Join us for our annual meeting and see a wonderful slide show of photos based on William Burts’ new book Water Babies: The Hidden Life of Baby Wetland Birds.

A limited amount of books will be available for purchase at the event to be signed by the author.

“The ‘babies’ are the downy young of ducks, grebes, gallinules and shorebirds, herons, and the other birds of wetlands – those that get their feet wet, as it were – and challenging they are, to birder and photographer alike: quick-footed, wary, and well-camouflaged, to say the least; and temporary (you have only a week or two each year in which to find them). But above all else, they are endearing. From the comic-monster herons to the fuzzy ducklings and stick-legged sandpipers, these tots have personality, and spunk. You see it in their faces, every one.”

Everyone is welcome. The evening will begin with casual social time and then a brief  business meeting. Members will be asked to vote for new director nominees. The presentation will follow.

Join us for our annual meeting and see a wonderful slide show of photos based on William Burts’ new book Water Babies: The Hidden Life of Baby Wetland Birds.

A limited amount of books will be available for purchase at the event to be signed by the author.

“The ‘babies’ are the downy young of ducks, grebes, gallinules and shorebirds, herons, and the other birds of wetlands – those that get their feet wet, as it were – and challenging they are, to birder and photographer alike: quick-footed, wary, and well-camouflaged, to say the least; and temporary (you have only a week or two each year in which to find them). But above all else, they are endearing. From the comic-monster herons to the fuzzy ducklings and stick-legged sandpipers, these tots have personality, and spunk. You see it in their faces, every one.”

Everyone is welcome. The evening will begin with casual social time and then a brief  business meeting. Members will be asked to vote for new director nominees. The presentation will follow.

William Burt is a naturalist, writer, and photographer with a passion for wild places and elusive birds – especially marshes, and the shy birds within. His feature stories are seen in Smithsonian, Audubon, National Wildlife, and other magazines, and he is the author of 3 previous books. Burt’s photo exhibitions have showed at some 35 museums across the U.S. and Canada. He lives in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

William Burt has been a judge for the Land Trusts Annual Amateur Photo Contest for ten years.

Photo: Baby Night Crown Herons by William Burt (copyrighted image)

William Burt is a naturalist, writer, and photographer with a passion for wild places and elusive birds – especially marshes, and the shy birds within. His feature stories are seen in Smithsonian, Audubon, National Wildlife, and other magazines, and he is the author of 3 previous books. Burt’s photo exhibitions have showed at some 35 museums across the U.S. and Canada. He lives in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

William Burt has been a judge for the Land Trusts Annual Amateur Photo Contest for ten years.

Photo: Baby Night Crown Herons by William Burt (copyrighted image)

Please join us on Sunday, April 10 from 9:00 to 11:59-ish for a work party at Mt. Archer Woods Preserve in Lyme to clean up the historic ruins area, which has been overrun by invasive barberry and covered by fallen trees and branches. There will be plenty to do!! (So don’t worry that the work will be done before you get there).

We will remove barberry, fallen trees, brush, and debris. Be sure to bring heavy-duty work gloves (barberry has thorns!). We will need loppers to cut thinner branches and saplings, and many people to carry branches and brush away from the site. Parker Lord has already done mowing of barberry in the open areas. If you have a wheelbarrow that can be easily pushed on a trail, bring that. We will meet at the parking lot and then decide which tools to carry in.

The ruins are a little more than a half-mile in on the white trail. Join us for all or part of the time.

There will be refreshments!

Meet at the Main Parking Lot of Mt Archer Woods on Mt Archer Road in Lyme.
Directions from Rte 156: Rt. 156 north to Mt. Archer Road. Left onto Mt Archer Road. Go one mile on Mt Archer Road (bear left up the big hill). The parking lot is down a long driveway on the left, the 4th long driveway after you start up the hill. Look for the stone post marker that has “Mt Archer Woods Town of Lyme” written on it. It faces the road, so you can’t read it until you are on top of it. (If you get to 100 Mt. Archer Road, you have gone too far).

Please let me know if you are planning to be there. openspace@townlyme.org

Photo by Wendolyn Hill

 

Please join us on Sunday, April 10 from 9:00 to 11:59-ish for a work party at Mt. Archer Woods Preserve in Lyme to clean up the historic ruins area, which has been overrun by invasive barberry and covered by fallen trees and branches. There will be plenty to do!! (So don’t worry that the work will be done before you get there).

