NORTHFIELD — The Open Space Committee recently announced its former chair as the 2024 Citizen Stewardship Award winner.

Julia Blyth, who served on the committee for roughly a decade and was at the helm for three years, recently had her name added to the 16 others on a plaque hanging in the Northfield Town Hall entryway. She was formally recognized at the Selectboard meeting on April 15.

“I was delighted and honored,” she said of receiving the award. “I had certainly put a lot of effort into helping the town’s trails, both in terms of physical maintenance and upgrades, and also the trails’ website and brochures, like little trail guides at the trail head. I’m really passionate about people having access to outdoor spaces, and I’m interested in conservation of land and seeing open spaces being protected.”

The Open Space Committee’s job is to implement the Northfield Open Space and Recreation Plan, which aims to ensure that the town protects farmland, forest land, scenic views and other open space. The Citizen Stewardship Award, given annually since 2007, recognizes someone who is an excellent steward of natural resources and who helps achieve the goals of the Open Space and Recreation Plan.

According to a statement from the Open Space Committee, Blyth is a longtime environmental volunteer who has actively promoted responsible habitat management projects and encouraged community involvement in protecting open space and trails.

She mapped GPS coordinates for the trails and for the Calvin Swan homestead site at Brush Mountain Conservation Area. After applying for and successfully securing a community preservation grant for the Mill Brook project, Blyth organized construction crews for bridge building and trail work at Mill Brook. This project included replacing two smaller bridges and rebuilding a long marsh bridge as part of the Sunshine Trail from Birnam Road to School Street.

Blyth, 36, along with her daughter, Ayla, are active members of Friends of Alderbrook Meadows, a group of volunteers who work with Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust to ensure the accessible trail to the beaver pond is ready for walkers.

“I can’t think of a more deserving person,” Selectboard member Barbara “Bee” Jacque told Blyth during the April 15 meeting.

“It feels really good to be recognized for a lot of time and energy put into the town’s work,” Blyth said in an interview.

Blyth is also a homesteader, museum consultant and editor. She grew up in Ohio and moved to Northfield in 2013.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.