This 2.75 acre wooded property is tucked into a neighborhood between the Elmwood and Wolcott Park areas of West Hartford. The property was donated to the West Hartford Land Trust by the Wojan-Steenburgh family in 2020. Wojan Woods is an example of an urban micro-forest. It features Rockledge Brook (a branch of Trout Brook) which flows onto the nearby Wolcott Primary School before connecting to the Rockledge Golf Course.
In 2022, restoration funding from the West Hartford American Rescue Plan Act allowed for study and improvements to support the natural diversity of the site. The purpose of the ARPA Grant was to increase the visibility of local businesses in West Hartford. TRLC worked with many local organizations to enhance the open space and existing trail which is used by neighbors and children on their way to school.
The restoration project reinforced the central path and defined a new brook path by planting native plants which support wildlife. Educational signage will reinforce the value of plant diversity. New benches are placed in strategic locations. The project focused on the western property side. The property needed extensive cleanup to remove debris and invasive plants. More than 200 native plants have been planted on the wetland and upland soils found on the site. Arborists are focusing on 35 existing trees, and made recommendations on care and maintenance.
Many hands have helped with this project. We would like to thank: West Hartford Garden Club, West Hartford Tree Project, Nature-based Solutions Working Group of the Sustainable West Hartford Commission, Connecticut Master Gardeners, Westmoor Park Arboretum, West Hartford Public Works and Park Department and Ironwood Community Partners.