We will remove barberry, fallen trees, brush, and debris. Be sure to bring heavy-duty work gloves (barberry has thorns!). We will need loppers to cut thinner branches and saplings, and many people to carry branches and brush away from the site. Parker Lord has already done mowing of barberry in the open areas. If you have a wheelbarrow that can be easily pushed on a trail, bring that. We will meet at the parking lot and then decide which tools to carry in.

The ruins are a little more than a half-mile in on the white trail. Join us for all or part of the time.

There will be refreshments!

Meet at the Main Parking Lot of Mt Archer Woods on Mt Archer Road in Lyme.
Directions from Rte 156: Rt. 156 north to Mt. Archer Road. Left onto Mt Archer Road. Go one mile on Mt Archer Road (bear left up the big hill). The parking lot is down a long driveway on the left, the 4th long driveway after you start up the hill. Look for the stone post marker that has “Mt Archer Woods Town of Lyme” written on it. It faces the road, so you can’t read it until you are on top of it. (If you get to 100 Mt. Archer Road, you have gone too far).

Please let me know if you are planning to be there. openspace@townlyme.org

Photo by Wendolyn Hill

 

Join us for this moderately easy (a few hills) walk in the woods. Everyone is welcome.

This week’s hike will explore the YOUNG PRESERVE, led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Open Space Coordinator for the Town of Lyme. The hike is about 2 miles long. We will meet at the entrance to the Young Preserve on Gungy Road. Park by the sign.

Rain Cancels.

Directions: Rte 156 N to right on Beaver Brook Road; about 1 mile to left on Gungy Road at 4-way stop; about 0.5 mile to park entrance on the right.

photo by Wendolyn Hill, Young Preserve hike 2015

Since coyotes first extended their range into Connecticut in the 1950s, they have become an established presence in rural and urban areas. Is this intelligent animal unjustly demonized? Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem in helping to control the overpopulation of deer and rodents. Frank Vincenti, of the Wild Dog Foundation, will present a talk about the natural history and habits of this fascinating animal, and address common misconceptions. He will discuss common sense ways to co-exist with coyotes and explain reasons to appreciate wildlife, such as the coyote, that can readily adapt to environments that are inhabited by people.

The program includes beautiful images and factual engaging conversation which will interest adults and children. There is no admission fee.

The Lyme Public Hall is in the Hamburg Center of Lyme on Rte 156, 5 miles north of I-95.

Photo from Wild Dog Foundation webpage.

Since coyotes first extended their range into Connecticut in the 1950s, they have become an established presence in rural and urban areas. Is this intelligent animal unjustly demonized? Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem in helping to control the overpopulation of deer and rodents. Frank Vincenti, of the Wild Dog Foundation, will present a talk about the natural history and habits of this fascinating animal, and address common misconceptions. He will discuss common sense ways to co-exist with coyotes and explain reasons to appreciate wildlife, such as the coyote, that can readily adapt to environments that are inhabited by people.

The program includes beautiful images and factual engaging conversation which will interest adults and children. There is no admission fee.

The Lyme Public Hall is in the Hamburg Center of Lyme on Rte 156, 5 miles north of I-95.

Photo from Wild Dog Foundation webpage.

Please join us for a reception to showcase the photos submitted to the contest, which celebrates the scenic beauty of our towns.  The work of all the photographers who entered will be represented in the exhibit. During the reception, the photo contest winners will be announced, and cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded. The reception is free. Light refreshments will be served with support from Big Y and Fromage Fine Foods & Coffee. We hope you will join us for a wonderful evening.

Reservations are not required.

The reception is sponsored by the Land Trusts in the towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, East Haddam, Essex and Salem.

Contest awards are being funded with the generous support of RiverQuest /Connecticut River Expeditions, Lorensen Auto Group, the Oakley Wing Group at Morgan Stanley, Evan Griswold at Coldwell Banker, Ballek’s Garden Center, Essex Savings Bank, Chelsea Groton Bank, and Alison Mitchell in honor of her late husband John G. Mitchell.

Photo by Melinda Hill

For more information about the Photo Contest

Please join us for a reception to showcase the photos submitted to the contest, which celebrates the scenic beauty of our towns.  The work of all the photographers who entered will be represented in the exhibit. During the reception, the photo contest winners will be announced, and cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded. The reception is free. Light refreshments will be served with support from Big Y and Fromage Fine Foods & Coffee. We hope you will join us for a wonderful evening.

