Upcoming Events
Tuesday Trek: Selden Creek Preserve – Quinn
Date: Tue December 10, 2024Time: 9:00 am
Place: Meet at the entrance to the Selden Creek Preserve on Joshuatown Rd.
Contact Email: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Presenter: Ryan Quinn
Time for a late fall hike! Lets go on a 2 mile trek to explore this wonderful preserve during the quiet time of the year.
Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Time for a late fall hike! Lets go on a 2 mile trek to explore this wonderful preserve during the quiet time of the year.
Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Tuesday Trek: Walbridge Woodlands/Young Preserve – Wendy
Date: Tue December 17, 2024Time: 9:00 am
Place: Meet at the Young Preserve parking lot on Gungy Rd, about 1/2 mile north of the intersection with Beaver Brook Rd.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
A hike of over 2 miles that will take you on ridges, laurel groves, old wood roads and past stone outcroppings.
Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
A hike of over 2 miles that will take you on ridges, laurel groves, old wood roads and past stone outcroppings.
Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Gentle Walk Wednesday: Gillette’s Castle State Park – Wendy
Date: Wed December 18, 2024Time: 10:00-11:00 am
Place: Entrance is at 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT. Meet at the main parking lot by the visitor center.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
We will explore on the paved park road and on easy dirt trails. We will see the beautiful Christmas decorations at the Castle and the beautiful view of the CT River. Optional walk up steps to the terrace. About 1 mile.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
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 4th 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.
View the Take-a-Walk Wednesday Schedule
We will explore on the paved park road and on easy dirt trails. We will see the beautiful Christmas decorations at the Castle and the beautiful view of the CT River. Optional walk up steps to the terrace. About 1 mile.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
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 4th 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.
View the Take-a-Walk Wednesday Schedule
Winter Solstice Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook
Date: Sat December 21, 2024Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
Place: Banningwood Preserve. 19 Town St., Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook. Renew your connection with yourself and the Earth as we tap into nature’s rhythms and the four elements of earth, fire, water, and air on a guided meditative walk. A small closing ceremony will take place at the water’s edge as we then prepare for our return walk along the illuminated path. A restorative time of year, the winter solstice marks a solar turning point, where the darkest day turns the corner to renewed light and we welcome the season of winter—a rebirth of the sun.
Registration: FREE (donations to support Regan‘s offerings to the community are welcome)
Please register here.
Regan Stacey is an artist and environmentalist whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and our beautiful planet, Earth. Through her private practice, she offers forest bathing walks, spiritual life coaching, and mindfulness training. 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
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook. Renew your connection with yourself and the Earth as we tap into nature’s rhythms and the four elements of earth, fire, water, and air on a guided meditative walk. A small closing ceremony will take place at the water’s edge as we then prepare for our return walk along the illuminated path. A restorative time of year, the winter solstice marks a solar turning point, where the darkest day turns the corner to renewed light and we welcome the season of winter—a rebirth of the sun.
Registration: FREE (donations to support Regan‘s offerings to the community are welcome)
Please register here.
Regan Stacey is an artist and environmentalist whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and our beautiful planet, Earth. Through her private practice, she offers forest bathing walks, spiritual life coaching, and mindfulness training. 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
Family Trail Time with Tori
Date: Sun December 22, 2024Time: 10:00 am
Place: Roaring Brook Preserve, Day Hill Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
Take a walk to the refreshing waters of Roaring Brook. Map of Roaring Brook Preserve. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
Take a walk to the refreshing waters of Roaring Brook. Map of Roaring Brook Preserve. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
Tree Collective- Teen Hike and Steward Group Meet-up
Date: Sun December 22, 2024Time: 1:00-3:30 pm
Place: Register to learn location
Contact Email: reganstacey@gmail.com
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
Imagining Lyme–Photo Submission Deadline – Fall
Date: Tue December 31, 2024Time: midnight
Place: Submit photos to Imagining Lyme website
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Submit up to three of your favorite photos to share. The Lyme Land Trust program Imagining Lyme: A Visual Exploration of Lyme’s Preserves encourages everyone to expand their visual awareness and highlight the beauty of the Lyme preserves owned by the Lyme Land Trust, the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, or the State of CT by taking photographs prompted by inspiration from professional photographers and artists. Amateur photographers may submit photos. Photographers do not have to be residents of Lyme but all photos must be taken in Lyme in any of these places:
- Lyme Preserves owned and/or managed by the Lyme Land Trust, Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the State of CT. View a map of the preserves
- Pollinator/wildlife habitat with native plants in Lyme – May be in a backyard, local farm, preserve or in a Lyme Pollinator Pathway garden in Lyme, CT.
- Trail 53 – The clear sky above Lyme.
