Past Events
CT Trails Day – Intro to Forest Bathing
Time: 10:00-11:15 am
Place: Banningwood Preserve, 19 Town St. Lyme, CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Curious about forest bathing? On CT Trails Day, come dip your toes into this Japanese-inspired practice of “taking in the forest atmosphere.” Slow down, awaken your senses, and enjoy the wonders of nature as you deeply relax in the forest.
On this 75 -minute intro to forest bathing walk, you’ll be guided on a gentle, mindful stroll. Along the way, your certified forest therapy guide, Regan Stacey, will offer you a series of sensory-opening “invitations” designed to help you connect with the natural world in your own authentic way. Leave your stresses behind and connect with the healing powers of nature. The walk is about a half-mile over easy to moderate terrain.
Registration: No charge. Register here.
The online sign-up is full. Email regan@reganstacey.com to register for the event.
Rain or shine.
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 environmentalist whose passion is to re-connect humans to nature for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and our planet, Earth. She is also co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, training forest therapy guides to share this work around the world. Locally, she is involved in a number of nature-based organizations and facilitates kids’ clubs through the Lyme Land Trust. You can find out more about her work at reganstacey.com
Astronomy Observing Session
Time: 9:00pm - 11:00pm
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
Tuesday Trek: Ravine Trail and Brockway Hawthorne Preserve
Date: Tue May 28, 2024Time: 9:00 am
Place: Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve
Contact Email: Kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Kristina White
Walk up the Ravine and into BH through laurel groves, and rock outcroppings. We will go to both overlooks. 2-3 miles. Rigorous. Meet at the Mitchell Hill Road entrance to the Ravine Trail.
Contact: Kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Night Hike with Quinn
Time: 8:00-9:00pm
Place: Hartman Park Main Entrance, Gungy Rd. Lyme CT
Contact Email: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Presenter: Quinn
Join Quinn, Lyme Land Trust board member, for a family friendly night hike in Hartman Park. We focus on how our perceptions change and appreciate what night brings to the forests and ponds of Lyme. Our way will be lit by the almost full moon. We will not be using artificial light, but you are invited to bring an emergency flashlight. Dress warmly and bring a walking stick.
Please register: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Reptiles in Lyme Talk with Jim Arrigoni
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Rd. Lyme CT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Do you know how many species of snakes and turtles call Lyme their home? Or what unique habitats they depend on for their survival? Or how they carry out their lives in our preserves and back yards? Ever wonder what that Snapping Turtle is doing in your garden or at the edge of your driveway every June? Jim Arrigoni, Lyme Land Trust Environmental Director, will get you acquainted with charismatic species like Wood Turtle, Black Racer, Smooth Green Snake, and Musk Turtle, and also demonstrate how you can contribute to science by sharing your reptile observations with the Wild Lyme Project on iNaturalist.
Register: programreg@lymepl.org
or call 860 434-2272
Lymes Senior Center Gentle Walk Wednesday with Wendy
Time: 9:30-10:30ish am
Place: Watch Rock Preserve, 7 Joel Road, Old Lyme
Contact Email: cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov
Presenter: Wendy Hill
Meet at the parking lot. We will walk along the edge of the water with beautiful views of the salt marshes. Bring your binoculars. A fairly easy 1 mile.
Directions: Turn onto Frontage Road off Rte 156 across from McCurdy Rd. Take a right and then another right. Go straight to the parking lot.
Reservations are required. Please email Caitlin Perkins at cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov or call (860)434-1605 ext. 241. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 3rd Wednesday of each month (unless noted) the group will get together at various hiking areas in Lyme and Old Lyme. Hikes will be lead by Wendy Hill, Open Space Coordinator of Lyme and the Vice President of Lyme Land Trust. The walks are easy, fairly flat dirt paths with some uneven footing, unless noted. Gentle pace. About 1 mile. Bring a walking stick, water bottle and dress for the weather. Inclement weather cancels.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
May Lyme Nix the Knotweed Day-Whalebone Cove
Time: 8:00 am-10:00 am
Place: Whalebone Creek, Ferry Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: trughouse@comcast.net
Join our work party for the fourth year to remove invasive knotweed and learn to control Knotweed on your own property. We will be expanding our area of removal. Last year we planted more Han 100 native plants to replace the knotweed. We will tend to those, also. We are following the “method of 3s”: cut knotweed down to the ground and remove the plant material; 3 chops this growing season (May, mid-July, and mid-August). Don’t cut more often or it won’t weaken the extensive root system. The cuttings must be carefully disposed of since each little piece will regrow into a new plant.
We are seeing progress! The knotweed has been highly reduced.
Bring work gloves, clippers or loppers. We’ll provide the bags! Bring your own water bottle. Snacks will be provided.
Please register: (walk-ins welcome) trughouse@comcast.net
Sponsored by the Lyme Pollinator Pathway and Friends of Whalebone Cove.
Japanese knotweed is an invasive plant which crowds out native plants that pollinators and other wildlife depend upon for survival. For a brochure on Nix the Knotweed Method of 3s.
Tuesday Trek: Roaring Brook Preserve
Date: Tue May 14, 2024Time: 9:00 am
Place: Roaring Brook Preserve, Day Hill Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Presenter: Ryan Quinn
We’ll take a leisurely 0.7 mile hike through the Roaring Brook Preserve. I am excited for this hike for two reasons. Over the last several months we have had a spectacular amount of rain. On this Tuesday Trek I want to investigate how the riparian zone of the 8 mile river has managed these winter and spring rains. I am also excited because in late April and early May Connecticut’s forests experience massive seasonal changes. I am super excited to see how the diverse Roaring Brook ecology greens up for summer.
Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
May Lyme Nix the Knotweed Days-Reed Landing
Time: 9:00 am-11:00 am
Place: Start at Reed Landing, Old Hamburg Rd, Joshua Pond, Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join our work party for the fourth year to remove invasive knotweed and other invasive plants, and tend the natives that have been planted in their place. Learn to control Knotweed on your own property. We will also to the Reed Landing gardens, and check on the 50 plants that were installed at Union Triangle on the corner of Rte 156 and Old Hamburg Rd. We are in our fourth year of tackling the knotweed using the “method of 3s”: cut knotweed down to the ground and remove the plant material; 3 chops each growing season (May, mid-July, and mid-August). The cuttings must be carefully disposed of since each little piece will regrow into a new plant. The knotweed has been highly reduced where we have used this method but we still have to cut back the ones that persist and new ones that come up from seeds.
Bring work gloves, clippers or loppers. We’ll provide the bags! Bring your own water bottle. Snacks will be provided.
Please register: (walk-ins welcome) Openspace@townlyme.org
Sponsored by the Town of Lyme, Lyme Pollinator Pathway, and Lyme Land Trust.
Japanese knotweed is an invasive plant which crowds out native plants that pollinators and other wildlife depend upon for survival. For a brochure on Nix the Knotweed Method of 3s.
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.
