Do you have a case of cabin fever? Join us for some conversation about our plans for 2024. Learn about volunteer opportunities and our new Trail Monitor Program. We will have some warm beverages and treats and some neighborly conversations. Hope to see you soon!
At Good Hill Farm Preserve located on the Roxbury-Woodbury border, on Route 317.
August 24th 8:00pm – 10:00pm
When flowering plants evolved 130 million years ago, moths were the original pollinators. Today they continue to be important pollinators for flowers and forest trees. Join Larry Fischer as he attracts moths with lights and bait, identifies them and talks about their natural history. RSVP development@roxburylandtrust.org
Bird & Nature Walk with Larry Fischer
September 6th 8:30am-10:30am At the Orzech Preserve, 2 Botsford Hill Road Larry Fischer is a past president of the Western Connecticut Bird Club and licensed by the U.S. Department of the Interior to handle and band birds of prey. Larry lectures all over the Northeast on birds of prey and has been a guest lecturer at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Join him on a bird walk and learn not only various bird identification points but also about habitat selection and nesting behavior.
RSVP development@roxburylandtrust.org.
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Roxbury Land Trust Hosts RIVERFEST Celebrate Nature & Community – September 17th
To celebrate community and the wonders of nature, the Roxbury Land Trust is hosting a RIVERFEST event with fun, food, crafts, face painting, music, storytelling and more at its River Road Preserve on Sunday, September 17 from 2:00-5:00 pm.
The event will feature farmstands by Riverbank Farm and Twilight Dreams Farm, children’s crafts by Golden Button, Face Painting, information regarding native plants and pollinator gardens and a water quality talk by Pomperaug Regional Watershed Coalition. You can learn about the Follow the Forest project and about attracting birds from our Southbury Audubon Friends from Bent of the River. Feel free to explore the surrounding trails and scenic river views.
New this year, Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation), from The Institute for American Indian Studies, will give an interactive presentation on the 12,000-year history of Life in the Eastern Woodlands. Darlene, the Education Director at IAIS and Traditional Native American Storyteller, will share various visual and tactile resources to guide the discussion about how Eastern Woodlands Natives have adapted to their changing environment. Darlene will also share Traditional Native American Stories about animals. Hear history come alive from the oral traditions that have been passed down and preserved from one generation to the next.
We will also have music by the Silver & Strings Duo from 2:00- 3:30 and Lee Ann Lovelace and George Lesiw from 3:30 – 5:00pm. Food will be available from Backwoods Dawgz and treats from Elemental Cakes. Bring along a few folding chairs to relax and listen to the music!
“We hope families and nature lovers from far and near will turn out for this afternoon of outdoor fun and activities in a beautiful, preserved part of Roxbury,” said John Smoliga, President of the Roxbury Land Trust. “It’s a great way to kick off the autumn.”
The 57-acre nature preserve borders the Shepaug River and adjoins several other preserves to create a 453-acre greenbelt in Roxbury. The preserve is at 55 River Road with the easiest access from Weller’s Bridge Road.
Thanks to our corporate sponsors they are Chipman Mazzucco Emerson LLC, Union Savings Bank, Mine Hill Distillery, and Wines & Spirits at Roxbury Station. The decor is being donated by Ox Hollow Farm.
For more information, call the Roxbury Land Trust at 860-350-4148 or to RSVP email: development@roxburylandtrust.org or visit roxburylandtrust.org.
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Start your weekend outdoors and join RLT for a guided new trail opening at the Horrigan Family Preserve off Rocky Mountain Road on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Park at the River Road parking areas and follow signs to the meeting place. Please also register so we know how many to expect and who to contact if there are any changes: execdirector@roxburylandtrust.org
The walk will be moderate with some inclines/declines so bring your walking stick as needed. If the weather does not cooperate on the 15th, the walk will be rescheduled to April 29, 2023 at 10 a.m.
On March 8, 2006, Richard, Robert and William Horrigan and family donated 5.77 acres to RLT in memory of William Horrigan Jr. and Richard Tyler Horrigan. The young men loved the outdoors and spending time with their families so the family wanted to honor that and share a beautiful, peaceful setting where other families could hike and enjoy each other’s company outdoors.
RLT hopes the new trail will encourage families to do just that.
Founded in 1970, RLT is a private, non-profit land trust which offers public access to families and individuals who wish to enjoy Roxbury’s open spaces in passive recreation (e.g., hiking, birding, photography). Leashed dogs are welcome. No motorized vehicles are allowed. Note that this trail was not created for mountain bike use.
RLT relies on donations, grants, member support, and gifts of land to pursue its mission. For more information about the land trust, please contact us at 860-350-4148 or email execdirector@roxburylandtrust.org.
Giving Tuesday is a big day for giving and a great day to become a member of Roxbury Land Trust. We rely on our members to support our mission to preserve and protect the rural character of Roxbury. Maybe you have enjoyed our trails, or had the opportunity to see nature up close. We are grateful every day for mother nature’s gifts and the community that supports RLT. Please join us and make a contribution today.
Over 35 people joined RLT President and Geologist John Smoliga and local Artist and Pilot Billy Steers on the 2022 annual Dave Beglan Memorial Walk at the iconic Mine Hill Preserve. Family and friends gathered, got outdoors, and burned off some Thanksgiving feast on Saturday, November 26, 2022. The moderate walk was about 3.5 miles overall with some detours to note special areas.
