There are so many things to see and do on the Cape in the winter and taking an easy hike to a local pond is not only free, it’s good for your mental and physical health. With everything happening in the world right now that is completely out of your hands, clear your head, take a walk, be grateful and ponder life outdoors. I swear it changes your perspective and might even make you want to protect and hold dear our ponds and the land around them.
A Passing Fancy, a Patrick Dougherty “stickwork sculpture,” Highfield Hall & Gardens, Falmouth, MA
On a recent hike to Beebe Woods, I got to be quiet and listen to the birds and the water gently lapping the edges of the “Punch Bowl.” What’s great about the hikes in the Beebe Woods is that you can also do double-duty and see art after (above) at Highfield Hall!
From the Highfield Hall & Gardens website:
“Named after the Beebe Family that created the Highfield estate, Beebe Woods consists of 383 acres of land given to the Town of Falmouth in 1972 by Mr. and Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly, III.
The woods were once part of the 700 acre property that was acquired in the 1870s by James Madison Beebe. For Mr. Beebe’s children, the woods were an integral part of their summer lives at Highfield Hall and Tanglewood. Growing and nurturing trees were a particular passion for the siblings. A tree farm was located at the Beebe’s nearby farm, on Shore Street in downtown Falmouth, and many of the specimen trees in the town were donated and planted by the Beebe family.
After the death of the last Beebe son, the land passed through several owners, and in 1972 was slated for a 500 home development. A “by-pass” highway to Woods Hole was also considered. J. K. Lilly prevented those outcomes when he purchased it for conservation and donated the bulk of the property to the town.
Beebe Woods hosts an extensive network of walking trails that cover miles of varied terrain, exploring wooded ridges and steep-sided hollows, and encircle the picturesque pond know as the “Punch Bowl” that lies deep within the Woods. The trails also connect at the southern end of Beebe Woods to Peterson Farm.
The Beebe Woods Trailhead may be accessed by parking at Highfield Hall and entering from the rear of the property at the Ice House.
Beebe Woods is owned by the town of Falmouth and stewarded by The 300 Committee Land Trust.”
Plan your hike to Beebe Woods here:
Got a Pond Story you want to share? Email Kristin Andres at kandres@apcc.org
Pond Stories are a collection of writings from Cape Codders and visitors who love the 1000 local ponds that dot the Cape. We hope this collection of stories, that are as much endearing as they are environmentally aware, will awaken your inner environmentalist to think deeper about our human impacts to these unique bodies of water. Check out these valuable resources to learn more about the current challenges Cape Cod ponds are facing and how you can be a better pond steward in your town.
