decorated trees and wreaths donated by local organizations, families, and businesses then choose the ones you want a chance to win! OVER 100 spectacularly decorated trees and wreaths will be raffled off (decorations and all!) at the end of the Jubilee. You never know what our donors will decorate their trees with! Proceeds benefit the Ipswich Humane Group to support the animals at the Ipswich Animal Shelter.

https://www.marinifarm.com/tree-jubilee
GALLERY HOURS:
Friday December 6: 10am - 8pm
Where: Marini Farm 259 Linebrook Rd., Ipswich, MA
Admission: FREE!
Raffles are available for purchase on-site: $5/10 chances

**Marini Farm**
https://www.marinifarm.com

For three generations our family has farmed this land; growing some of the best and most flavorful fruits and vegetables available on the North Shore. Our greenhouse opens in May of each year with an abundance of color & variety. Annuals, herbs, vegetables, perennials and an astounding selection of hanging plants fill the greenhouses and nursery area.
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In November, we then transform our Farm Stand into a holiday destination for Christmas on The Hill.

**Willowdale State Forest**
Willowdale State Forest offers trail-use opportunities on 40 miles of trails and fishing and boating on 100 acre Hood Pond. There are fire roads great for hiking (good for joggers/strollers), and extensive single track for mountain biking. The eastern block of the Forest abuts Bradley Palmer State Park and the Ipswich River, and the Bay Circuit Trail winds through, connecting Bradley Palmer State Park to the south with Cleveland Farm State Forest to the West. Willowdale is a typical Essex County mixed-forest habitat with a combination of pine-oak-hickory upland and red maple swamp. There are also hemlock stands, and in the southwest corner near the intersection of Rt. 1 and East St. lies a large beaver marsh. A great spot for birding, Willowdale is best for breeding birds, from May through July. Birds typical of transition-zone mixed forest nest here, such as barred and great horned owls, Cooper’s and (rarely) sharp-shinned hawks, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers, eastern wood pewees, great crested flycatchers, veeries, wood and hermit thrushes, red-eyed vireos, eastern towhees, ovenbirds, black-throated green, pine, Canada, and black-and-white warblers, common yellowthroats, northern waterthrushes, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, red-breasted nuthatches, and brown creepers, in addition to the commoner woodland species. The beaver marsh has hosted nesting pied-billed grebes, least bitterns, great blue herons, wood ducks, and possibly hooded mergansers in recent years.

**Parking** : please park at the Willowdale State Forest parking lot at Willowdale State Forest, 277 Linebrook Rd, Ipswich, MA 01938

**Optional** : *Wear an Ugly Sweater to make this festive.*

**Liability Release** \- AS A CONDITION OF ATTENDING THIS MEETUP\, YOU AGREE TO hold harmless\, and indemnify the organizer and her heirs\, and all members and participants of this Meetup group from any and all claims for injury\, illness\, death\, and/or property damage including those caused by negligence\, ignorance\, inexperience and other reasons\. You also agree to assume all mental\, physical\, financial\, and/or other risk associated with this meetup\. All meetup activities pose inherent risks and dangers\. Participation in these activities is voluntary and dependent upon your own personal judgment\.

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Hike Willowdale State Forest and Marini Farm Tree Jubilee

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