Past Events
August Astronomy Observing Session
Time: 9:00-11:00 pm
Place: Register to learn location
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. The new observatory is in full motion. The Lyme Land Trust offers public viewing sessions once a month near the new moon. Our cohorts have several different telescopes that are on display for your observing pleasure, and we now are pleased to have a modern 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory structure.
Registrations: Please Click Here
On any given night, public sessions will be co-facilitated by one or more of our talented cohort enthusiasts:
- Jon Dean
- Roger Charbonneau, J
- Scott Mallory
- Parag Sahasrabudhe
- Alan Sheiness
Directions to the site and special guidance for those with heavy astronomy equipment will be provided upon registration. Park in the designated area and walk to the observing field with its amazing panoramic views of the heavens. Dress for temperatures 10-20 degrees lower than forecast for your comfort. No white lights at the field site, please.
For more information about the astronomy program See amazing astrophotography by Parag Sahasrabudhe – Velology blog
Trailside Trespassers: What to Do about Invasive Plants in Our Preserves?
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd (RTE 156), Lyme
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
The trails of Lyme Land Trust preserves are enjoyed by many, including some of the most ecologically damaging invasive plant species in our region. Ashwini Sahasrabudhe and Jim Arrigoni will discuss the impacts of these unwelcome guests to forest health, describe the patterns of their infestation based on two months of field research, and address how LLT will use this information to inform management options. This presentation promises to be eye-opening for those who hike the trails of Lyme, and will be useful for anyone wishing to address invasive plant issues on land they own or manage.
Ashwini is an intern for LLT and a rising junior at Bowdoin College, majoring in environmental studies and biology, and Jim is LLT’s environmental director.
Registration Appreciated: education@lymelandtrust.org
Lymes’ Senior Center Take-A-Walk Wednesday with Wendy
Time: 9:30 am -11:30isham
Place: Watch Rock Preserve, Joel Road, Old Lyme, CT
Contact Email:
Watch Rock Preserve – Easy walk along rocky outcroppings along the Lieutenant River with beautiful views of the salt marshes. Bring your binoculars. We will take our time. 1 mile.
Directions: Take road off of Rte 156 across from McCurdy Rd. . Take first right and then another right to reach the parking lot on Joel Rd.
Reservations are required. Please email sgould@oldlyme-ct.gov or call 860-434-4127 to reserve your spot. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 2nd Wednesday of each month 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 moderate, unless otherwise noted. Bring a water bottle and dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a hiking stick or pole if you would like. Everyone welcome. All hikes are 2.5 to 3 miles. Inclement weather cancels the walk.
Sponsored by the Lyme’s Senior Center.
Mindful Movement Forest Bathing
Time: 9:30-11:00 am
Place: Banningwood Preserve, Town Street, Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
The walk concludes at the water’s edge with a wild-foraged tea.
Registration: $33 ~ includes the program and tea
Register HERE
LLT members receive 15% discount with code LLT15
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.
Regan Stacey is an artist and advocate for the Earth whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for personal and planetary well-being. She believes we can all awaken the forest within. She is co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, a forest therapy guide training program. Through her private practice, she offers forest bathing walks, mindful nature retreats, and mindfulness training. Regan is also the facilitator of the LLT Tree Collective, connecting teens to nature through stewardship, education, and exploration. Find out more about her work at reganstacey.com or theforesttherapyschool.com
Programs in the Park
Date: Sat July 15, 2023 thru Sat July 29, 2023Time: 10:00-11:00 am, July15, 22, 29
Place: Devil's Hopyard State Park Meet near the Covered Bridge
Contact Email: info@eightmileriver.org
Presenter: Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Watershed Committee
Click on the poster to enlarge for more information.
Join the Eightmile Wild and Scenic Watershed Committee for three free family programs.
July 15: Denison Pequot Nature Center
July 22: Owls Among Us
July 29: River Exploration
Composting Basics with Sally Riggeri
Time: 6:00 pm
Place: Lyme Public LIbrary
Contact Email: programreg@lymepl.org
Join the Lyme Public Library to learn the basics about home composting. Convert your vegetable scraps and other vegetation into rich soil to improve your landscape or just compost to recycle your waste in a way that reduces your environmental footprint.
REGISTER: programreg@lymepl.org
Sally Ruggeri is a retired Pfizer research chemist, UCONN Master Composter, and Advanced Master Gardener. She spends time volunteering at the East Lyme Giving Garden and Harkness Park. She also mentors interns in the Master Gardener certification program and works at the New London County extension office.
