Past Events
Tuesday Trek: Ames Family Open Space, Evergreen Trail, Old Lyme
Date: Tue April 23, 2024Time: 9:30 am
Place: Boston Post Road (Rte 1) to Boggy Hole Rd. Evergreen Trail is about 1/2 mile down on the left.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy
We will visit two rock caves. Studies have shown that one of the caves was occupied seasonally as a winter shelter by indigenous people beginning at least 4255 years ago. Directions. Take Boston Post Road (Rte 1) to Boggy Hole Rd. Evergreen Trail is about 1/2 mile down on the left.
Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
Earth Day Talks Featured at the Lyme Public Hall
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Place: Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd. (Rte 156) Lyme
Contact Email: info@lymepublichall.org
Presenter: Lyme Public Hall
The Lyme Public Hall is hosting a series of talks featuring local experts to help you care for and appreciate our unique local natural environment in honor of Earth Day 2024. The public is invited to attend any or all of these talks which are free of charge.
10:00-11:00 am — A Biologist’s Perspective on What Makes Lyme Special, with Jim Arrigoni (Environmental Director, Lyme Land Conservation Trust)
11:00 am-12:00 pm — Why Backyard Habitat Matters, with Judy Preston (Environmental Professional)
12:00-1:00 pm — Lunch Break: Bring your own Brown Bag (drinks & cookies provided by Lyme Public Hall)
1:00-2:00 pm — Beyond Organic Pest Management with Emma Sutphen (Farmer, Adesa Farm, North Stonington)
2:00-3:00 pm — Mother Earth Friendly Gardening with Craig Floyd (Retired Farm Manager, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center’s Craig Floyd Giving Garden at Coogan Farm)
3:00-4:00 pm — Beekeeping Basics with Tom Kalal (Cranberry Meadow Farm, East Lyme)
For more information about Talks and Presenters
Space is limited and reservations are recommended. Please email info@lymepublichall.org to reserve your place.
This event is co-sponsored by the Lyme Public Hall, Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden, the Lyme Land Conservation Trust, the Lyme Garden Club and the Lyme Pollinator Pathway.
Tree Collective – Vernal Pools – Teen Hike
Time: 1:00-3:30 pm
Place: Selden Creek Preserve, Joshuatown Rd., Lyme CT
Contact Email: reganstacey@gmail.com
For more information about the Tree Collective.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
Vernal Pools – An Earth Day Talk and Walk with Anthony Irving
Time: 9:30-11:30 am
Place: Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve, Brush Hill Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Celebrate Earth Day with a talk and walk with Anthony Irving, well-known forest ecologist. Join us to observe vernal pool activity as our wood frogs and spotted salamanders return for annual mating. Get an up close look at these remarkable creatures and learn about their life history and habitat needs
Registration required: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
Meet at the Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve parking lot on Brush Hill Rd. about 1/2 mile south of the Hadlyme Country Market.
Tony Irving is the Lyme Land Trust board president, and chairman of the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Committee.
The walk is co-sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust and the Town of Lyme.
Spring Birding – Northern Migration
Date: Thu April 18, 2024Time: 6:00 pm
Place: Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Rd, LymeCT
Contact Email: programreg@lymepl.org
Learn about the wonders of spring bird migration.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
Register: programreg@lymepl.org
or call 860 434-2272
Sponsored by the Lyme Public Library
Spring Is in the Air – A Guided Forest Bathing Experience
Time: 9:30-11:30 am
Place: Ravine Trail, Mitchell Hill Entrance, Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Start your morning with a guided forest bathing walk and revel in the joy of spring. Awaken your senses and take in the cool air as we walk along a cascading stream and gently ascend to an overlook. Surprise yourself with all that is emerging and waking up this time of year.
The session includes a short gentle mindful movement practice, a sensory awakening meditation, and concludes with tea together in the forest. Opportunities to connect with nature will be offered along the way.
About 1-mile over easy to moderate terrain.
Registration: $25 ~ includes the program and tea Register here.
Lyme Land Trust members receive 10% discount with code LLT10.
Rain or shine event. Challenging weather cancels.
Forest bathing is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku – taking in the forest atmosphere. As a growing global wellness movement, it is backed by nearly 40 years of scientific research on the holistic benefits of immersing yourself in nature. These benefits include reduced stress and blood pressure, increased creativity and focus, improved mood and sleep, and a boost to immune functions. In addition to the health benefits, this practice offers a pathway of reconnection to our Earth, restoring our relationship with the natural world for the well-being of all.
