Town of Brookline Announces Re-Opening of Hall’s Pond Sanctuary and Amory Woods
The Town of Brookline’s Department of Public Works is pleased to welcome the community back to Hall’s Pond Sanctuary and Amory Woods starting on Thursday, June 18.
continue reading →
2026 Annual Meeting on Wednesday June 24, 6- 7:30pm
Our guest speaker Jack Schleifer (Urban Forestry Manager and Tree Warden for the Town of Brookline) will give us “A Tour of Hall’s Pond in Ten Trees”. Jack is an experienced urban forestry professional who is also passionate about trees and his talk promises to be an informative treat.
continue reading →
Hidden Histories of Brookline’s Green Spaces
Ann Frechette, Co-President of Friends of Hall’s Pond, presented a talk on March 4, 2026 at an event organized by Brookline GreenSpace Alliance, the Brookline Historical Society, the Public Libraries of Brookline and several park friends groups. The event was called “Hidden Histories of Brookline’s Green Spaces” and Ann’s talk was entitled “Water Infrastructure in the Establishment of Hall’s Pond Sanctuary.”
continue reading →Quick Links
-
Volunteer Maintenance Team
Participation on the team is an excellent way to get exercise, learn about nurturing a nature preserve in an urban setting, and appreciate the beauty of the Sanctuary. All are welcome, all experience levels are needed, and gloves and tools are provided!
continue reading → -
September / October 2003 Newsletter
Hall’s Pond is one of two natural ponds remaining in Brookline. Purchased by the Town in 1975, Hall’s Pond is historically significant for having been owned by Minna Hall, a co-founder of the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1896. The Hall’s Pond area has long been valued in Brookline for its open space qualities.
continue reading → -
Spring/Summer 2009 Newsletter
At the spring 2009 community work day, the Friends of Hall’s Pond undertook the planting of shrubs and trees, in one of the largest planting efforts since the renovation of the sanctuary completed in 2002. Included among these plants were Atlantic white cedars, once one of the dominant species in the original wetland but absent from Hall’s Pond for many years. The return of cedars to Hall’s Pond is another step forward, led by the Friends, in improving the quality and diversity of the sanctuary habitat.
continue reading → -
Fall/Winter 2011 Newsletter
In “The Nature Principle,” Richard Louv writes, “A meaningful connection to nature is fundamental to our spirit and survival, as individuals and as a species….. Our Society must do more than talk about the importance of nature; it must ensure that people in every kind of neighborhood have every day access to natural spaces, places and experiences.”
continue reading → -
Spring/Summer 2013 Newsletter
As we WELCOME Spring and Summer at the sanctuary, we ask you, as always, to join us in our involvement and investment at this special Brookline resource. Come visit often, become involved with our Community Days and Volunteer Horticultural Crew Initiatives, attend our Annual Meeting, continue to take photographs and please do send your funds to support our purchase and planting of trees and shrubs.
continue reading → -
Maps & Directions
Nature Sanctuaries – Hall’s Pond Sanctuary & Amory Woods
continue reading →
Amory St. and Freeman St.
Brookline, MA 02446 -
Hall’s Pond and Amory Woods
Hall’s Pond Sanctuary together with the adjacent Amory woods, it is the only land in North Brookline set aside for conservation purposes. The sanctuary, which is administered by the Brookline Conservation Commission, consists of a pond, wetlands, an upland area, a formal garden area, and a short trail with wetland overlooks that circles the pond.
continue reading → -
Fall/Winter 2007 Newsletter
WINTER BIRDWATCHING in New England is exceptionally exciting, my favorite season, after Spring. Birds come right to your feeders, show themselves easily in bare woods. Ocean and lake ducks fly down from Canada in vast numbers; you can scope or binoc them, or eyeball some (Mergansers, Canvasbacks, Scaup, Ring-necks, Ruddies) at Hall’s Pond or Fresh Pond in Cambridge.
continue reading → -
Spring/Summer 2007 Newsletter
THE TOWN of Brookline has budgeted $300,000 to be spent by the Park and Recreation Commission for improvements to Amory Park. Larson Associates, a landscape architect firm and the Town’s design consultant has had multiple informative public design review meetings over the past few months, including site visits.
continue reading → -
“She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!” Illustrated Book (PDF)
Minna Hall and Harriet Hemenway, two very well bred Boston ladies, decide that something must be done. Fashionable ladies are parading around town with dead birds on their hats! So Minna and Harriet gather together the most prominent women and men in town and form a club to protect the birds. Thus is born the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
continue reading →