We are the Friends of Hemlock Gorge Reservation

Upcoming Events

2025 Spring Cleanup

2025 Spring Cleanup


April 26, 2025    

9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Meet at Hamilton Place off Elliot Street on the Needham side of the river between 9:30 and 10 a.m. For a MAP showing the location, click […]

No Events

2025 Spring Cleanup

2025 Spring Cleanup


April 26, 2025    

9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Meet at Hamilton Place off Elliot Street on the Needham side of the river between 9:30 and 10 a.m. For a MAP showing the location, click […]


Recent News

  • Your government at work: keeping you away from nature

    Citing statutory “interests,” the Newton Conservation Commission has closed the hiking trail along the Charles River just downstream from Hemlock Gorge in Waban. Near the river with views of aquatic wildlife, the narrow trail had been enjoyed by residents for many decades. The Commission has replaced it with a newly blazed trail four feet wide…

  • Adelgid Updates: May, 2011

    Some members of the Friends who visited the Arnold Arboretum this spring we surprised to see Hemlock Hill still populated with healthy appearing tall trees free of adelgids. It was particularly surprising because the Arboretum, unlike the Friends, had decided to take no steps to arrest the infestation of the adelgids. Bob Burke made additional…

  • 2011 Spring Cleanup Reflection

    Friends of Hemlock Gorge’s Annual Spring Cleanup coincided with the 12th Annual Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 16th.  We had an outstanding turnout and the event was an unqualified success.

  • Celebrating the Makers of the Mold

    Celebrating the Makers of the Mold

    On November 19, 1998 The Friends of Hemlock Gorge gathered at the Newton Public Library to celebrate the online publication of Ken Newcomb’s Makers of the Mold, a history of Newton Upper Falls and the Industrial Age of Hemlock Gorge. This event helped rescue a fragile manuscript that could not find a publisher. Click here…

  • Annual Letter to Members, 2010

    Annual Letter to Members, 2010

    In 2011, we will continue to work with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and its Urban Park Bureau. We will also continue our partnership with Site Supervisor Erica Aubin and former Site Supervisor and DCR administrator Kevin Hollenbeck. We hope you will share our pleasure in the accomplishments of 2010 and our hopes for…

  • The Friends Receive an Award from Historic Newton

    On Tuesday, November 16, 2010 the Friends of Hemlock Gorge were awarded a Stewardship and Preservation Award from Historic Newton. The event was held at the Boston College Alumni House and was well attended. To the right is a photo of Friends’ President Brian Yates and Bob Burke, who nominated us.

  • 2010 Summer Picnic Reflection

    This year’s annual picnic at Hamilton Place was an outstanding success! More than 50 people brought a picnic supper and a chair or blanket and kicked back by the Charles River to enjoy music by Broken Rose, a talented band performing classic rock and original music. Music was provided thanks to the generosity of Karen Osborne-Shanley…

  • Insect Alert: Asian Longhorned Beetle

    The Asian Longhorned Beetle has been found in Boston. Click here to read a message from the state, and a link to a Boston.com article (in their archives at https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/444000781/?match=7&terms=beetle and https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/444000935/?match=1&terms=beetle. Subscription required). Here is the gist of the news. In July, a small infestation of Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was found in Jamaica…

  • 2010 Summer Picnic Announcement

    Tuesday, August 3rd Mark your calendar for this year’s annual picnic at Hamilton Place from 6pm to Dusk. Public welcome! Bring a picnic supper, your chair or blanket. Kick back by the Charles River and enjoy the music by Broken Rose, a talented band performing classic rock and original music. Thanks to the generosity of Karen…

  • Annual Letter to Members, 2009

    Annual Letter to Members, 2009

    In 2010, we will continue to work with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and its Urban Park Bureau. We will also continue our partnership with Site Supervisor Erica Aubin and former Site Supervisor and DCR administrator Kevin Hollenbeck. We hope you will share our pleasure in the accomplishments of 2009 and our hopes for…

  • Adelgid Articles: 2009

    March, 2009 The March, 2009 issue of Science Daily has a new story about the impending doom of the hemlocks in the lower Appalachian region and its dire consequences for the surrounding ecosystems. It also has further links to older stories about anti-hemlock fungi and the Japanese Beetles that we have used at Hemlock Gorge.…

  • Adelgid Updates: October 1, 2009

    An informal and unscientific survey by several members of the Friends walking through the park recently suggests that about a third of the trees are now dead and another third show signs of severe disease. There was no sign of ladybugs, nor has there been for years.