Rescheduled from May 7 due to weather, celebrate Mother’s Day & Father’s Day with a walk along the Farmington River and learn about vernal pools, native wildlife habitats, and forest trees. Naturalist Lucy Eyre, birder Zellene Sandler, and Kevin Wilcox, former horticulturalist at Duncaster, will provide a guided nature walk through Bloomfield’s scenic Farmington River Park.
Attendees also will receive a free plant in honor of Mother Nature! To help us prepare, please follow the link at left to pre-register by June 18. On Saturday, meet in the parking lot in advance to sign-in and be ready to begin at 10:00 am.
This free event is part of the TREES FOR BLOOMFIELD initiative organized by the Bloomfield Beautification Committee and co-sponsored by Bloomfield Leisure Services and Wintonbury Land Trust.
Wintonbury Land Trust held its annual membership meeting to discuss our work of preserving local farms, protecting the environment, and connecting people with nature. Below are links to some of the materials shared for the meeting:
Meeting Slide Presentation (PDF)
DRAFT Meeting Minutes (PDF)
Financial Activity Summary (PDF)
Agenda
1. Welcome & President’s Report
2. Member Action Item: Election of Directors
4. Report on Stewardship Activities
5. Report on Connecting People with Nature
6. Discussion of Organizational Capacity
7. Member & Guest Questions
Bobcat Study Presentation
Following the meeting, staff from the Connecticut Wildlife Division’s Bobcat Project presented an update on their research study! Many residents have seen Bobcats wearing temporary radio collars, including some collared on Land Trust properties. Researchers shared what they’re learning about how Bobcats are living and traveling in urban environments.
From top left to bottom right: Board President Vic Herson, retiring board members Patty Connolly and Sharon Mann, and Connecticut DEEP Bobcat Project wildlife technician Melissa Ruszczyk.
Join the Seabury Trails Committee for a guided nature walk in the Seabury Wildwoods, a mostly oak forest rich in wildflowers and birdsong. April features Dwarf Ginseng, Spotted Wintergreen, and Marsh Marigolds. May brings Violets, Maple Leaf Viburnum, and Trout Lilies. By June we have Laurel, Carolina Rose, Wood Anemone, and Indian Pipes. The feathered chorus includes Red Bellied, Downy, Hairy, and – if we’re lucky – Pileated Woodpeckers. The 2 mile loop is flat, and leashed dogs are permitted. When entering Seabury Drive, stay to the left around the main building to the gazebo and gardens at the top of the hill parking lot.
The event is one of many in Bloomfield and around the state that are part of Connecticut Trails Day. Thousands of people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and interests come together with a simple, common purpose: to celebrate the many hiking, biking, paddling, letterboxing, and equestrian experiences Connecticut’s many trails have to offer! To find inspiration for your next hikes, visit Connecticut Trails Day.
Come explore Penwood State Park atop the Metacomet Ridge. Our hike will begin and end at the Land Trust’s Stout Family Fields, which provides an alternate entrance to the State Park from the end of Stone Hill Road. We’ll enter Penwood to visit Lake Louise and the Pinnacle and take some of the lesser-known trails to and from the notch between Bloomfield and Simsbury. The 4.5 mile loop is moderate with a few hills, and leashed dogs are permitted. The rain date is Sunday, June 5.
The event is one of many in Bloomfield and around the state that are part of Connecticut Trails Day. Thousands of people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and interests come together with a simple, common purpose: to celebrate the many hiking, biking, paddling, letterboxing, and equestrian experiences Connecticut’s many trails have to offer! To find inspiration for your next hikes, visit Connecticut Trails Day.
Update: A recording of Richard’s presentation can be found on the Land Trust’s YouTube Channel. Also he and Dr. Devaughn Fraser of CT DEEP’s Wildlife Division provided detailed notes from the question-and-answer session with links to additional resources.
The webinar ended with a Question & Answer session. Richard Taylor, Master Wildlife Conservationist, and Dr. Devaughn Fraser, CT DEEP Wildlife Division, provided the following notes from that session with more detailed answers and links to additional references
Bats are one of the world’s most beneficial – and misunderstood – animals. There are over 1,300 different Bat species, 9 that can be found in Connecticut, of which 8 are at risk! Our webinar with Richard Taylor will explore their economic value, migration and hibernation, decline and disease. He also will answer your questions and share what the public can do to help.