For more information and to submit photos
Submit up to three of your favorite photos to share. The Lyme Land Trust program Imagining Lyme: A Visual Exploration of Lyme’s Preserves encourages everyone to expand their visual awareness and highlight the beauty of the Lyme preserves owned by the Lyme Land Trust, the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, or the State of CT by taking photographs prompted by inspiration from professional photographers and artists. Amateur photographers may submit photos. Photographers do not have to be residents of Lyme but all photos must be taken in Lyme in any of these places:
- Lyme Preserves owned and/or managed by the Lyme Land Trust, Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the State of CT. View a map of the preserves
- Pollinator/wildlife habitat with native plants in Lyme – May be in a backyard, local farm, preserve or in a Lyme Pollinator Pathway garden in Lyme, CT.
- Trail 53 – The clear sky above Lyme.
For more information and to submit photos
New Year’s Day 2025 Hike with the Lyme Land Trust
Date: Wed January 1, 2025Time: Various times
Place: 3 different locations in Lyme
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Start 2025 off with a refreshing hike in the Lyme woods. The Lyme Land Trust is offering three walks this year. Register with the walk leader for the time and location you prefer. Space is limited. You may sign up for more than one walk if space and time permits.
- 10:00 am: Gillette Castle State Park – Family Trail Time with Tori. Join Tori and family, including 3 yr old Kade and 1 yr old Quinn, for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit! Meet at the parking lot of Gillette Castle near the visitor center. Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT.
Register: vharris1391@gmail.com - 10:00 am to 12:30ish pm: Pleasant Valley Preserve with Tony Irving. Notice glacial geology and its effect on colonial agricultural practices on a moderate 3.5-mile walk with a long gentle incline to a spectacular overlook. Meet at pull-in parking lot, Macintosh Rd, Lyme, about 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Macintosh road and Rte 156.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com - 1:00 to 3:30ish pm: Johnston Preserve with Wendy Hill: Hike to beautiful overlook vistas of the hills of Lyme and to the highest point in Lyme at the headwaters of three watersheds. A moderate 2.5 plus miles. Meet at Johnston Preserve parking lot on the south side of Rte 82, about 1.5 miles east of the Hadlyme Country Market and 2 miles west of the intersection of Rte 82 and Rte. 156, Lyme.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
For more information about the preserves and directions. Everyone is welcome. End times are approximate. Allow extra time. Bring a bottle of water. Inclement weather cancels. Check for updates on the LLT website.
Start 2025 off with a refreshing hike in the Lyme woods. The Lyme Land Trust is offering three walks this year. Register with the walk leader for the time and location you prefer. Space is limited. You may sign up for more than one walk if space and time permits.
- 10:00 am: Gillette Castle State Park – Family Trail Time with Tori. Join Tori and family, including 3 yr old Kade and 1 yr old Quinn, for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit! Meet at the parking lot of Gillette Castle near the visitor center. Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT.
Register: vharris1391@gmail.com - 10:00 am to 12:30ish pm: Pleasant Valley Preserve with Tony Irving. Notice glacial geology and its effect on colonial agricultural practices on a moderate 3.5-mile walk with a long gentle incline to a spectacular overlook. Meet at pull-in parking lot, Macintosh Rd, Lyme, about 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Macintosh road and Rte 156.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com - 1:00 to 3:30ish pm: Johnston Preserve with Wendy Hill: Hike to beautiful overlook vistas of the hills of Lyme and to the highest point in Lyme at the headwaters of three watersheds. A moderate 2.5 plus miles. Meet at Johnston Preserve parking lot on the south side of Rte 82, about 1.5 miles east of the Hadlyme Country Market and 2 miles west of the intersection of Rte 82 and Rte. 156, Lyme.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
For more information about the preserves and directions. Everyone is welcome. End times are approximate. Allow extra time. Bring a bottle of water. Inclement weather cancels. Check for updates on the LLT website.
Workshop – Propagating Pollinator Plants from Seed
Date: Sun January 12, 2025Time: 3:00-4:15 pm
Place: Lyme Grange Hall, 2 Sterling City Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: lymepollinator@gmail.com
Including native plants in your garden is a great way to help pollinators. Expand your native plantings inexpensively by growing them yourself from seed. Join the Lyme Pollinator Pathway for this workshop with Jim Sirch Watch a slideshow to learn about the various native plants that can be grown from seed, discover different germination requirements for different kinds of seeds, and learn hands-on how to plant a plastic gallon jug filled with a seed selection to stratify over the winter. Proper after-care will be discussed.
Space is limited. Registration required: lymepollinator@gmail.com
Save your empty gallon plastic milk/cider jugs. There will be a few plastic jugs available for those without. Bring garden gloves and a good pair of scissors or sheers to cut the plastic. Other materials will be supplied.
