Past Events
Forest Ecosystem Management Panel
Time: 1:30 pm
Place: Lyme Public Library Community Room, 482 Hamburg Road (Rte 156), Lyme CT
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
If you have hiked in Nehantic State Forest recently, you may have noticed that several trees have been marked with blue paint. Learn the reason why. Join CT DEEP foresters Alexander Amendola and Frank Cervo, and retired forester Emery Gluck for a discussion and presentation about forest ecosystem management. Discussed will be the specifics of the cultivation of trees (silviculture) for forest growth and climate benefits. Emery will present: “Effects of Natural Disturbances and New Englanders on our Oak Forests” Alex and Frank will introduce upcoming silviculture projects in the State forests to create habitat diversity and forest ecosystem health. Also discussed will be invasive plant control. They will explain concepts and techniques that can be applied to private backyard habitats to promote biodiversity. Tony Irving, forest ecologist, will moderate the program.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
The program is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust, the Lyme Public Library and the Town of Lyme and CT DEEP.
There will be follow-up walk on March 12 to visit the site of future forest management in Nehantic State Forest. Learn more about the walk.
Baby Raccoon Rescue: Author Talk and Story Time
Time: 3:00 pm
Place: Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
This February school vacation time, explore the world of baby raccoons with Sesame Street writer Learn what life is like for a group of orphaned raccoon siblings, born in the attic of a home, as they experience life at a raccoon rehabilitation center. Through the book, we meet four orphaned kits—and the humane humans who offer them hope and haven as they move through the “sanctuary steps” of rescue, recovery, rehabilitation, and release.
Register: education@lymelandtrust.org Drop-ins welcome.
Raccoons are a common, yet misunderstood, backyard animal. As Kama notes, ” If people learn more about raccoons, they will hopefully learn to appreciate them. Lots of people don’t like these creatures but most people don’t realize how clever and adaptable they are. Raccoons are everything I’d like to be. They see problems as opportunities to learn something new.”
There will be stickers, activity pages, raccoon x-rays, and book signing. Books must be pre-purchased and brought to the event or Kama will sign a sticker to be placed in a book later. Find the books at Harper Collins or kidsbooks (for bargain box set)
Kama Einhorn is a wildlife educator, animal welfare advocate, author of more than 40 children’s books, and a Sesame Street writer. She lives in Westbrook and Brooklyn, NY. She won the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy award for Outstanding Short Format Children’s Program.
The “True Tales of Rescue” series by Kama Einhorn is full of photo-packed stories from animal sanctuaries around the world. It explores the stories and science behind animal sanctuaries, including all of the ups and downs that go along with caring for wild animals away from their natural element. The books include full‑color photos, graphics, and maps.
“…excellent opportunities to engage students in learning about caring for creatures and the environment.”—School Library Journal
Note: In Connecticut, healthy orphaned raccoons can be rehabilitated for eventual release into the wild by a state appointed rehabilitator. Because of the threat of the spread of rabies, it is against CT DEEP policy to rehabilitate sick adult raccoons. It is illegal for any person, other than a state appointed rehabilitator, to care for wildlife. If you think an animal needs help, make sure to contact a trained wildlife rehabilitator.
Tuesday Trek: Pleasant Valley Preserve
Time: 9:00 am
Place: Park in the Macintosh Road lot.
Contact Email: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
Presenter: Tony Irving
Park in the Macintosh Road lot. The early history of European agriculture and land use is epitomized here going back to the mid-1600’s. There are also some fine examples of glacial activity and its impact on colonial land use practices. Hike to the overlook, about three miles.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Tree Collective- Teen Steward Group Meet-up
Time: 1:00-4:00 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.
Meet Jim Arrigoni – Walk at Banningwood Preserve
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Place: Banningwood Preserve, 19 Town Street, Lyme
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Meet the Lyme Land Trust’s new environmental director, Jim Arrigoni, and join him on a gently paced walk to explore the rich variety of habitats – streams, wetlands, fields, floodplain and upland forests – that makes Banningwood Preserve so special. Learn about the importance of habitat diversity in supporting a wide array of fish, wildlife, and plant species. Jim will share plans to enhance the habitats through restoration work throughout the Preserve.
Tuesday Trek: Young and Walbridge Woodland Preserve
Time: 9:30 am
Place: Park at Young Preserve entrance on Gungy Rd.