Regan Stacey is an artist and advocate for the Earth whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for personal and planetary well-being. Through her private practice, she offers forest bathing sessions and mindfulness in nature retreats. She is also co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, training forest therapy guides to share this work around the world. Find out more about her work at reganstacey.com or theforesttherapyschool.com
Questions? Email Regan at regan@reganstacey.com
Lymes Senior Center Gentle Walk Wednesday with Wendy
Time: 9:30-10:30ish am
Place: Patrell Preserve, part of Chapel Farm Preserve, Baker Ln, Lyme
Contact Email: cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov
Presenter: Wendy Hill
A portion of the Patrell Preserve is in Lyme and part in East Haddam. There is a 0.3 mile ADA compliant blacktop path leading from the parking lot to a foot bridge over the Eightmile River. Depending upon group, we will walk the fairly easy 1-mile red dirt trail loop which follows three thousand feet along the Eightmile River and has interesting geological features.
Directions: Take 156 to Baker Lane in Lyme, about 7.7 miles north of Halls Road/Rte 156 traffic light in Old Lyme. Go 0.5 miles. Turn left into Chapel Farm Preserve parking lot, 11 Baker Lane, East Haddam.
Reservations are required. Please email Caitlin Perkins at cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov or call (860)434-1605 ext. 241. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 3rd Wednesday of each month (unless noted) the group will get together at various hiking areas in Lyme and Old Lyme. Hikes will be lead by Wendy Hill, Open Space Coordinator of Lyme and the Vice President of Lyme Land Trust. The walks are easy, fairly flat dirt paths with some uneven footing, unless noted. Gentle pace. About 1 mile. Bring a walking stick, water bottle and dress for the weather. Inclement weather cancels.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
The Amazing Conservation Success Story of Eastern Bluebirds
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Rd, LymeCT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Did you know the population of Eastern Bluebirds dramatically declined from the 1930s to 1980s, but humans across the country helped them stage an incredible comeback? Join us for this program presented by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
Come hear the story of the beautiful Eastern Bluebird and their remarkable recovery over the last 30-50 years.
Register: programreg@lymepl.org
or call 860 434-2272
Much of the bluebird’s success is due to the work of citizen scientists building, installing and monitoring bluebird boxes. If you’re inspired to help bluebirds in this way after this talk, you’re welcome to join our Bluebird Project sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust and Lyme Pollinator Pathway! We will have a follow-up workshop to build birdhouses. Stay tuned. Our bluebird volunteers will make at least 2 birdhouses, one for a preserve and one for their backyard. It’s free with all materials supplied. All you have to do is pledge to take care of bluebird box(es) in a preserve(s). It’s a great activity for a solo meadow hike or to do with family and friends. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to help support our bluebird populations!
Co-sponsored with Lyme Pollinator Pathway
Tuesday Trek: Nehantic State Park – Kristina
Time: 9:00 am
Place: Park in lot across from 58-4 Town woods Rd. 2-3 miles
Contact Email: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Kristina
On Town Woods Road – walk through laurel groves and up and over ridges in an often overlooked part of the State forest. Park in lot across from 58-4 Town woods Rd. 2-3 miles
Register: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
POSTPONED- Ceremonial Stonework Walk with Markham Starr
Time: 9:00 am-12:00ish pm
Place: Gungywamp, Groton, CT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Join us for a walk at Gungywamp in Groton CT to see ceremonial stonework left behind by the indigenous population that has inhabited New England for at least 12,000 years. Documentary photographer Markham Starr will lead the walk. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a walking stick for stability. Bring your own bottle of water or beverage.
Registration required. Email education@lymelandtrust.org
Park at 231 Gungywamp road, Groton, Ct at the abandoned Navy church Shepard of the Sea parking lot. Park in the lot right on the road – not the one down off the road. Note – it may also have signs that say Love Station Foundation – just look for the abandoned church.
Native Americans built several distinct types of structures in our area, ranging from cairns to stone serpent effigies, and these spiritual offerings remain standing in now long abandoned woods. While Native American stonework is widely recognized out west and to the south, New England’s stonework remains obscure, having blended back into the woods. We will walk about two miles.
Markham Starr is a documentary photographer concerned with the disappearing working cultures of New England. He is the author of a dozen books, providing glimpses into the lives of people such as commercial fishermen, farmers, and cannery workers, and has written about other subjects such as historic barns in Connecticut. His work has appeared in national magazines and is part of the permanent collection at the Library of Congress and other museums throughout New England.