Reservations are not required.

The reception is sponsored by the Land Trusts in the towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, East Haddam, Essex and Salem.

Contest awards are being funded with the generous support of RiverQuest /Connecticut River Expeditions, Lorensen Auto Group, the Oakley Wing Group at Morgan Stanley, Evan Griswold at Coldwell Banker, Ballek’s Garden Center, Essex Savings Bank, Chelsea Groton Bank, and Alison Mitchell in honor of her late husband John G. Mitchell.

Photo by Melinda Hill

For more information about the Photo Contest

If you are an Essex Savings Bank customer, please vote for the The Lyme Land Conservation Trust during the Essex Savings Bank Community Investment Program between February 1 to February 29. The funds allocated to us will enhance our ability to conserve the forests and streams of Lyme and provide public access to these beautiful places.

The Essex Savings Bank annually commits 10% of its after tax net income to qualifying organizations within the immediate market area consisting of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Lyme, Madison, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook. This program provides financial support to over 200 non-profit organizations.  The ballots are available to all Essex Savings Bank customers. The voters determine 30% of the fund allocations by voting directly for three of their favorite causes, charities or organizations who have submitted applications to participate. Ballots will be available at all Essex Savings Bank Offices. For more information.

The deadline for submissions to the Photo Contest is January 31, 2016

To request an ENTRY FORM, email: photocontest@lymelandtrust.org

For more information go to Photo Contest News 

Amateur photographers of all ages are invited to share their love of the natural world. Participants, no matter their town of residence, may submit photos that focus on the celebrated and scenic countryside of Lyme, Old Lyme, Essex, Salem, and East Haddam. It’s easy. Submit matted 8×10 prints of your favorite photos with the completed official Entry Form taped to the back. More details about submission can be found in the Contest Rules 2016. When you drop them off, protect your prints by wrapping them in paper or putting them in a large envelope.

Visit the Land Trust’s Photo Contest website to see last year’s winners at https://landtrustsphotos.shutterfly.com/

photo credit: Nicholas Avalos, winner Photo Contest Plants 2015

The deadline for submissions to the Photo Contest is January 31, 2016

To request an ENTRY FORM, email: photocontest@lymelandtrust.org

For more information go to Photo Contest News 

Amateur photographers of all ages are invited to share their love of the natural world. Participants, no matter their town of residence, may submit photos that focus on the celebrated and scenic countryside of Lyme, Old Lyme, Essex, Salem, and East Haddam. It’s easy. Submit matted 8×10 prints of your favorite photos with the completed official Entry Form taped to the back. More details about submission can be found in the Contest Rules 2016. When you drop them off, protect your prints by wrapping them in paper or putting them in a large envelope.

Visit the Land Trust’s Photo Contest website to see last year’s winners at https://landtrustsphotos.shutterfly.com/

photo credit: Nicholas Avalos, winner Photo Contest Plants 2015

Join us on a historical and modern-day tour of maple sap collection in Mt. Archer Woods.  Bill & Liz Farrell of Fat Stone Farm, Lyme will lead us on a guided walk to see some of the oldest trees in Mt. Archer, the sugar maples lining the abandoned road, and discuss why and how they are using these and some of the younger offspring to make maple syrup.

Learn how Fat Stone Farm has applied modern sap collection technology to reduce both the energy intensity and environmental impact of harvesting sap from maple trees.  Mt. Archer Woods is one of only a small number of properties world-wide where this new state-of-the-art yet extremely simple equipment has been installed.

Beyond discussing harvesting technology, tree physiology and ecology, the walk will touch on broader questions about agriculture in Lyme.

Registration is appreciated: openspace@townlyme.org

The walk is moderately easy, family friendly and will take about 2 hours.

Rain date: Sunday, January 31 at 1:30 pm

Directions: Rt. 156 north to Mt. Archer Road. Left onto Mt Archer Road. Go one mile on Mt Archer Road (bear left up the big hill). The parking lot is down a long driveway on the left, the 4th long driveway after you start up the hill. Look for the stone post marker that has “Mt Archer Woods Town of Lyme” written on it. It faces the road, so you can’t read it until you are on top of it. (If you get to 100 Mt. Archer Road, you have gone too far).

 

Join us on a historical and modern-day tour of maple sap collection in Mt. Archer Woods.  Bill & Liz Farrell of Fat Stone Farm, Lyme will lead us on a guided walk to see some of the oldest trees in Mt. Archer, the sugar maples lining the abandoned road, and discuss why and how they are using these and some of the younger offspring to make maple syrup.

