Submit up to three of your favorite winter 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, The Nature Conservancy, or the State of CT  by taking photographs prompted by inspiration from professional photographers and artists. Amateur photographers may submit photos. Photographers do not have to be residents of Lyme but all photos must be taken in Lyme in any of these places:

1. 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
2. Pollinator/wildlife habitat with native plants in Lyme – May be in a backyard, local farm, preserve or in a Lyme Pollinator Pathway garden in Lyme, CT.
3. Trail 53 – The clear sky above Lyme.

For more information and to submit photos

One of my favorite preserves with its diversity of topography. Great views at the overlook. We will walk 2.5 to 3 miles, gentle to moderate with a moderate incline to the overlooks.

Register: openspace@townlyme.org

View the Tuesday Trek Schedule

Join Jim Arrigoni in an exploration of two very different vernal pools at Selden Creek Preserve: one small, shallow & shady, the other large, sunny & deep. These temporary wetland habitats are critical for sustaining populations of fascinating critters like Wood Frogs and Spotted Salamanders, but varying conditions from pool-to-pool and year-to-year can result in very different outcomes for the species that depend on them. Come get an up-close view of who’s making their living in our local vernal pools and how they’re doing it.

Register: jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org

Winter is ending and things are turning green again! Lets enjoy a hike through the Thach preserve. This is a 1 mile loop with a variety of interesting habitats to explore.

Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com

View the Tuesday Trek Schedule

Want to know what you are seeing in nature? Want to contribute to citizen science by joining the Wild Lyme Biodiversity Project? With a photograph and a few taps on your smartphone, you, too, can follow in the footsteps of great biologists like Charles Darwin by identifying different species and sharing your observations with the scientific and conservation communities. Join  Jim Arrigoni, Lyme Land Trust (LLT) environmental director ad team member of the Lyme Pollinator Pathway, for this informative program.

Learn how to use iNaturalist on your smartphone or computer and learn more about the world of plants, insects, mushrooms, birds, and trees that are all around us. This 1-hour workshop will show you how to use the app on your smartphone and desktop computer, what the best practices are for entering photos, and add hands-on practice.

Join the Wild Lyme Biodiversity project on iNaturalist and contribute to the study of the variety of life on all of the Lyme preserves owned by LLT, the Town of Lyme and The Nature Conservancy. We’ll show you how to join the project on the app, what you can contribute, and what you can learn about Lyme and the surrounding areas.

iNaturalist app is a free app that can be downloaded on both iPhone and android. We ask that you download the app on your smartphone and set up an account before coming to the workshop, or come at 6:30 pm for help to download the app.

Reservations required. Jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org

Follow iNaturalist on Instagram and see a fantastic nature photo from around the world.

For the web version of iNaturalist.

Co-sponsored with Lyme Pollinator Pathway

Join the Lyme Land Trust’s Bioblitz Team by attending the inaugural Wild Lyme Project Mini Bioblitz! We will start at the John Pritchard Conservation Center and then move over to Banningwood Preserve across the street. Channel your inner Charles Darwin to discover species both new and familiar to you. Along with the joy and wonder of exploration and identification, you’ll contribute to modern-day biology through citizen science.

We will learn how to identify all types of animals, plants, and insects with an emphasis on amphibians, reptiles, and spring ephemeral wildflowers, using the iNaturalist app. Then, you may upload your observations to support the Wild Lyme Project and its mission to catalog and compare the biodiversity of preserves protected by the Connecticut town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lyme Land Trust.

All skill levels are welcome, from experienced to those who have never used the iNaturalist app. Participants wishing to record observations should bring a smartphone, camera, or both. Folks preferring to check out the process without installing the app will be of great help to spot plants, animals, and insects as part of a buddy team.

Registration is required and is limited to ten participants. Register: education@lymelandtrust.org to help kickstart our Wild Lyme Project bioblitz team!

This bioblitz follows the April Vernal Pools Foray on April 5^th and an iNaturalist Training on Wednesday, April 9^th. 

For more information on the Bioblitz Team.

For more information on the Wild Lyme Project and how to install and use iNaturalist.

Co-sponsored with Lyme Pollinator Pathway and Town of Lyme

About 3 miles, blue trail loop in pristine upland forest with a section along vibrant Burnham Brook plus the new red trail which has beautiful scenic vistas.

Contact: openspace@townlyme.org

View the Tuesday Trek Schedule

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 led by Wendy Hill, Lyme Open Space Coordinator and the Vice President of Lyme Land Trust. The walks are moderate, dirt paths with some uneven footing and moderate hills, unless noted. Paced to the group-two to three miles. Bring a walking stick, water bottle and dress for the weather. Inclement weather cancels.

Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.

View the Take-a-Walk Wednesday Schedule

A beautiful wooded walk along the salt marshes toward the beach on Long Island Sound. Bring binoculars if you have them. 2.5 miles.

Directions: Meet at the parking lot on Rte i56 across from the KOA Campground, 271 Main St (Rte 156), about 0.5 mile east of the intersection with Four Mile River Rd.

Join us for a fascinating talk about the important function of fungi in forest ecosystems, with Bill Yule, naturalist and mycologist. He will cover aspects of fungi that weren’t covered in last year’s very popular talk.He has a wonderful way of explaining the complex functioning of fungi and its vital interconnections with other organisms within the forest. Bill will share information to identify various mushrooms by their characteristics.

