Over 200 witches and wizards descend on Fyfeshire

Potterwalk was a resounding success! Over 200 witches and wizards--two thirds of them underage wizards ranging from toddlers to teens-- tried their hand at Quidditch practice, identifying wand woods, warding off a dementor, avoiding an arachnomantula,  spotting the giant squid, learning their heart's desire in the mirror of Erised, and more as they walked around the Fyfeshire Ponds on Saturday.  Many folks were from Bolton, but we also had visitors from Lancaster, Shrewsbury, Hudson, Berlin, Clinton, Hubbardston, Sterling, Boylston, Rutland, Leominster, and Methuen, MA. We even had folks from Woonsocket, RI and Londonderry, NH.  The Death Eaters tried to deter them with a sudden brief rainstorm, but they remained steadfast and made it all the way around the pond. 

The House Cup went to Gryffindor with 692 points, followed by Hufflepuff with 261, then Ravenclaw with 168 and finally Slytherin at 43.  Of course, there were 75 people in Gryffindor House--the sorting took a person's preferences into consideration--25 Hufflepuffs, 15 Ravenclaws and only 5 Slytherins.  So on an average points- per- witch/wizard basis, Ravenclaw came in first, followed by Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and finally Slytherin.  But these numbers are approximate--it's hard to count points after a couple of butterbeers.  The main thing is that everyone had a good time and many families came out to see Fyfeshire for the first time. 

A couple of young witches lost wands while they were in the woods.  (We asked Binky--she didn't take them.)  If anyone found a wand as they went around, please send an email to fyfeshire@yahoo.com and we'll return it to its owner. 

Below are a few photos from the event. If you have any photos of the event that you are willing to share, please send them to fyfeshire@yahoo.com and we will add them. 

Many thanks to everyone who helped out with this event, and to everyone who attended!

Here are some photos from the event:

Looking for a few good witches and wizards

We are hosting a Harry Potter Witches and Wizards Walk on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 2:00 - 4:00 at Fyfeshire Conservation Area.   Walkers will have the chance to win points for their houses by doing stuff as they stroll through the conservation area.

We could use the following kinds of helpers--a butterbeer for your efforts plus Community Service Credit for Nashoba High School students.  Knowledge of Harry Potter helpful, but not required.  Just come by Fyfeshire around noon on Saturday, and we'll fill you in on how you can help.  For example, we could use

• General help shepherding kids around the ponds
• A sorter to help "sort" kids into their houses (Professor McGonagall?)
• A greeter to greet people, hand out marauder's maps, explain what's going on
• "Madam Rosmerta" (you don't have to dress up if you don't want to) to serve butterbeer (nonalcoholic!) and  generally tend to the refreshments
• A dementor for kids to ward off
• Madame Hooch to coach kids throwing the quaffle through a hoop

Plus lots more--let us know your favorite character, we'll find a role for you! 

Send email to fyfeshire@yahoo.com and let us know what you can do.

Why are we doing this?  We think the ponds are worth saving and want to get folks out to see them for themselves. No admission, but donations gratefully accepted toward saving the ponds.

Save the Ponds Night Filled the Roadhouse!

Many thanks to everyone who turned out for the Save the Ponds night at the Bolton Roadhouse on Wednesday night.  The place was hopping--every table and the bar were filled and at one point people were coming in so fast, there was a wait for a table.  But the crowd was patient, and everyone had a pleasant meal as they contributed toward saving the ponds at Fyfeshire Conservation Area.

Congratulations to Dave Wylie who won the 50-50 raffle.  But don't be too quick to have a drink on his tab--Dave graciously donated his winnings back to the cause.

Many thanks to everyone at the Bolton Roadhouse for hosting the event and helping us to raise some money toward saving the ponds!

Eat to save the ponds!

Save the date:  Wednesday, Sept. 21 4:00  - 9:00 p.m.

The Bolton Roadhouse is hosting a Save the Ponds night--print out and bring the coupon below with you and the Roadhouse will donate 20% of the price of your meal towards saving the ponds. 

The Group for the Preservation of Fyfeshire Ponds is trying to save the ponds in the Fyfeshire Conservation Area. We are raising money toward repairing the dam.   For more, see The Issue page. 

Please send us an email telling us how many are planning to attend--the Roadhouse would like to know how many to expect, for planning purposes.  Or call Lee at 978-365-3245.

Click on the coupon below to open a separate page with a larger-sized coupon for printing:

One week after Hurricane Irene, we are happy to report: Nothing

Although downed trees and power outages plagued Bolton following Hurricane Irene last week, it looks like Fyfeshire Conservation Area, the ponds and the dams made it through unscathed.  When I walked around the area the morning after the storm (nothing else to do--can't shower, can't make coffee without electricity...) there were no large trees in the paths, no visible damage to the dam, and minimal flooding, although the waters were certainly more forceful than before the storm.  Just a lot of leaves and small branches strewn about.  Even the piles of brush we had dragged out to the road on community service day to haul away remained intact. 

I took a few video clips of the dam before and after the storm.

Here is a video taken on August 27, the day before the storm. Not​ice how no water is coming through the pipe or spilling over the rocks, and the brook below the dam is just a very gentle gurgle.

The morning after the storm (Monday, August 29), I took this video.  The water is much stronger and the brook downstream​, while not raging, has markedly increased in volume.

This morning, six days after the storm, the cascade of water over the sides has reduced to a flow through the pipe, and the brook below the dam is much gentler.

The stream that feeds the large pond near the entrance was also greatly reduced. Below is a clip of the stream as it flows through a culvert below the path near the entrance to the Fyfeshire Conversation Area on Wattaquadock Hill Rd., taken the morning after Hurricane Irene.  Through much higher than usual at this time, (normally a mere trickle) it did not flood the path and is hardly a raging torrent. 

Here is that same stream this morning--completely dry. 



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Update to this posting 9/13/2011:  Following the heavy rains that the remnants of Hurricane Lee brought us last week, the flow of water over the dam is the heaviest it's been all season.  The flow has lessened quite a bit since the below video was taken four days ago:

Next Saturday (Aug. 27): Community Service Day at Fyfeshire

Been meaning to get over to Fyfeshire once more before things start up again in September?  Get your workgloves on and head over this Saturday!  Help us pick up trash, rake, weed whack, haul stuff and get Fyfeshire looking its best.

Fyfeshire Community Service Day
Fyfeshire Conservation Area, Wattaquadock Hill Rd (at intersection with Ballville Rd)
Saturday, August 27 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
(Rain date:  Sunday, August 28)
Bring any of the following if you have them:  work gloves, weed whacker, chain saw (not electric), pruning shears, clippers, wheelbarrow, hammer, picnic lunch

Light refreshments will be provided.

Also, save the date:  Wednesday evening, September 21--Save the Ponds night at the Bolton Road House Bar and Grill, 544 Wattaquadock Hill Rd.

Eat to save the ponds!  The Bolton Road House will donate 20% of the price of every meal ordered with coupon to help save the ponds at Fyfeshire Conservation Area.  More details will be available on this blog closer to the date. 

Look who we spotted at Fyfeshire:

Summer is officially here, the lilypads are starting to bloom in the Fyfeshire pond and new life is stirring, as evidenced by these recently submitted photographs: