Welcome to the April edition of our #LoveYourCTLandTrust eNewsletter! While this month is known for its showers, the efforts of land trusts have been shining persistently over the past few weeks. New programs, video series, and land acquisitions combined with regular volunteer efforts have all strengthened land conservation efforts. Through education, funding, and engagement, we continue to develop our appreciation for nature while improving our capacity to protect it.

P.S. Please keep those #LoveYourCTLandTrust stories and photos coming. Drop them here and we'll take it from there!

Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC) is accepting applications for its Building Resiliency on Northwest Connecticut Farmland ("Building Resiliency") grant program, which was created to protect local farms against climate change. Funded by a $750,000 award from the CT Department of Agriculture's Climate-Smart Farming and Forestry Grant program, Building Resiliency offers climate-smart agricultural assessments and direct grants for climate-smart mitigation practices. Applications for assessments will be accepted on a rolling basis. The first round of applications for implementation grants will close on May 31...

Last month, the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) released its second "Follow the Forest" film, highlighting the importance of protecting and connecting the Housatonic Valley for wildlife migration. In addition to food and breeding, wildlife are traveling in response to the climate crisis. The Follow the Forest Initiative, for which the film series is named, is a collaborative effort between land conservation partners in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont to strengthen the resilience of the Housatonic Valley. Their efforts ensure that wildlife will have safe passage for migration. The new film on this topic is available on HVA's YouTube channel...

Last week, Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT) announced a new video series called "Tuesdays with Tallamy." The weekly videos will be led by Dr. Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware and co-founder of Homegrown National Park, and will run from this month until the Summer Solstice. Like Tallamy Tidbits, each video will feature Dr. Tallamy sharing insights on nature from his backyard. The video series aims to foster an appreciation for the nature that exists on our own properties, and to raise awareness of yards as habitats. The first "Tuesdays with Tallamy" video installment is available on ALT's YouTube channel...

The Connecticut FarmLink website, managed through a partnership between the Connecticut Farmland Trust and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has undergone a redesign. The updated site features more resources, a new logo, and a mobile-friendly interface. These additional resources have been particularly beneficial for new farmers, while the mobile-friendly design has improved accessibility for users. The new logo was designed to better reflect the program's goal. Through funding from the Community Investment Act, Connecticut FarmLink has been connecting farm owners and farmland seekers since 2006...

In December 2023, Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust (CVRLT) received a 4.93-acre donation from landowner Noel Roy. The parcel is now called the Roy Preserve and is located in Danbury along Long Ridge Road. CVRLT plans to connect this new preserve with the Ives Trail and mark and trailblaze the land for visitors.

On March 24, the Ragged Mountain Foundation collaborated with UCONN Adventure and the Trinity College Quest program for a day of trail renovations at East Peak, located in Meriden. Nearly 30 people volunteered their time and energy into making the cliff from Reflections of Fall to Rappel Groove easier to traverse for future climbers. UConn and Trinity College also assisted by adding steps under April Showers and clearing out the gulley between Rappel Groove and the Dihedrals...