Past Events
Birds Bring Benefits
Date: Wed January 16, 2019Time: 7 pm
Place: Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2 Library Lane, Old Lyme, 06371
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Audubon CT, Lyme Land Trust, and Town of Lyme and regional land trusts
Join us for a presentation about the economic and ecological benefits of birds in the Lyme Forest Block Important Bird Area
Audubon Connecticut, in partnership with the Lyme Land Trust, Town of Lyme and regional land trusts, has launched a project in an Important Bird Area (IBA) called the “Lyme Forest Block” which spans forested habitat in 6 towns in southeastern CT. The goal of the project is to engage landowners in the IBA and teach them about forest birds and how to better manage their woodlands for birds. We invite the community to participate in a series of bird walks, presentations, workshops, and work days in each of the 6 towns over the next year with the hope that landowners will attend the events and learn about birds and habitat management through them.
For more information. Please fill out this RSVP form if you plan to attend this or any Lyme Forest Block presentation.
Tree Collective- Teen Steward Group Meet-up
Date: Sun January 13, 2019Time: 1:00-3:30pm
Place: Big Rock, 34 Tantumorantum Rd, Lyme
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, as part of the NaturePlace Education program, under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey, Lyme Land Trust board director. The January 13 meeting will be a meet-up at Big Rock, Regan’s Lyme studio, to discuss the program and plan activities through mid-June.
The group meets every 3rd Sunday early fall through June. Each month there will be a different topic and hike in a selected preserve. There will be guest speakers/guides, help with special reports/research projects, and field trips. Trail work will include maintaining trails, blazing new trails, and other builds. Bring tools for trail work such as heavy duty work gloves and loppers or clippers.
Please register by emailing Regan at reganstacey@gmail.com
Cancelled-Trailblazers walk-Chestnut Hill
Date: Tue January 8, 2019Time: 10:00-11:45 am
Place: Chestnut Hill, Sterling Hill Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Lyme Land Conservation Trust and Town of Lyme
This walk is cancelled due to weather.
Join us for this moderately easy walk in the woods. Everyone is welcome.
This week’s hike will explore Chestnut Hill Preserve and continue into Nehantic State Forest, led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Open Space Coordinator for the Town of Lyme. The hike is about 2.5 miles long. There is an option of a one-mile loop for those who wish to go for a shorter walk.
Inclement weather cancels.
Directions:We will meet at the entrance to the Preserve on Sterling Hill Road. Rt. 156 to Sterling City Road (either by Tiffany Farm or the Hamburg Fairgrounds). Go about 1 mile. Turn onto Sterling Hill Road. Chestnut Hill entrance is about 0.5 mile on the right. Parking is along the side of the road.
Photo: At Balanced Rock, by Wendolyn Hill
Volunteer Work Party at Hartman Park
Date: Mon January 7, 2019Time: 10:00-11:45 am
Place: Hartman Park. Meet at the Main Entrance.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Town of Lyme
Please come pitch in to help with maintenance at Hartman Park. Bring along heavy duty gloves and light weight tools. We have a chain saw to remove obstructions. We will will need volunteers to clear debris and trim as needed. Bring ear protection. Bring a water bottle. A snack will be provided.
Inclement weather Cancels.
Directions: The Hartman Park Main Entrance entrance is on Gungy Road about 1.5 miles north of the 4-way stop signs at the intersection of Beaverbrook Road, Grassy Hill Road, and Gungy Road.
Photo by Wendolyn Hill
CANCELLED-Trail Trimming Walk at Hartman Park
Date: Tue December 18, 2018Time: 10:00-11:45 am
Place: Hartman Park. Meet at the Main Entrance.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Town of Lyme
Cancelled due to wind chill and wind gusts, this event is cancelled.
Please come pitch in to help with maintenance and to control invasives at Hartman Park. Bring along heavy duty gloves and light weight tools. We’ll trim as need as we walk. Bring water. A snack will be provided.
Rain Cancels.
