Article and photo by Eric H.

A tour of New England requires plenty of time -- perhaps a lifetime, as every community in New England offers some form of pure regional flavor.

Architect John Nolen designed Bird Park, which was created and endowed by Charles Sumner Bird in 1925 and his wife Anna in memory of their son Francis William Bird (1881-1925). Nolen envisioned Bird Park as "a sequestered breathing place in the heart of East Walpole, a combination of broad, sun-swept meadow lands, speckled with shadowed glades, higher tree-screened knolls for the lover of shade, the whole set to the music of a babbling stream."

Times have changed, but Nolen's vision has remained at this relaxing oasis, no matter what time of the year. Thankfully, the Trustees of Reservations (overseeing 53,000 acres on 94 reservations in Massachusetts), with a deep respect for Bird Park's beauty, acquired the land in 2003. The Trustee's mission is "to preserve, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts."

They have certainly done just that at Bird Park, as the maintenance of the land looks better than ever. It is unspoiled New England land to enjoy and respect, a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of metro Boston.

Editor's note: Bird Park is located on Washington Street in Walpole, MA. Tel. (508) 669-6136. For more information on the Trustees of the Reservations, visit its Web Site