“ 'Music bridges all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs.' ” - Pete Govert, President, East Haddam Land Trust and concert organizer

On the edge of the Connecticut River with a backdrop of East Haddam Swing Bridge, Goodspeed Opera House, and Gelston House people gathered on the Goodspeed Theatre lawn to listen to local rock, blues, and folk musicians. This annual outdoor concert, made possible by East Haddam Land Trust (EHLT), gives people the opportunity to understand and appreciate the importance of open space to bring people together. A fun night with a purpose, Musical Bridges was enjoyed by many and enabled EHLT to showcase their hard work and dedication to land preservation while building their stewardship fund to continue their crucial efforts...

Admired as an established decorator, Irene Walker dedicated her life to bringing beauty and joy into homes and people’s lives. The tagline of Irene's design firm, “Joie de Vivre”, which translates to “joy of living”, exemplifies Irene’s outlook on life. She settled in Washington Depot and lived adjacent to conserved open space and spent her last years in Steeplechase in Middlebury. Among her final bequests upon passing in 2002 included a generous endowment to Middlebury Land Trust. On October 13, 2021, in a ceremony led by MLT President Scott Peterson, 25.4 acres of open space was preserved and dedicated in her name. Encompassing the forest along Middlebury, Chase and Tucker Hill Roads and a section of Goat Brook, The Irene Walker Preserve will carry on the impressive legacy of a remarkable woman...

On September 18, 2021, Weston voters and Land Trust members voiced their desire to preserve open space with an overwhelming 93% of the vote to sell the Fromson Strassler property to Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT). Forever. As open space. An 85-acre property esteemed for its environmental value as a heavily forested riverine with extensive wetland habitat, this ecologically sensitive area supports a diverse and abundant array of flora and fauna. ALT will develop carefully planned trail systems suitable for passive recreation that will both protect the land and species living there while providing public access for all to experience its beauty...

“ 'Community and conservation are connected. Restoring native plant habitat is the critical first step to preserving biodiversity. This is just the start of many plantings to come.' ” - David McCarthy, Wilton Land Conservation Trust Executive Director

On a "Stewardship Sunday" filled with sunshine, smiles, and laughter, Wilton Land Conservation Trust and volunteers of all ages came together for a collective effort to sustain and protect biodiversity. The community workday focused on removing invasive species and planting native vegetation to nurture the environment for birds and animals on Schenck’s Island, as well as aquatic and amphibians in the Norwalk River. The goal of the day was to encourage native environmental stewardship and provide places for the Wilton community to connect with nature, be inspired, and enjoy the outdoors with friends and family...

Today is “National Take a Hike Day.” From my vantage point, the weather is looking good for a lunchtime run with my dogs. I hope that you also can take some time out of your day to grab some fresh air.

Whether your hike consists of exploring a new trail, or helping to maintain an old one, planting some trees, or listening to music while taking a stroll in a local park—with ~130 land trusts conserving and creating greenspaces throughout the state, there are a myriad of ways to enjoy the outdoors. 

#LoveYourCTLandTrust—there's something for everyone, today and every day!

Musical Bridges photo courtesy of East Haddam Land Trust;