Westwood is home to a wide-variety of natural hot spots, but nature lovers unfamiliar to town might not be aware of just exactly what gems are in store.  Well, we're here to help.  Summer's here, and what better way to celebrate the warmth of the season than to get out and hit the trails? And what better place than Westwood? Below are a list of natural conservation areas in town perfect for anyone interested in hiking, walking, or just being outside.  Hale Reservation Hale lies in the heart of Westwood, and comprises 1,100 acres of wooded lands, which it shares with Dover. Hale is well known …

You don't always have to venture deep into the woods to be able to take a breath of fresh air.  Lyman's Pond and Rice Reservation makes up more than 118 acres of land in Westwood, and has several short paths to help get you from A to B without having to even get in your car. The reservation was given to the town of Westwood as a gift from Henry Davis, Sheila Fiona and Margaret Lyman. The Senior Center, the Fisher School House (home of the Westwood Historical Society), Westwood High School and Thurston Middle School all rest on this large plot of land. There are several ways in which to access…

The trails by Lyman's Pond are great spots for a short walk, jog, or place to get away without too much work. The paths within the reservation are marked on the trees with white squares.  They're a bit narrow and rocky, giving the trails an extra challenge for mountain bikers. The trails connect from behind the Starbucks parking lot to the soccer fields behind Westwood High School.  

Welcomed by the sunshine after four days of constant rain, a group of fishing enthusiasts took advantage of the warm weather Thursday afternoon at Buckmaster Pond.  While the majority of those fishing stuck to the edges of Buckmaster Pond's shores, an occasional canoe or fishing boat was spotted out along the water. The spot is a prime location for fishing in Westwood. During the springtime, the town holds an annual fishing derby at the pond, with this year's even taking place on Saturday, May 8, and was sponsored by the Westwood Recreation Department. In the wintertime, the pond is popular …

After all the rain Westwood endured this past week, the sun was a welcome treat on Thursday. It was a beautiful day to visit Buckmaster Pond for residents looking to lighten up their spirits after the three day nasty weather funk. Several were spotted fishing at the pond on Thursday, as they cast their lines while others took leasurely walks with their furry best friends. Moreover, others were spotted eating lunch by the water, and hoards of ducks waddled on the shorelines while geese swiftly swam through Buckmaster Pond's gentle waters.

The Martha Jones Conservation area lies just behind the Martha Jones Elementary School and the John Cronin Field, located in the south western section of Westwood.  Paths can be accessed near the entrance of the school parking lot off to the right, and also from a path at the end of Tamarack Road. The path takes you along the black gated fence separating the playground from the woods and pond area. On your right you you can catch a glimpse of the pond through the trees. After a short walk past the playgrounds and the school, the path brings you to an opening with two stone benches and a …

Driving down Downey Street in Westwood, one might notice a green and white sign that reads: Elsa M. Currier Reservation. To the right of the sign there is a path that leads into Currier Reservation. For interested hikers and nature lovers, the inside of this natural spot reveals a path that forks off into two different directions, and a tree with two white signs posted to a tree. The white sign on the right takes you to a circle path, and the sign on the left brings you onto a square path, which eventually also branches off into a triangle path. The triangle path leads to a small pond covered…

From the sign marking the entrance to Currier Reservation to the circle path (marked Trail A), local hikers and nature lovers can walk directly to a wide open meadow. The meadow leads to a square path (Trail B), then through a triangle path (Trail C) to a peaceful pond area that serves as a home to local amphibians. The trail eventually leads to a series of small community gardens built in 2008 by a Eagle Scout Troop 1 in Islington.

For the most part, hiking takes a bit of planning. Depending on your mood, you'll most likely want to pick a day with ideal weather. But location is also important, and Westwood has plenty of spots for nature lovers and hikers alike. If you have a nice day picked out, you might want to check out the three conservation lands in Westwood, stretching from Dover Road all the way over towards Hartford Street.  These areas - Rock Meadow Brook, Baker, and Deviney conservation lands - cover more than 75 acres of land. A path runs through the Baker and Deviney conservation areas, and it's accessible …

Westwood is full of great natural spots for outdoor lovers of all kinds. One of these spots is Lowell Woods. Located behind the Hanlon School and extending all the way to the Sandy Valley Road extension, Lowell Woods provides hikers with miles of trails spread out through the area. All of the trails are marked and each one provides unique terrain people of all ages. In the summertime there's plenty to do in Lowell Woods. Activities range from mountain biking, hiking, bird-watching, or just walking at your own leisure. When enjoying the paths you'll notice the area is flourishing with wildlife…