This 48-acre property features unpaved roads and trails through piney woodlands. It is bordered on one side by the Hingham Transfer Facility. Combined with More-Brewer Park across the street, there are nearly 5 miles of trails and carriage paths to explore here.

According to Looking Backward by Wilmon Brewer, Francis Brewer was especially interested in trees. In 1880, he established the Hingham Tree Association, a tree nursery at the corner of Hobart and New Bridge Streets. He led an effort to plan Linden trees and Norway maples at various spots around town and is known as the town’s first Tree Warden. He intended to plant all of the species that could grow in Hingham’s climate. Within More Brewer Park, the Brewer Reservation, and Cranberry Pond (around the corner on French Street), you will see various trees with numbers posted upon them. These are some of Brewer’s original plantings. A guide posted at the kiosk near the park entrance to More Brewer Park identifies these trees.

Deer hunting is allowed on this property between October 19 and November 28. A special permit by the Conservation Commission is required for this activity.

The forest here is predominantly pine, oak, and beech. The terrain includes some rolling hills and a small grassy meadow, plus some wetlands and streams. Within the property, you will see various trees with numbers posted on them. These are some of Francis Brewer’s original plantings. A guide posted at the kiosk near the entrance to More Brewer Park identifies these trees.

The wetlands and streams at this property flow into the Fresh River. The Fresh River joins with the Mill River/Herring Run Brook in Weymouth and flows into the Weymouth Back River.

Francis Brewer, son of John R. Brewer, spent happy boyhood days on his father’s World End Farm; and possibly inspired by that experience began in 1884 to purchase sheep grazing land at Great Hill. He originally planned to create a park and give it to the town. Instead, he married, built a house and farm buildings, and raised a family there. In the spring of 1921, Brookes More, a poet purchased the Great Hill estate. His daughter, Katherine More, eventually married Francis Brewer’s son, Wilmon Brewer, also a poet.

Nearly a century after Francis Brewer began buying the land, his original intent was fulfilled by an act of uncommon generosity when, in 1980, Dr. and Mrs. Wilmon Brewer gave the Higham Conservation Commission 107 acres of the Great Hill estate. Combined with the previously acquired 31.4 acres to the north and the 48.1 acres of Brewer Reservation earlier given by the Brewer family, the park totals 186.5 acres of varied land, much of it interlaced with winding carriage paths.

An outstanding feature is a spacious meadow, surrounded by pine. Larch and dogwood. Brewer Pond, gorgeous when water lilies are in bloom, and the more secluded Ice House Pond, provides habitats for many creatures. Other features include a trail through Bear Swamp and the foundation of the tiny cottage of Bootleg Charlie, immortalized in Brookes More’s poetry.

In 2006, the protection of Bear Swamp was enhanced by a 5-acre gift from the Estate of Gertrude Higgins. The 112-acre park provides access to Hobart Street and New Bridge Street. Parking is located along Hobart Street.

Cranberry Pond located south of More Brewer Park and west of Brewer Reservation was once a cranberry bog known as Bouve Pond. The Cranberry Pond area is a 13.8-acre preserver that attracts ice skaters and waterfowl. Parking is located along French Street.

From the parking area, follow the unpaved roadway into the woods. Blue blazes mark the way. There is a loop trail to the right. If you bear left, the trail will lead you over a hill through a small meadow and into an extensive (2-3 miles) trail network, including a large loop around the Ridgewood Crossing/Woodlock Road neighborhood. 

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at the Brewer Reservation.