Register: education@lymelandtrust.org

Directions: Please note: If using GPS, be sure you are sent to the Lyme PUBLIC Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd, not the Lyme TOWN Hall, 480 Hamburg Rd.  If using I-95, take exit 71 N (take a right) or S (go straight). From the light at the intersection of Hall’s Rd (Rte 1). and Rte 156 in Old Lyme, travel north on 156 for 4.6 miles into Hamburg Center.. The Public Hall is on your right about 1/4 mile south of the Hamburg Fair grounds.

“For those who hunger after the earthly excrescences called mushrooms.”

Bill Yule has been active in mycological education for 30 plus years and has given many education programs throughout the country. He is a retired High School Biology teacher and Environmental Educator. In addition, he taught Ecology and Environmental Education at The Connecticut River Museum for 20 years and worked on three environmental educational boats on the CT River. He is a member and educator for three local “Mushroom clubs”, Connecticut Valley Mycological Society, COMA (CT/Westchester Mycological Association) and PVMA (Pioneer Valley Mycological Association) as well as a past Board of Directors member of the North American Mycological Association. 

Visit Bill Yule’s Facebook Page

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

Join us for the third annual Earth Day in Lyme. The Lyme Public Hall is marking this day by partnering with Lyme Land Trust, Lyme Pollinator Pathway and local experts and organizations to provide a wealth of helpful resources, all free to the public. Bring the family and invite your neighbors to come learn how to help support our unique community of plants, animals, birds, pollinators and people.

To learn about the presenters

Click on posters to enlarge.

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.

For more information. 

Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.

Click on flyer to enlarge.

Walk the yellow trail loop to see beautiful stone walls and evidence of an old quarry. Meet at the Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve Parking lot on Brush Hill Rd, about 1/2 mile south of the Hadlyme Country Market.

Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!

Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.

Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 4 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!

For more information about the preserves and directions. 

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.

For more information. 

Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.

Click on flyer to enlarge.

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

Mt Archer Woods, a town-owned preserve in Lyme, has been recognized by Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Maple program for forest management that supports songbirds in the sugarbush, the forest area where maple sap is collected by Fat Stone Farm. In celebration of this honor, Audubon forester Rosa Goldman will lead a tour to explain the Bird-Friendly Maple program and how Mt Archer came to be recognized. We will visit various examples of habitat, and learn about the birds they support.

Space is limited on the walk. Please Register: openspace@townlyme.org

Through the Bird-Friendly Maple project (a collaborative effort between Audubon, Cornell, the New York State Maple Producers Association, and the Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut), the Mount Archer Woods sugarbush is managed in ways that provide more resilient bird habitat. An Audubon bird habitat assessment and recommendations for future management are provided for each property in the program. 

Fat Stone Farm has been collecting organic sap from the maple trees on an approximately 32-acre area in Mt Archer Woods for ten years through a lease agreement with the Town of Lyme. Fat Stone Farm is located in Lyme, a short distance (as the crow flies) from the Preserve. Their syrup is available in local stores, at farmers markets, and online. Mt Archer Woods is a 275-acre preserve that is part of a larger block of about 2000 acres of preserved property including the River-to Ridges-Preserves and conservation easements on adjacent private properties. 

Co-sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust and Town of Lyme. 

Walk the Family Faery Quest Loop, search for fairies and visit the Fairy Circle. Click here to see the Faery Quest map. Meet at the Main entrance to Hartman Park on Gungy Rd.

Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!

Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.

Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 4 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!

For more information about the preserves and directions. 

Please join us for the annual Tour de Lyme cycling event with beautifully scenic routes for all ages and levels. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Registration begins January 8!

For more information, visit the Tour de Lyme webpage:

The Lyme Land Trust inaugurated Tour de Lyme in 2013 as an annual bike ride to raise funds to support its mission of preserving and protecting environmentally important land in Lyme.

Join Quinn, Lyme Land Trust board member, for a family friendly (ages 5 and up) hike at the magical time of dusk, just before the darkness creeps in. We focus on how our perceptions change and appreciate what the coming night brings to the forests and ponds of Lyme. There will be an almost full moon. As it gets darker, we will not be using artificial light, but you are invited to bring an emergency flashlight. Dress warmly and bring a walking stick. 

Registration appreciated: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com

Please join us for our annual meeting which will include the nomination and voting for new board members, annual financial report, and presentation of volunteer of the year. Everyone is welcome.

Following the meeting, we will have a presentation: Ethnobotany of Southern New England: Plant Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples by Manuel Lizarralde, Professor in Ethnobotany at Connecticut College. Professor Lizarralde will talk about the history and culture of the indigenous people who lived inSouthern New England, and the native plants that have provided food, medicine and everyday use for thousands of years.

Registration required: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org

Directions: The LLT Barn is at 12-1 Town Street. Park across the street in Banningwood Preserve first field. Handicapped parking on site.

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

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.

For more information. 

Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.

Click on flyer to enlarge.

In June, visit the Gnome trail to search for gnomes at Pleasant Valley Preserve. Click here to see the Family Gnome Hunt  map. Meet at the parking lot on MacIntosh Rd.

Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!

Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.

Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 4 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!

For more information about the preserves and directions. 

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

Meet at the Hadlyme Ferry Parking lot on Ferry Rd, Lyme (not Old Lyme) We will begin the walk along the CT River. There is a gentle inclined pathway to get up to the Castle to see the beautiful view. We may get our feet wet.

Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!

Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.

Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 4 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!

For more information about the preserves and directions. 

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

Take a walk to the refreshing waters of Roaring Brook where you may get your feet wet.  Map of Roaring Brook Preserve.

Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!

Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.

Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 4 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!

For more information about the preserves and directions. 

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

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