Learn how Fat Stone Farm has applied modern sap collection technology to reduce both the energy intensity and environmental impact of harvesting sap from maple trees.  Mt. Archer Woods is one of only a small number of properties world-wide where this new state-of-the-art yet extremely simple equipment has been installed.

Beyond discussing harvesting technology, tree physiology and ecology, the walk will touch on broader questions about agriculture in Lyme.

Registration is appreciated: openspace@townlyme.org

The walk is moderately easy, family friendly and will take about 2 hours.

Rain date: Sunday, January 31 at 1:30 pm

Directions: Rt. 156 north to Mt. Archer Road. Left onto Mt Archer Road. Go one mile on Mt Archer Road (bear left up the big hill). The parking lot is down a long driveway on the left, the 4th long driveway after you start up the hill. Look for the stone post marker that has “Mt Archer Woods Town of Lyme” written on it. It faces the road, so you can’t read it until you are on top of it. (If you get to 100 Mt. Archer Road, you have gone too far).

 

Due to the weather forecast, this walk has been postponed to Saturday, January 30 at 1:30.

Join us on a historical and modern-day tour of maple sap collection in Mt. Archer Woods.  Bill & Liz Farrell of Fat Stone Farm, Lyme will lead us on a guided walk to see some of the oldest trees in Mt. Archer, the sugar maples lining the abandoned road, and discuss why and how they are using these and some of the younger offspring to make maple syrup.

Learn how Fat Stone Farm has applied modern sap collection technology to reduce both the energy intensity and environmental impact of harvesting sap from maple trees.  Mt. Archer Woods is one of only a small number of properties world-wide where this new state-of-the-art yet extremely simple equipment has been installed.

Beyond discussing harvesting technology, tree physiology and ecology, the walk will touch on broader questions about agriculture in Lyme.

Registration is appreciated: openspace@townlyme.org

The walk is moderately easy, family friendly and will take about 2 hours.

Rain date: Sunday, January 24 at 1:30 pm

Directions: Rt. 156 north to Mt. Archer Road. Left onto Mt Archer Road. Go one mile on Mt Archer Road (bear left up the big hill). The parking lot is down a long driveway on the left, the 4th long driveway after you start up the hill. Look for the stone post marker that has “Mt Archer Woods Town of Lyme” written on it. It faces the road, so you can’t read it until you are on top of it. (If you get to 100 Mt. Archer Road, you have gone too far).

Due to the weather forecast, this walk has been postponed to Saturday, January 30 at 1:30.

Join us on a historical and modern-day tour of maple sap collection in Mt. Archer Woods.  Bill & Liz Farrell of Fat Stone Farm, Lyme will lead us on a guided walk to see some of the oldest trees in Mt. Archer, the sugar maples lining the abandoned road, and discuss why and how they are using these and some of the younger offspring to make maple syrup.

Learn how Fat Stone Farm has applied modern sap collection technology to reduce both the energy intensity and environmental impact of harvesting sap from maple trees.  Mt. Archer Woods is one of only a small number of properties world-wide where this new state-of-the-art yet extremely simple equipment has been installed.

Beyond discussing harvesting technology, tree physiology and ecology, the walk will touch on broader questions about agriculture in Lyme.

Registration is appreciated: openspace@townlyme.org

The walk is moderately easy, family friendly and will take about 2 hours.

Rain date: Sunday, January 24 at 1:30 pm

Directions: Rt. 156 north to Mt. Archer Road. Left onto Mt Archer Road. Go one mile on Mt Archer Road (bear left up the big hill). The parking lot is down a long driveway on the left, the 4th long driveway after you start up the hill. Look for the stone post marker that has “Mt Archer Woods Town of Lyme” written on it. It faces the road, so you can’t read it until you are on top of it. (If you get to 100 Mt. Archer Road, you have gone too far).

Cancelled-Join us for this moderate walk in the woods. We will be walking up an incline to get to the overlook at Pleasant Valley. Everyone is welcome.

This week’s hike will explore Pleasant Valley Preserve, led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator. The hike is a little more than 2.5 miles. This is the time of year to get a beautiful unobstructed view from the overlook at Pleasant Valley.

Rain or snow cancels.

Directions: Rt. 156 north to left on Macintosh Rd. (across from Beaver Brook Road.) The parking area is about 1/4  mile on the right.