The Hopkinton Open Space Preservation Commission reports that volunteers from the Friends of Whitehall, including Margaret Mighton, Mary McManus, Paula Gedraitis, Tom Haldoupis, Nancy Weckback, Jim Weckback and Ken Loderick, spread wood chips in the parking area at the Whitehall Conservation area this month.

The wood chips, donated by Joe Regan, will decompose and get crushed into the ground by vehicles, and that is expected to help keep the soil around the sugar maple loose, which will be beneficial for the tree.