Jr Trail Stewards: Summer Visits to the Preserves

A Junior Trail Steward is a younger member of the Aspetuck Land Trust who has volunteered to help a preserve stay healthy so that visitors of the preserve can enjoy the beautiful open space for years to come. Currently the Easton/Poindexter Preserve, Fairfield/Harwood Preserve, Weston/Stonebridge Waterfowl Preserve, and the Westport/Newman Poses Preserve are included in the program. Visits by the Junior Stewards occur at least once a season and are documented with a blog post. 

Zachary at the Newman Poses Preserve (Westport)

This is the beginning of my quarterly blog posts about the Newman Poses Preserve in Westport, CT.

Today I want to talk to you about the habitat this preserve creates for wild animals. It is called a beginning forest habitat. It is a habitat that is not very common around here. This habitat occurs when a field or strip of farmland is making its way back into forest. This place is an essential habitat for young birds because the smaller trees don't scare them as much.

The Aspetuck Land Trust is trying to preserve this habitat as long as it can, by cutting down the tallest trees and allowing the bushes to take over. I'm sure the Aspetuck Land Trust will do a good job.

The beginning forest habitat in Newman Poses Preserve
Photo credit: Zachary

Avery @ Poindexter Preserve (Easton)

Things we found at the preserve:

• A deer hip bone that looks like a mask
• A tiny bird's nest on the ground
• Orange slug that was really sticky and messy. Don't touch the orange slugs.
• Lots and lots of tracks in the mud
• A lot of trees were knocked down from the hurricane.
• Three deer
• Horse with a purple tail

Avery and a deer hip bone.

Things I liked at the preserve:

• Splashing the water with sticks
• Throwing little stones in the water
• Some of it is open meadow and some is in the trees
• Stone walls
• Drawing pictures and eating a snack
• Ferns

                                                 

   

What I did to help the preserve:

• Moved sticks off the porch
• Left my hiking stick at the beginning of the path for someone else
• I had a bag to pick up trash, but there wasn't any

Bill McKibben Speaks to Aspetuck Land Trust Members

We kicked off our inaugural Haskins Lecture Series on August 9 at the Pequot Library in Southport.  Author and climate change activist Bill McKibben was our guest speaker. 

Author Bill McKibben

The purpose of the Haskins lecture is to educate the public on a science-related conservation issue that’s related to a land conservation activity or issue faced by Aspetuck Land Trust. To learn more about Caryl and Edna Haskins who donated their Westport estate to Aspetuck Land Trust, click here.  They were amazing people and Aspetuck Land Trust is honored to be a part of preserving their legacy.

Bill McKibben is the author of many books including the first book on climate change for a 
general audience, The End of Nature. I read this book when it came out in 1989 and I haven't stopped thinking about it. Since then Bill has been busy. He has written lots more books and founded 350.org, a global grassroots movement to solve the climate change crisis. I recorded a quick video of Bill on my I Phone at the Delamar before we went over to the Pequot. Here it is. 

Bill McKibben (left) and Aspetuck Land Trust executive director, David Brant

There is nothing more important than tackling global climate change. Bill McKibben's organization, 350.org is a cause worthy of your support! I contributed after hearing him speak and I did so on behalf of my two seven-year old children, Joshua and Sydney, to whom I pledge to make this beautiful planet earth a greener, more sustainable place.  

My kids with an oak tree we planted in Vermont.

Haskins event pictures credit: Amanda Desmond


   

Earth Day Vernal Pool Hike

We had a great Earth Day hike last Saturday, April 20.  Below are some pictures from our meanderings in the vernal pools with Ecologist Anthony Zemba from Connecticut Audubon Society.   If you haven’t read the wildlife study of Trout Brook Valley that we did in partnership with Connecticut Audubon, you can read the full report here.  Sign up for our hikes here. 

Ecologist Anthony Zemba in a vernal pool

Vernal pools are filled by snow melt and spring rains and contain amphibians that form the foundation of the forest food chain. Trout Brook is host to over 100 plant and animal species of conservation concern. Help us protect the preserve’s biodiversity and sensitive plant and animal habitats by staying on marked trails.

New Policies at Trout Brook Valley Conservation Area

Last October, Aspetuck Land Trust contracted with Connecticut Audubon Society to conduct a wildlife study in the 1,009 acre Trout Brook Valley Conservation Area.  Our goals for the year-long study were to identify the wildlife and ecologically fragile areas within the preserve. 

View of Saugatuck Reservoir from Popp Mountain in Trout Brook Valley

The study is now complete and according to CT Audubon, Trout Brook Valley is one of the most important ecological features of Fairfield County. It forms the core of a 6,400-acre expanse that is the “green heart” of the region, according to the Connecticut Audubon Society report which identified a remarkable inventory of species and their habitats in the preserve. 

One of the most interesting features of Trout Brook Valley are its 60+ ephemeral wetlands or vernal pools.  Miley Bull from CT Audubon discusses the importance of vernal pools below, which form the foundation of the forest food chain on the property. 

Connecticut Audubon Society’s conservation biologists spent hundreds of hours over four seasons performing fieldwork at the preserve and analyzing data. They conducted surveys of birds and amphibians, which both are indicators of ecological health, and assessed the habitat quality and ecological functions of the preserve. The report also recommended strategies to help protect the flora and fauna that make the environment so rich and beautiful.

Tree used as Bobcat scratching post!

We now have a plan to manage Trout Brook Valley based upon the scientific findings of the wildlife study, which can be found HERE.  Our next step is to better educate the public about this unique and important natural resource.  Our members should be proud that we undertook this effort which will help us to more effectively manage the property for both conservation and public use purposes.  