Richard is a former human resources executive with a passion for education and continuous learning, and a lifelong interest in fishing and wildlife. In retirement he combined them to become a certified Master Wildlife Conservationist who presents education programs about wildlife for the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
The Nature Lecture Series is co-sponsored with the Town of Bloomfield Leisure Services, who will host the webinar. You may participate on any internet-connected device with a web browser. Please register for free at left to receive login details in advance.
Wintonbury Land Trust and West Hartford Land Trust have adjacent preserves on Still Road and are planning a trail to traverse both properties. This “spring cleaning” work party will pick up roadside litter and trim branches along the existing trail. Contact us for details if you are able to participate.
Celebrate Earth Day with a free tour of our Hawk Hill Farm. The Land Trust and its partners preserved Hawk Hill Farm because it is one of the oldest continuously operating farms in Bloomfield and its gently sloping farm roads lead to beautiful views of the Metacomet Range and Hartford skyline.
Our guides will be DEEP urban wildlife biologist Peter Picone, former Knox Foundation director Ron Pitz, and Hartford Audubon Society member Zellene Sandler. They’ll help us learn about champion trees on the historic property, volunteer efforts to manage invasive plants, and local birds that can be spotted on the farm’s pond, meadows, and forest.
Please RSVP in advance to help us manage the group size. COVID-19 safety procedures will be in place, so please wear a mask. Binoculars are optional. The rain date is Sunday, April 24.
This event is co-sponsored by the North Central Conservation District and is part of the Town of Bloomfield’s Trees for Bloomfield initiative.
Update: A recording of Mark’s presentation can be found on the Land Trust’s YouTube Channel.
Honey Bees pollinate more than 100 crops in North America that account for approximately one-third of our food! Yet pesticides used by homeowners and farmers are among many stressors threatening commercially managed and wild colonies. Mark Creighton’s webinar will discuss the important ecological role of Honey Bees, how they differ from related insects in your yard, and what researchers are learning about their decline.
Mark first began beekeeping on his family’s New Hampshire farm and after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard became a Master Beekeeper. In 2012 he became the State Apiary Inspector at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, responsible for licensing honeybee apiaries and monitoring the health of Connecticut’s bees. He is a frequent speaker who the Connecticut Beekeepers Association recognized as Beekeeper of the Year in 2014.
The Nature Lecture Series is co-sponsored with the Town of Bloomfield Leisure Services, who will host the webinar. You may participate on any internet-connected device with a web browser. Please register for free at left to receive login details in advance.
Update: A recording of Ginny’s presentation can be found on the Land Trust’s YouTube Channel, along with a brief BBC Earth video of beavers in action.
Do you wonder why Beavers are called eager, or why they gnaw trees to build their dams? Ginny Apple will answer these questions – and your questions – in our webinar about Beaver behavior and history. She also will discuss the unique role of nature’s engineers in shaping North American landscapes and helping us fight water pollution, erosion, and maybe even climate change.
Ginny is a communications professional who hikes, climbs, kayaks, skis, and pokes her way through the outdoors with a passion for all things natural. She volunteers for the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection as a certified Master Wildlife Conservationist and serves on the boards of the Farmington River Watershed Association and Friends of Connecticut State Parks, to name just a few.
The Nature Lecture Series is co-sponsored with the Town of Bloomfield Leisure Services, who will host the webinar. You may participate on any internet-connected device with a web browser. Please register for free at left to receive login details in advance.
Update: Fifteen hikers and three dogs joined John Cappadona, our volunteer property steward, on a cold and blustery morning. We were well prepared with micro cleats, walking sticks, and ski poles to safely negotiate the varied hiking conditions we encountered. Everyone felt the extra effort was rewarded by a tremendous morning enjoying the stunning scenery and being out in nature in Speer Preserve and MDC Reservoir 6. (Photos by Vikki Reski)
Join us at the Land Trust’s Speer Preserve annual outing. This short trail connects to more remote sections of MDC Reservoir 6 and Talcott Mountain State Park which can feel very much like one is in the deep woods. The route is easy-to-moderate and will last 1.5-2.0 hours. Please come with snowshoes if we have snow, waterproof hiking boots if not, and seasonal outdoor clothing.
Come early, ready to be on the trail at 9:30 a.m. Meet at the cul-de-sac at the top of Juniper Road in Bloomfield. Please be prepared to take appropriate Covid-19 safety precautions as required, although this should be minimal for an outdoor event. Rain date is Sunday, February 20.