Part of a series that focuses on Medway’s trail system 

As mentioned in last month’s Open Space article, there are two separate trailheads at Idyllbrook Conservation and Recreation property, but they do connect. The North and South signage designations are basically to guide athletes who enter the fields at Idyllbrook South (on Ward’s Lane) or to Idyllbrook North (at 99 Kimberly Drive) in Medway. 

If you go during a time when the fields are being used, you may have an opportunity to use the porta potty clone located in Idyllbrook North. 

Whether you go to the South or North trailhead, you can gaze diagonally across the field and see the opposite trailhead.  Hikers and recreational walkers can follow the trail and can rest on the new bench installed by the Medway Trail Club.  Idyllbrook is a great launching point to proceed to trails in nearby towns such as Holliston, Hopkinton, Milford and Sherborn. 

Idyllbrook is also one of several property pockets in Massachusetts that the American Chestnut Foundation (based in N.C.) selected to plant a grove of trees to emulate the formerly blighted American Chestnut tree.    

The American Chestnut Foundation planted several orchards around the country including Medway (Franklin and Westborough also have sites). These orchards contain hybrid plants that have most of the American Chestnut qualities but were coupled with other properties in the hopes of emulating the original American Chestnut tree without the factors believed to make those originals disease prone as the plant was almost completely blighted in the last century.  One of the hybrid trees planted in Idyllbrook has proven to be successful in assuming the American Chestnut without the disease risk factor.

Once some of the other Medway trails have been showcased, this fascinating facet of our trails will be explored in depth more.

Submitted by Medway Open Space Committee and Trail Club