Mass Audubon Habitat

Mass Audubon Habitat 88-acre wildlife sanctuary with 4 miles of trails The visitor center is a brick Georgian-style mansion where monthly art exhibits can be viewed.

Just 6 miles northwest of downtown Boston, Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary is a 90-acre urban oasis that has been devoted to environmental education since 1970. Over 2.5 miles of gentle trails wind through deciduous and evergreen forests, across meadows, around 2 ponds, and along a wetland containing a vernal pool. Outside, there’s a pleasing and calming formal garden. The building and gardens can be reserved on weekends for weddings and other events.

Take a seat, feel the sunshine through the leaves, and listen to the sounds of summer ☀️
08/21/2026

Take a seat, feel the sunshine through the leaves, and listen to the sounds of summer ☀️

Us when we see a monarch caterpillar on the plants we specifically put for monarchs: 🤯Milkweeds are the host plants for ...
08/19/2026

Us when we see a monarch caterpillar on the plants we specifically put for monarchs: 🤯

Milkweeds are the host plants for monarch butterflies, and this particular caterpillar was having quite the feast. It's still exciting every time we get to see the tangible results that planting native species and providing habitat for pollinators has.

Mass Audubon is going wild for monarchs this month—learn all about them, snag some special merch, and submit your own wildlife stories at massaudubon.org/gowildformonarchs 🦋

The goldenrod is blooming, and Kudzu the goat couldn't help having a little snack...she looks extremely elegant while do...
08/11/2026

The goldenrod is blooming, and Kudzu the goat couldn't help having a little snack...she looks extremely elegant while doing it, too.

Please join us in congratulating our Terra Corps member, Amaya, for completing her service term with us 🎉 Amaya shares a...
08/03/2026

Please join us in congratulating our Terra Corps member, Amaya, for completing her service term with us 🎉 Amaya shares a few words about her time at Habitat:

"This past year has flown by, which is a testament to what a delight and privilege it’s been working with such a wonderful group of colleagues, and community members.

This year, I was focused on building lasting capacity in ecological stewardship, volunteer engagement, data management, and public education. I developed Habitat's invasive species mapping and monitoring system in collaboration with Mass Audubon's Conservation Science team, helping make Habitat one of the organization's leading sites for invasives management tracking. I also led a year-long ecological restoration project, working with college students on invasive species removal, native planting, and biodiversity monitoring. Finally, I continued the work of previous TerraCorps members in our demonstration garden, creating educational materials for visitors and partnering with Mass Audubon's Sustainable Landscaping Certificate Program to provide collaborative landscaping opportunities to the certificate program’s students.

From my very first service day working with volunteers (and the goats of course) out in the meadows to working with Habitat campers on invasive removal this week (which reminded me of tromping through the snowy woods years ago as a winter Habitat camper myself), this position has given me the opportunity to engage with Habitat’s ecosystems in so many different ways, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Mass Audubon who have helped make that possible.

I leave for my Conservation Science Master’s program at Oxford with true optimism for the future of a resilient Massachusetts, having seen firsthand all the care that people of all ages and backgrounds have brought to Habitat! Habitat is a place full of intelligent, caring, and welcoming people, and it will hold a special place in my heart forever.” --Amaya, 2025-2026 Land Stewardship Coordinator

We're so proud of Amaya's work and can't wait to see her do even more amazing things!

We've spotted this Green Heron hanging out around Turtle Pond a bunch recently!Fun fact: Green Herons are one of the few...
07/24/2026

We've spotted this Green Heron hanging out around Turtle Pond a bunch recently!

Fun fact: Green Herons are one of the few bird species that use tools. They will drop things like insects, feathers, and pieces of food onto the water's surface to lure fish towards them. They will also occasionally dive for prey and then swim back to shore.

📸 Green Heron by Betty Jenewin

With our recent plantings taking off, the entrance circle is really starting to shine 🌱As you may remember, we completed...
07/21/2026

With our recent plantings taking off, the entrance circle is really starting to shine 🌱

As you may remember, we completed the redesign of our front circle last fall. Since then, the team has put in a variety of native shrubs, flowers and grasses that have been establishing slowly but surely. We look forward to seeing the space continue to transform as the plants grow even bigger and more beautiful!

Summer is pretty dreamy at Mass Audubon Habitat in Belmont 🌿Just 7 miles from Boston, the sanctuary's more than 3 miles ...
07/18/2026

Summer is pretty dreamy at Mass Audubon Habitat in Belmont 🌿

Just 7 miles from Boston, the sanctuary's more than 3 miles of trails meander through meadows, past ponds, through woods, and even by the property's resident goats.

Lately, Cooper's Hawks, bullfrogs, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and a variety of butterflies have been spotted along the trails edge and flying overhead.

See for yourself! Plan your visit at massaudubon.org/habitat

Summer snapshots from the community garden 🌼 Native wildflowers like butterfly milkweed and bee balm are just as importa...
07/15/2026

Summer snapshots from the community garden 🌼

Native wildflowers like butterfly milkweed and bee balm are just as important in the garden as herbs and veggies! Besides making the space beautiful, they provide food for insects and birds, who in turn pollinate our crops and help them thrive.

Maine-based photographer Ashley Allen transports you into the scenic coastlines of New England with her exhibit, now on ...
07/10/2026

Maine-based photographer Ashley Allen transports you into the scenic coastlines of New England with her exhibit, now on display at Habitat 🐚

Visit the collection in the nature center during open hours, or meet the artist and get a deeper look into her works at an opening reception Saturday, July 25 from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Learn more about Allen and the exhibit: https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/habitat/news/new-england-landscapes-and-flora-by-ashley-allen-at-habitat

📸 New England Landscapes and Flora by Ashley Allen

We absolutely love getting to see the next generation of birds grow up at our sanctuary, like this gaggle of Canada Goos...
07/08/2026

We absolutely love getting to see the next generation of birds grow up at our sanctuary, like this gaggle of Canada Goose goslings 🥹

📸 Photo by Kirsten Waerstad

Address

10 Juniper Road
Belmont, MA
02478

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16174895050

Website

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