The Lasting Landscape

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, World’s End became a more popular destination than ever, as people sought a safe, open-air, socially distanced alternative to sitting at home. Visits to the reservation increased by 214 percent, according to Trustees records, prompting the organization to implement timed ticketing entry—a practice that continues—to ensure parking availability and minimal disturbance to the neighborhood.

With its wide-open spaces and breathtaking vistas, “World’s End has become a place of solace for a lot of people,” says Smith-White. The options and opportunities for exploration are also wide-open, and have been expanded over the past two years to include guided bird walks, moonlit tours, off-the-beaten-path excursions, and more (see sidebar).

The Trustees continue their dedication to preserving and prolonging the natural wonders of World’s End with a multipronged approach to habitat restoration. The oldest trees still standing at World’s End are known as The Seven Oaks—though only six remain. The Brewer family planted these oaks 200 to 250 years ago to serve as a dividing line between their fields. About 15 years ago, the seventh tree fell victim to a lightning strike, reports Wayne Ciullo, Stewardship Manager for the South Shore Trustees sites, including World’s End.

Most of the other original and native plantings from the Brewers’ days have died off, due to disease, erosion, climate change, and the inevitable passage of time. But, thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Trustees, visitors to World’s End do not encounter a devastated wasteland. Quite the contrary: the biodiversity here is highly rated by the National Parks Survey. World’s End teems with a growing, thriving landscape that’s being continually protected and renewed with more resilient species that are better suited to weather the northeast climate. As an example, Ciullo points to Norway maples, whose brittle nature is susceptible to breakage. Planted in their place are sweet gum, hardwood trees that have leaves similar in shape to maples and produce brilliant red foliage in the fall; in addition, their pods provide food sources for native wildlife.

“World’s End is known for its varied mosaic of habitats,” says Ciullo.

Perhaps one of the most unique habitats is the Maritime Juniper Forest, located in the Rocky Neck coastal area at World’s End, which is home to a species of butterfly called the Juniper Hairstreak, also known as Olive Hairstreak for its green-hued wings.

“We have a stable population of Juniper Hairstreak, which live only in maritime juniper forests like the one on Rocky Neck. This habitat is fairly rare in New England,” says Ciullo. “It’s a transitional ecosystem that we’re trying to preserve by removing invasive tree and plant species.”

To promote healthy ecosystems throughout the entirety of World’s End, the Trustees have embarked on a multi-year Pollinator Habitat Enhancement Plan, developed with the Trustees’ ecology team and the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The goal is to gradually remove and reduce invasive plant species and replace them with pollinator-friendly plants, such as goldenrod, trefoil, clover and other wildflowers.

“Over time, visitors may notice an increase in the number of wildflowers and a decrease in encroaching vines.”

Depending on the time of day, the season, the temperature and weather conditions, every visit to World’s End will be different and memorable in its own way. Whether wandering and meandering or trekking purposefully, the range of elevations and types of terrain offer endless possibilities.

Upon entering the property and crossing over the bridge, visitors can veer right onto the Barnes Road carriage path, past the Damde Meadows, or continue straight ahead up Planters Hill—to admire the sweeping views—via the Planters Hill Loop or the Brewer Road path. Heading in an easterly direction toward the Weir River eventually leads out to Rocky Neck—home to the Juniper Hairstreak butterflies and a trove of coastal treasures. Descending the other side of Planters Hill leads to “The Bar,” a stretch of land that connects the double peninsula and the outermost portion of World’s End.

And if the array of carriage paths, wooded trails, rocky shoreline, open fields and hills overlooking the ocean and beyond ever lose their luster, the Trustees also offer specialized outings for adventure seekers year-round.