Winter is the perfect time to see the unexpected, as in this "surprise" view at The Throne taken by member Sally Reed. Animal tracks, hiding porcupines, even frozen landscapes like Wattles Pond (below) give this time time a year a special appeal.

We try to add more outside hikes like the one coming up on February 21 (see info on the right). If there is someplace you would like to explore with us this winter, let us know!

In January, the GCT trustees and advisory council met to set the goals for the year and evaluate the last year. We continue to be deeply grateful for your contributions and interest in the GCT as we work our way out of this pandemic. A few of our priorities:

We plan to share how we will work on these goals and how you can help in the coming months.

You can also visit us in our office in the first floor at the Prescott School Community Center. We will be adding a display to the large board outside our office this spring, stay tuned!

As we continue to get your year-end membership renewals recorded (thank you everyone), we will soon mail out the acknowledgements with our Conservation Map. We are so excited to share this with you and give huge kudos to trustee Ed McNierney for all his work.

The event is virtual via Zoom:

 https://us02web.zoom.us/s/84870562320,

The Zoom session will start at 6:30, with the formal meeting will start at 7:00. Each group will introduce themselves and briefly mention what they accomplished in the last year and plan to do in the next year.

We have work groups going out to trim, chop, burn in managed fires and clear many of the lands we steward. This past weekend a group continued the work at Bates Land. If you are interested in joining these groups, let Katy know!

If you have not joined the GCT, now is a great time to do so. You can make a paperless donation online at our secure website.

Bonus: we have a new map! With every renewal or new membership (through the mail or online), you can request a 2022 edition of our beautiful new map of all conservation land in Groton.

As always, thank you for your support.

This intermediate hike might be just what you need to work off those Valentine's Day treats. Susan Hughes will meet you at the circle on Watson Way, and explore the Walker property, Fitch-Woods, cross 119 to enter the Williams Barn area and climb Chestnut Hill. This wonderful loop offers woodland, ponds and open meadows. Spikes will be necessary, we will let you know if this changes closer to the date. This event is free but registration is required. All are welcome!

Jim Lutz, an associate professor of forest ecology at Utah State University, recently had this to say about our biggest trees on NPR Science Friday:

"If we look at big trees in forests all around the world, from California to Cameroon, Michigan, to Malaysia, the biggest 1% of trees hold 50% of the biomass in those forests."