Jim Sirch is the recently retired Education Coordinator at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is on the board of the Hamden Land Conservation Trust and the CT Native Plant Working Group. A certified CT Master Gardener, Jim gives talks throughout the state on gardening for pollinators and growing native plants from seed and is dedicated to helping improve backyard biodiversity. Jim also authors a weekly nature blog at www.beyondyourbackdoor.net
Co-sponsored by the Lyme Pollinator Pathway and Lyme Grange CT 147
Including native plants in your garden is a great way to help pollinators. Expand your native plantings inexpensively by growing them yourself from seed. Join the Lyme Pollinator Pathway for this workshop with Jim Sirch Watch a slideshow to learn about the various native plants that can be grown from seed, discover different germination requirements for different kinds of seeds, and learn hands-on how to plant a plastic gallon jug filled with a seed selection to stratify over the winter. Proper after-care will be discussed.
Space is limited. Registration required: lymepollinator@gmail.com
Save your empty gallon plastic milk/cider jugs. There will be a few plastic jugs available for those without. Bring garden gloves and a good pair of scissors or sheers to cut the plastic. Other materials will be supplied.
Jim Sirch is the recently retired Education Coordinator at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is on the board of the Hamden Land Conservation Trust and the CT Native Plant Working Group. A certified CT Master Gardener, Jim gives talks throughout the state on gardening for pollinators and growing native plants from seed and is dedicated to helping improve backyard biodiversity. Jim also authors a weekly nature blog at www.beyondyourbackdoor.net
Co-sponsored by the Lyme Pollinator Pathway and Lyme Grange CT 147
Astronomy Observing Session
Date: Sat January 25, 2025Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: Trail 53 Observatory
Contact Email: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
Young or old, experienced, or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory.
Registration required. Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines.
For more information and to register: Astronomy Events
Young or old, experienced, or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory.
Registration required. Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines.
For more information and to register: Astronomy Events
Family Trail Time with Tori
Date: Sun January 26, 2025Time: 10:00 am
Place: Johnston Preserve, Rte 82, Lyme CT
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
Walk to the highest point in Lyme. Meet at Johnston Preserve parking lot on the south side of Rte 82, about 1.5 miles east of the Hadlyme Country Market and 2 miles west of the intersection of Rte 82 and Rte. 156, Lyme. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
Walk to the highest point in Lyme. Meet at Johnston Preserve parking lot on the south side of Rte 82, about 1.5 miles east of the Hadlyme Country Market and 2 miles west of the intersection of Rte 82 and Rte. 156, Lyme. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
Tree Collective- Teen Hike and Steward Group Meet-up
Date: Sun January 26, 2025Time: 1:00-3:30 pm
Place: Register to learn location
Contact Email: reganstacey@gmail.com
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
Special Winter Session
Date: Sat February 1, 2025Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Place: Trail 53 Observatory
Contact Email: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
Special session. Many planets and the moon will be out. Starting early to attempt to observe Neptune slipping behind the Moon’s dark limb at 5:00p.
Young or old, experienced, or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory.
Registration required. Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines.
For more information and to register: Astronomy Events
Special session. Many planets and the moon will be out. Starting early to attempt to observe Neptune slipping behind the Moon’s dark limb at 5:00p.
Young or old, experienced, or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory.
Registration required. Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines.
For more information and to register: Astronomy Events
Family Trail Time with Tori
Date: Sun February 23, 2025Time: 10:00 am
Place: Beebe Preserve, Old Grassy Hill Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
On this one-mile plus walk, visit a viewing platform for a beaver pond and see a large mysterious stone pile. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
For more information about the preserves and directions.
On this one-mile plus walk, visit a viewing platform for a beaver pond and see a large mysterious stone pile. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
For more information about the preserves and directions.
Meadow Making – How and Why to Make Your Backyard Landscape More Pollinator Friendly
Date: Wed March 12, 2025Time: 6:00 PM
Place: Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Jane Seymour, CT DEEP wildlife biologist, will explain the value of transitioning a part of your lawn into meadow along with steps you can follow to do so. Learn about the wildlife that benefit from the meadows in our preserves as well as ways to extend that benefit by creating this habitat in your own backyard.
Jane Seymour is the steward of the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon, CT and manages several productive meadows.
Co-sponsored with the Lyme Pollinator Pathway.
Please register: programreg@lymepl.org
Jane Seymour, CT DEEP wildlife biologist, will explain the value of transitioning a part of your lawn into meadow along with steps you can follow to do so. Learn about the wildlife that benefit from the meadows in our preserves as well as ways to extend that benefit by creating this habitat in your own backyard.
Jane Seymour is the steward of the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon, CT and manages several productive meadows.
Co-sponsored with the Lyme Pollinator Pathway.
Please register: programreg@lymepl.org
Family Trail Time with Tori
Date: Sun March 23, 2025Time: 10:00 am
Place: Mt Archer Woods, Mt Archer Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
Explore an old colonial ruins on this walk. Meet at the Mt Archer Woods Parking lot at the top of the hill and on the south side of Mt Archer Rd. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
For more information about the preserves and directions.
Explore an old colonial ruins on this walk. Meet at the Mt Archer Woods Parking lot at the top of the hill and on the south side of Mt Archer Rd. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
For more information about the preserves and directions.