We implemented new policies in Trout Brook Valley as a result of the wildlife study.  We are now asking people to leash their dogs throughout the preserve to protect the sensitive habitats we discovered. And we now have a 2 mile off leash loop trail in the Crow Hill section of the preserve on the blue/white trail.  We closed the red/black trail because the trail was too close to vernal pools, and are currently re-routing/improving the green/white trail to connect with the white trail with help from the Fairfield County Chapter of the Northeast Mountain Biking Assoc. This trail will now be open to mountain biking.  

Land Trust member with dog on leash with child in tow!

Discount on Local Christmas Trees

Print out this Blog post and get 10% off a locally grown Christmas tree at the CT Audubon Tree Farm located on Sasco Creek Road in Westport.  Lou has a Forestry degree from Yale and knows his trees! He's also a great cook and makes his own beer and venison jerkey! Sorry ladies, he's married.

Lou on right with happy customers



They sell beautiful wreaths too




For other great "hyper local" holiday gifts CLICK HERE.  Getting someone a Gift membership in Aspetuck Land Trust for the holidays is mentioned as a great green gift idea!

Please support our local organizations this holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

Aspetuck Land Trust


U.S. Congressman Jim Himes Visits Aspetuck Land Trust

United States Congressman Jim Himes visited Trout Brook Valley in Easton as part of his 17 Days/17 Towns tour. 

Himes visited the orchard area of Trout Brook Valley with Land Trust executive director David Brant to learn more about the 1,009 acre preserve which is one of the largest forest blocks in Fairfield County and is an important natural resource in the region.  

We walked among the apple trees in the orchard and picked some blueberries.  David and the Congressman stayed well under the 2 quart limit!

Congressman Himes with Aspetuck Land Trust Executive Director David Brant

CT NEWS 12 showed up to interview the Congressman.

We had a great talk and walk and the Congressman was amazed at the scope and breadth of Trout Brook Valley, a true gem of Fairfield County.  

Walking up to the orchard 

View of the Farm fields and barn from orchard hill

Why Should You Join Aspetuck Land Trust?

The Aspetuck Land Trust is many things to many people. Below are my top 4 reasons to join the Land Trust.

Reason #1
You believe in land conservation and open space.  Last year, we saved  73 acres in Easton and Westport. The Newman Poses preserve in Westport and Randall's Farm preserve in Easton are great additions to our 42 other trailed nature preserves on over 1,700 acres of land in the 4 local towns we serve.

34 Acre Randall's Farm Preserve, Easton. 

Reason #2
You think it's important to preserve local plants and animal species for future generations.  We are working with CT Audubon to conduct a flora and fauna survey in the 1,009 acre Trout Brook Valley preserve, our largest, most popular and wildest preserve.  Trout Brook is home to 17 state listed endangered species and 80 species identified by the state of CT as having the greatest conservation need.  CT Audubon scientists  have found 141 bird species, 15 mammals, 13 different amphibians and 11 reptile species. Insects and other invertebrates are gradually becoming more numerous and to date 10 different dragonfly and damselfly species and 24 different butterflies have been recorded. Also, more than 85 different wildflower species have been identified. To see the very cool Audubon blog posts on the survey findings, click here

Eastern Newt in Trout Brook Valley Vernal Pool

Reason #3
You think it's important that children have a connection with nature. We created a Natural Playground for children at our Leonard Schine Preserve in Westport, launched a hike series for kids called Short Hikes for Short People, and are educating the public about the joys and benefits of getting children outside by screening the inspiring movie, Mother Nature's Child.   We have been very successful in getting more families and children outside! Last year, 7,400 people clicked the Natural Playground link on our website and many of them visited.  Hundreds of children have participated in our short hikes!

Tower at Natural Playground

Yummy Reason #4
You love blueberries.  We maintain 800 blueberry bushes in the southern tip of the orchard in our Trout Brook Valley preserve in Easton/Weston? 2012 is an epic year for blueberries.  Our  local, organic berries are now ripe for pickin' and will be bearing through August.   There is nothing better than hiking in with your children, grandchildren or friends to pick and eat our blueberries. This is a great local adventure that I guarantee you will love!  It's a 30 minute hike to the bushes. 

Land Trust member and volunteer pruner from Weston

If you want to pick blueberries, I recommend you park at the Elm Drive entrance to the Trout Brook Valley Preserve and follow the trails to the orchard which is indicated on the map.  After you enter the orchard through the gate, go right and walk down the hill to the blueberries. There is a 2 quart limit. But this doesn't include what you eat!  And if you want to help us prune the bushes in the spring, email me at dbrant@aspetucklandtrust.org. Every year, over 100 volunteers help us prune the bushes and as a benefit they can drive in on a specified day to pick them. This year it was last Saturday and I include some pics from the day including the pie I baked! We spend alot of time and effort on the bushes and I hope you enjoy the fruits of literally hundreds of hours of labor. 

Land Trust Family

I am inspired by all of the things we do. And I should be. I am the executive director of the Land Trust. But more importantly, I hope you are inspired too, and will join us.  Land Trust members care about the land, the unique character of our local towns, and the preservation of plants and animals.  They care about having local adventures and value spending time outdoors with friends and family.  To become a member of Aspetuck Land Trust, CLICK HERE.  Individual memberships start at $35, about the price of a few quarts of organic blueberries, and you can join by credit card. Easy!  Pie not included! 

My children like to pick and eat! 

My beautiful pie

A work of art

My daughter likes dad's blueberry pie!