Many thanks to RLT director Marc Olivieri for assisting participants.
Billy and John led the group to a small former quarry located on the east side of the Mine Hill Preserve to discuss historic mining operations at Mine Hill.
This annual program is held in memory of Dave Beglan, historian, former president, and long-time director of Roxbury Land Trust. As a Roxbury resident, Dave volunteered countless hours to the study of Mine Hill, initially working to obtain the funding which allowed RLT to purchase the Mine Hill Preserve. He remained active in the Trust as historian and gave his time freely to the betterment of the Town of Roxbury until his death in October 2017.
Established in 1970, RLT preserves roughly 4,000 acres of farmland and open space in Roxbury and neighboring towns. RLT maintains 32 preserves with over 30 miles of hiking trails, three active farms, and offers a wide range of educational programs. RLT relies on your generous donations and gifts of land to continue its important conservation mission.
On July 21, 2022, the Town of Roxbury’s First Selectman Patrick Roy awarded RLT President John Smoliga and Director of Development Barbara Bradbury-Pape a $5,000 check from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. RLT is very grateful for the gift which will be used to make preserve improvements on trails, parking areas, and kiosks.
Since the global pandemic began in 2020, RLT experienced an exponential increase in trail use.
Being outdoors is known to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. RLT trails provide a healthy, socially distanced experience for those seeking passive recreation while enjoying the beauty and peace nature provides. All preserves are open daily from dawn to dusk. Please visit the RLT website www.roxburylandtrust.org to view preserve maps and information.
With 33 preserves and over 30 miles of hiking trails, RLT’s mission is to preserve and conserve open space in perpetuity. To date, the Trust has preserved more than 3,800 acres of farmland, woodlands, watercourses, wetlands and open space in Roxbury and neighboring communities since it was established in 1970. The non-profit organization maintains three active farms, as well as offers a wide range of educational programs.
To receive more information about RLT or make a donation, please contact the office at 860.350.4148, visit the website, or email us.
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ROXBURY, CT – The Roxbury-Bridgewater Pollinator Pathway, comprised of the Roxbury-Bridgewater Garden Club, Roxbury Conservation Commission, Bridgewater Land Trust, and Roxbury Land Trust with the cooperation of the Shepaug Agri-Science Program, presents a special garden program entitled “Pollinator Plants for Containers and Small Spaces” on Saturday, April 2 at 10 a.m. EST.
Featuring landscape designer and consultant Mark Dwyer, the program details how everyone can bring flowers into their outdoor spaces regardless of how much space they have. To register for the free virtual program, please email Julie Stuart, Executive Director of the Bridgewater Land Trust, julie@bridgewaterlandtrust.org.
Recently, emphasis has been on how people can improve the wildlife value of their yards and decks. By adding native plants and reducing lawn, people can increase the ability of pollinators to thrive as well as provide safe corridors for them to forage.
According to Mark Dwyer, “The challenges of limited gardening space shouldn’t preclude you from considering beautiful and effective pollinator-friendly plantings. Even small spaces in the garden and containers can feature effective plant combinations that will become an oasis for visiting pollinators. We’ll discuss a wide range of plants (emphasis on natives!) and design ideas that will feature potent pollinator plants for containers and garden spaces of limited size.”
“As we head into spring, we look forward to new growth and the flowers that come with it”, said Ann Astarita, Executive Director of RLT. “Most of Mark’s plant selections are native to our area and available at local nurseries. In addition to enjoying the beauty of your plant selections, you’ll be nurturing butterflies and bees.”
Roxbury-Bridgewater Garden Club’s President Estelle Mackenzie added, “We’d like interested parties to mark their calendars for the Garden Club’s Plant Mart on Saturday, May 21 at the Bridgewater Firehouse from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The sale will include pollinator plants that can be grown successfully in containers.”
Mark Dwyer owns and operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD, a landscape design and consultation firm, in Janesville, WI. He also manages the Edgerton Hospital (WI) Healing Garden which he designed over 10 years ago. Prior to these endeavors, Mark was Director of Horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens (Janesville, WI) where he managed the maintenance and improvement of that 20-acre botanical garden with talented staff and dedicated volunteers. Mark’s true passion is obtaining, growing, observing and photographing all types of plants.
The Roxbury Land Trust preserves just under 4,000 acres of farmland, woodlands, wetlands, watercourses and open space in Roxbury and neighboring communities. RLT maintains 33 preserves with more than 30 miles of hiking trails and three active farms, as well as offering educational programs. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, the non-profit organization is supported by membership dues and charitable contributions. The Land Trust does not receive financial support from the town, state, or federal governments and relies on the generosity of its members for operations and stewardship. For more information, visit www.roxburylandtrust.org, email barbara@roxburylandtrust.org or call 860-350-4148.
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On October 20 at 7 pm via Zoom, White Memorial Conservation Center’s Director of Administration and Development Gerri Griswold will present “Animal Architects.” From Egypt, Greece, Rome and from Thomas Jefferson to I. M. Pei, humanity’s history has been chock full of extraordinary architects and architecture. While humans had yet to emerge from caves, many animals were going gangbusters impressing mates with their own monumental structures. Meet some incredible builders in this one-hour picture presentation celebrating the glory of human and animal architecture.
Email barbara@roxburylandtrust.org to register or for more information.
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