Sponsored by the Lyme Public Library
The UCONN Master Composter Program promote sustainable living and resource conservation at individual and community levels.
July Lyme Nix the Knotweed Days
Time: 8:00-9:30 am, 9:00-11:00 am
Place: July 14 - Whalebone Cove, July 15 - Start at Reed Landing (near the Joshuatown Road bridge), Old Hamburg Rd, Joshua Pond
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join our work party for the third year to remove invasive knotweed and learn to control Knotweed on your own property. Better yet, organize your own neighborhood Nix the Knotweed Day! (Let us know!) We are in our third year of tackling the knotweed using the “method of 3s”: cut knotweed down to the ground and remove the plant material; 3 chops this growing season (May, mid-July, and mid-August). The cuttings must be carefully disposed of since each little piece will regrow into a new plant. We will fully solarize all plant material to kill it.
We are seeing progress! The knotweed has been highly reduced where we have used this method for the last 2 years.
On Saturday, we will also check to see if any maintenance is needed on the rain garden at Reed Landing.
Bring work gloves, clippers or loppers. We’ll provide the bags! Bring your own water bottle. Snacks will be provided.
Please register: (walk-ins welcome)
Friday, July 14 8:00-9:30 am at Whalebone Cove: trughouse@comcast.net
Saturday, July 15 9:00 -11:00 am at Reed Landing and Old Hamburg Road: Openspace@townlyme.org
Sponsored by the Town of Lyme, Lyme Pollinator Pathway, Friends of Whalebone Cove, and Lyme Land Trust.
Japanese knotweed is an invasive plant which crowds out native plants that pollinators and other wildlife depend upon for survival. For a brochure on Nix the Knotweed Method of 3s.
July Astronomy Observing Session
Time: 9:30-11:30 pm
Place: Register to learn location
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. The new observatory is in full motion. The Lyme Land Trust offers public viewing sessions once a month near the new moon. Our cohorts have several different telescopes that are on display for your observing pleasure, and we now are pleased to have a modern 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory structure.
Registrations: Please Click Here
General inquiries: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
On any given night, public sessions will be co-facilitated by one or more of our talented cohort enthusiasts:
- Jon Dean
- Roger Charbonneau, J
- Scott Mallory
- Parag Sahasrabudhe
- Alan Sheiness
Directions to the site and special guidance for those with heavy astronomy equipment will be provided upon registration. Park in the designated area and walk to the observing field with its amazing panoramic views of the heavens. Dress for temperatures 10-20 degrees lower than forecast for your comfort. No white lights at the field site, please.
For more information about the astronomy program See amazing astrophotography by Parag Sahasrabudhe – Velology blog
Lymes’ Senior Center Take-A-Walk Wednesdays with Wendy
Time: 9:30 am -12:00ish pm
Place: Rocky Neck State Park, Main Street (Rte 156), East Lyme, CT
Contact Email:
Rocky Neck State Park. A beautiful walk along the salt marshes to the beach on Long Island Sound. Bring binoculars if you have them. About 2.5 -3 miles.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot across from the KOA Campground, 271 Main St (Rte 156), about 0.5 mile east of the intersection with Four Mile River Rd.
Reservations are required. Please email sgould@oldlyme-ct.gov or call 860-434-4127 to reserve your spot. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 2nd Wednesday of each month 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 moderate, unless otherwise noted. Bring a water bottle and dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a hiking stick or pole if you would like. Everyone welcome. All hikes are 2.5 to 3 miles. Inclement weather cancels the hike.
Sponsored by the Lyme’s Senior Center.
Trail Work Party at Eno/Mt Archer Woods
Time: 900-11:00 am
Place: Meet at the Jewett Preserve cemetery parking lot ( across from En Preserve Entrance, Mt. Archer Rd., Lyme CT
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for a trail work party.
Tools needed for the morning will be lopping shears, hand pruners, hand saws, and/or chain saws, and weed whacker. Please bring water and work gloves and be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants. Snacks will be provided.
Please Register:
openspace@townlyme.org Wendy Hill, Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator
Sponsored by the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lyme Land Trust.
Directions:
From the north, travel Route 82 to Route 156; take Route 156 south for 2 miles to right on MacIntosh Road; travel 0.25 mile on MacIntosh Road, and parking for the preserve will be on the right.
From the south, in Old Lyme, take exit 70 off of I-95. From the intersection of Route 1 and Route 156, travel north on Route 156 approximately 6 miles, and take a left onto MacIntosh Road; travel 0.25 mile on MacIntosh Road, and parking for the preserve will be on the right.
