Welcome to Lawn Squad® of Boxford, MA

Boxford, Massachusetts, is one of Essex County’s most beautifully preserved small towns — a quiet, deeply wooded community that has resisted overdevelopment and maintained the kind of rural New England character that draws nature lovers, hikers, and those seeking a genuine escape from the bustle of city life. The town’s rich past is kept alive by the Boxford Historical Society on Elm Street, which stewards the town’s colonial heritage and historic sites. Equally worth a visit is the remarkable Kelsey Arboretum on Kelsey Road, a hidden gem that grew out of the former Kelsey Nursery and now features a fascinating collection of rare trees, rhododendrons, and azaleas, all beautifully labeled along well-kept trails. The annual Bloom Day in late May — when the azaleas and rhododendrons explode into color — is not to be missed. Just beyond Boxford’s borders, the Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby Topsfield offers one of the most magical nature experiences in all of New England, where chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice will literally eat birdseed from your hand along miles of gorgeous, well-maintained trails.

Boxford is defined above all by its extraordinary natural landscape, and the hiking opportunities here are among the finest on the North Shore. Lockwood Forest off Lockwood Lane is perhaps the crown jewel, with wide, clearly marked trails that meander through lush forest alongside Fish Brook Reservoir — a deeply peaceful place alive with birdsong, bridges, and waterside views. The adjacent Cleaveland Farm Preserve offers something truly unique: trails that wind along the tops of 25,000-year-old glacial eskers, with ponds and wetland on either side, beaver activity throughout, and a wonderful sense of being somewhere ancient and wild. For a broader adventure, Boxford State Forest covers hundreds of acres of quiet woodland with small waterfalls, boardwalks, beaver dams, and a trail network that rewards patient explorers willing to navigate its unmarked paths.

Boxford is a town where dining tends toward the cozy and community-spirited rather than the showy, and it delivers beautifully on that front. The Boxford Community Kitchen on Elm Street is the heart of the town’s food scene — a warm, welcoming spot beloved for its exceptional breakfasts, including the legendary “Hot Mess” dish, housemade mozzarella sticks, and a Tuesday pizza special that keeps regulars coming back all week. For a quieter, more browsable stop, the West Village Cafe on Main Street offers fresh sandwiches, local gifts, Colombian coffee, and Peruvian empanadas in a charming, homey setting that feels like Boxford at its most authentic. Those willing to venture a few minutes to the border will find Brix Grille in North Andover — a standout bar and grill with creative cocktails, perfectly cooked burgers, and a warm atmosphere that draws diners from across the region. Boxford may be one of Essex County’s smallest towns, but its natural beauty, historic character, and genuine community spirit make it one of the most rewarding to explore.