Past Events
A World Without Dark Skies: How Light Pollution is Impacting Humans and Ecosystems, and What You Can Do
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Hadlyme Public Hall, 63 Ferry Road, Lyme CT 06371
Contact Email: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
Join Misha Semenov-Leiva and Alan Sheiness for a presentation to learn about light pollution in the Connecticut River Valley. Find out about the effects of an artificially brightened night sky, including the effects on natural cycles in aquatic and terrestrial life. Alan will talk about his love of astronomy and the wonder of the dark night sky unaffected by artificial light. Misha will open our eyes to the many ways light pollution affects the flora, fauna, and our health; and present simple site lighting design changes that can thwart impact while promoting safety.
Alan Sheiness is founder of the Lyme Land Trust Astronomy program, which holds regular public astronomy observing sessions. He is a promoter of dark skies and amateur astrophotographer.
Misha Semenov-Leiva is a board member of the CT River Gateway Commission. He is Senior Architect & Sustainability Coordinator with Centerbrook Architects. With his background in ecology and design, he believes that design can be informed by a knowledge of nature.
Registration appreciated: education@lymelandtrust.org
Note about Directions: The Hadlyme Public Hall, 63 Ferry Rd, Lyme, is at the intersection of Ferry Road (Rte 148), Day Hill Road, and Joshuatown Road about 1/2 mile east of the Hadlyme Country Store. Make sure that your GPS sends you to Ferry Road in Lyme, not Old Lyme.
Co-sponsored by the Lyme land Trust and the Hadlyme Public Hall
Tuesday Trek: Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve
Date: Tue January 23, 2024Time: 9:00 am
Place: Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve
Contact Email: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
Presenter: Tony Irving
Walk through a variety of habitats, including mature forest, wetland, and streamside. Explore evidence of past land use. Meet at the parking lot on Brush Hill Road.
Contact: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Tuesday Trek: Chestnut Hill Preserve-POSTPONED TO Wednesday Jan 17
Date: Wed January 17, 2024Time: 9:00 am
Place: Chestnut Hill Preserve
Contact Email: jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Jim Arrigoni
This walk is postponed to Wednesday, January 17, from Tuesday January 16, due to weather.
This gentle 1-mile loop trail passes a notable diversity of tree species. Naked of their leaves, we’ll examine what other characteristics can be useful to identify them, and consider what uses they provide for the survival of our hearty New England wildlife species. Park by entrance along the side of Sterling Hill Rd.
Contact: Jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Tree Collective- Teen Hike and Steward Group Meet-up
Time: 1:00-3:30 pm
Place: Register to learn location
Contact Email: reganstacey@gmail.com
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
Winter Wonders Forest Bathing
Time: 9:30-11:30 am
Place: Pleasant Valley Preserve, Macintosh Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Enjoy a relaxing and peaceful stroll that will surprise you with all that is present this time of year. As we make our way along the wintery meadow, cedars, and pine forest of Pleasant Valley Preserve, you’ll be offered opportunities to connect with nature along the way.
This guided session includes a gentle mindful movement practice, a sensory awakening meditation, invitations to connect with nature, and concludes with tea together in the forest.
Registration: $25 ~ includes the program and tea. Ages 18+. No pets please. Register here.
LLT members save 10% with code LLT10.
Rain or shine event.
Forest bathing is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku – taking in the forest atmosphere. As a growing global wellness movement, it is backed by nearly 40 years of scientific research on the holistic benefits of immersing yourself in nature. These benefits include reduced stress and blood pressure, increased creativity and focus, improved mood and sleep, and a boost to immune functions.
Regan Stacey is an artist and advocate for the Earth whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for personal, collective, and planetary well-being. She is co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, training forest therapy guides to share this work around the world. Find out more about her work at reganstacey.com
Questions? Email Regan at regan@reganstacey.com
Tuesday Trek: Jewett Preserve
Date: Tue January 9, 2024Time: 9:00 am
Place: Jewett Preserve
Contact Email: Kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Kristina White
Hike the white trail and see interesting indigenous stone works. Meet at Mt. Archer Woods parking lot on the south side of Mt. Archer Road.
Contact: Kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Imagining Lyme–Photo Submission Deadline – Fall/Winter
Time: midnight
Place: Submit photos to Imagining Lyme website
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Submit up to three of you favorite photos to share. The Lyme Land Trust program Imagining Lyme: A Visual Exploration of Lyme’s Preserves encourages everyone to expand their visual awareness and highlight the beauty of the Lyme preserves owned by the Lyme Land Trust, the Town of Lyme and the Nature Conservancy by taking photographs prompted by inspiration from professional photographers and artists. Photographers do not have to be residents of Lyme but all photos must be taken in Lyme in any of these places:
- Lyme Preserves owned and/or managed by the Lyme Land Trust, Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the State of CT. View a map of the preserves
- Pollinator/wildlife habitat with native plants- May be in a backyard, preserve or in a Lyme Pollinator Pathway garden in Lyme, CT.
- Trail 53 – The clear sky above Lyme.
For more information and to submit photos
Astronomy Observing Session
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: Trail 53 Observatory
Contact Email: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
Young or old, experienced, or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory.
Registration required. Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines.
For more information and to register: Astronomy Events
New Year’s Day 2024 Hike with a Lyme Land Trust Board Member
Time: Various times
Place: 2 different locations in Lyme
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Start 2024 off with a refreshing hike in the Lyme woods. The Lyme Land Trust is offering two walks this year. Register with the walk leader for the time and location you prefer. Space is limited. You may sign up for more than one walk if space and time permits.
- 10:00 am to 12:30ish pm: Pleasant Valley Preserve with Tony Irving. Notice glacial geology and its effect on colonial agricultural practices on a moderate 3.5-mile walk with a long gentle incline to a spectacular overlook. Meet at pull-in parking lot, Macintosh Rd, Lyme, about 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Macintosh road and Rte 156.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com - 1:30 to 3:30ish pm: Selden Creek Preserve with Wendy Hill: Hike to beautiful overlook vistas of Selden Creek and surrounding marshlands. White to orange to blue and back. a moderately easy 2 plus miles. Meet at Selden Creek Preserve parking lot on the west side of Joshuatown Road, about 4 miles north of the intersection of Joshuatown Road and Rte. 156, Lyme.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
For more information about the preserves and directions. Walks are moderate to moderately easy unless noted. Everyone is welcome. End times are approximate. Allow extra time. Bring a bottle of water. Inclement weather cancels. Check for updates on the LLT website.
FULL – Winter Solstice Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook
Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
Place: Banningwood Preserve. 19 Town St., Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook. Renew your connection with yourself and the Earth as we tap into nature’s rhythms and the four elements of earth, fire, water, and air on a guided meditative walk. A small closing ceremony will take place at the water’s edge as we then prepare for our return walk along the illuminated path. A restorative time of year, the winter solstice marks a solar turning point, where the darkest day turns the corner to renewed light and we welcome the season of winter—a rebirth of the sun.
Registration: FREE (donations to support Regan‘s offerings to the community are welcome)
Please register here.
Regan Stacey is an artist and environmentalist whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and our beautiful planet, Earth. Through her private practice, she offers forest bathing walks, spiritual life coaching, and mindfulness training. She is also co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, training forest therapy guides to share this work around the world. Find out more about her work at reganstacey.com