Contact Email: Kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Kristina White
Park at Young Preserve entrance on Gungy Rd. Moderate hike over ridges and through laurel groves. 2.5 – 3 miles.
Register: Kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
For the Love of Nature
Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Place: Eno Preserve, Mt Archerl Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Happy Valentine’s Day! Make a date with nature and share the love.This forest bathing walk is offered around the theme of Love – for oneself, others, and the natural world. Give and receive some love from the forest for Valentine’s Day. Along the way, you’ll be offered invitations to connect with nature among the large mature trees of Eno Preserve. These silent giants are an inspiring presence in the landscape, rooted in their love for the Earth. The walk is about 1-mile over easy to moderate terrain.
The walk concludes with a wild-foraged tea.
Registration: $33 ~ includes the program and tea
Click HERE to register.
LLT members receive 15% discount with code LLT15.
Rain, snow or shine event. Extreme weather cancels.
Regan Stacey is an artist and advocate for the Earth whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for personal and planetary wellbeing. She is also co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, training forest therapy guides to share this work around the world. In her private practice, she offers forest bathing walks, mindful nature retreats, and mindfulness training. Find out more about her work at reganstacey.com
Full – Fat Stone Farm – Maple Syrup Walk at Mt. Archer Woods
Time: 1 PM
Place: Mt. Archer Woods, Mt. Archer Rd. Lyme CT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Join the Farrell Family of Fat Stone Farm for a tour of Mt. Archer Woods maple sap collection area — while the sap is running (hopefully!). Come and see the sap bubbling down the lines, learn how we make “candy from trees”, the importance of organic certification, and the history of maple sugaring in New England, including in the Mt. Archer Woods. Children are encouraged to attend. We have a scavenger hunt for kids (roughly ages 5 to 10) to encourage appreciation of our this amazing Town of Lyme preserve. View a video of how the farm makes maple syrup.
Registration required: education@lymelandtrust.org This walk is Full. Please email to be put on the waitlist. Because the maple sap season is short (4-6 weeks), and because the daytime temperature must be above 32F for the sap to run, the tour date is weather dependent. We will you alert registrants of any date and/or time changes.
Meet at the Mt. Archer Woods parking lot on Mt. Archer Road. The sap collection area is a short walk (about 1/3 of a mile) in. Please wear more clothes than you think you need, as we will be standing still for a portion of the tour.
The Farrell Family operates Fat Stone Farm in Lyme, located a short distance (as the crow flies) from the Preserve. Bill started making maple syrup in Lyme in 2003, has volunteered with the UConn Coverts Cooperator Program, the Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut, the Regional Agricultural Commission of the RiverCOG. We are a regular vendor at the Lyme Farmer’s Market and have two boys (ages 11 and 14).
This is the second program in our Local Farm Series to highlight the importance of local food production and sustainability. The first program was a tour of Long Table Farm, Beaver Brook Rd., Lyme.
Sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust and the Town of Lyme
Astronomy Observatory Sessions: View the Green Comet
Time: Sunset to 8 pm, weather permitting
Place: Trail 53 Dark Sky Site, Lyme CT - send an email to learn location and directions
Contact Email: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Lyme Land Trust Astronomy Group
The good news is the faint Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is visible now though mid-February if you know where and when to look. The bad news is you likely need binoculars or a telescope, and you will have to deal with the fickle clouds and the light of the moon.
Come observe the comet at the Trail 53 Dark Sky Observatory Site!
The Lyme Land Trust astronomy group is invested in helping you appreciate the wonders of the dark sky. To catch a view of the green comet before it recedes deep into the solar system, we will do our best to have at least one telescope ready at our dark sky site each evening from January 31 through February 10. To the extent feasible, we will be out from sunset until 8pm every night that is free of clouds. Check in with us to confirm if we will be out that night.
On any evening from January 31 to February 10 that you wish to come by and observe the comet, please email us at astronomy@lymelandtrust.org. We will respond to let you know if we will be at the dark sky site and to provide directions.
Tuesday Trek: Johnston Preserve
Time: 9:30 am
Place: Meet at the Johnston Preserve parking lot on Rte 82.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
Meet at the Johnston Preserve parking lot on Rte 82. We will walk an approximately 3 mile loop past the highest point in Lyme, and along the white trail with beautiful overlooks.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