Directions: The Hartman Park Main Entrance entrance is on Gungy Road about 1.5 miles north of the 4-way stop signs at the intersection of Beaverbrook Road, Grassy Hill Road, and Gungy Road.
Photo by Wendolyn Hill
Trailblazer Walk- Banningwood Preserve
Date: Tue December 11, 2018Time: 10:00am
Place: Banningwood Preserve, Town Street (Rte. 82), Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for a moderately easy walk at Banningwood Preserve led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator. We will visit the newly built platform, Parker’s Perch. The hike is a about 2 miles. Banningwood is a beautiful preserve with meadows, mature forests, cedar groves, and dramatic rock outcroppings. Roaring Brook meanders through it.
There are a few rocky areas so don’t forget to bring your walking stick! Everyone is welcome.
Photo by Humphrey Tyler, Eagle Scout project at Banningwood 2016.
Rain cancels.
Directions: The Preserve parking area is less than 1/4 mile north of Hadlyme Four Corners on Town Street (Rte 82). Look for the sign. From Rt. 156 West (going north): At the end of Rte. 156, turn left onto Rte 82. At the flashing red stoplight (Hadlyme Four Corners), turn right to continue on Rte 82W (going north). The parking area is less than 1/4 mile on the right.
Ribbon Cutting of George and Rosemary Moore Trail with Guided Tours
Date: Sat December 1, 2018Time: 10:00 am
Place: Mt Archer Woods Parking Lot, Mt Archer Road, Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for the opening and ribbon cutting of the George and Rosemary Moore Trail. The new trail, named to honor George and Rosemary Moore’s 14 years of service towards land preservation in Lyme, uses existing trails to provide a seven-mile scenic loop in the River to Ridgetop Preserves, through several properties owned and/or managed cooperatively by the Lyme Land Trust. Town of Lyme and the Nature Conservancy. Come for the ceremony only or join a walk afterwards.
Guided walks start at the Mt. Archer Parking Lot. Bring water. Snacks will be provided. Walk details may change.
1. The entire 7-mile loop. Bring a picnic lunch. This could take 4 or more hours depending upon the speed of the group.
2. The Northern half- about 4 miles. This could take about 3 hours. Bring a lunch if you wish.
3. Mt Archer Woods – to the ruins and back – about 1 mile.
Reservations requested for walkers: openspace@townlyme.org. Let us know which walk you wish to join.
For more information about George Moore.
Trailblazer Walk – Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve
Time: 10 am-12 pm
Place: Meet at the parking lot on Brush Hill Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for a walk at the Lyme Land Trust preserve, the Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve in Lyme. The walk will be led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator. The hike is a moderately easy 2.5 miles or so.
Rain cancels.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot on Brush Hill Road, Lyme CT. The parking lot is 1/4 mile south of the intersection of Brush Hill Road and Rte 82 (Hadlyme 4-Corners, home of the Hadlyme Country Store)
Sunday after Thanksgiving Hike – Hartman Park Red Trail
Date: Sun November 25, 2018Time: 1:30 - 3:30ish pm
Place: Meet at Hartman Park Entrance Parking Lot
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust Board member, and Lyme open Space Coordinator, will lead a walk on the Red Trail in Hartman Park. Work off your Thanksgiving overindulgence on this beautiful moderate trail that winds along craggy ridges strewn with boulders. The route will follow a portion of the Goodwin Trail.
The Goodwin Trail, overseen by the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee, is a an extended trail system crossing four towns: East Haddam, Salem, Lyme and East Lyme. In the future, the goal is to connect to other existing trail systems in surrounding towns. Dr. Richard H. Goodwin (1911-2007) was president of the Nature Conservancy from 1956 to 1958 and again from 1964 to 1966. The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, was started in 1951, and Dr. Goodwin was one of its founders. Since then, it has protected 15 million acres of land in the United States and 102 million acres in 29 other countries.
The entire walk is about 3.5 miles. We will have a snack break on the bald nubble about halfway through. Bring something to drink.
Meet at the of Hartman Park Entrance Parking Lot on Gungy Road in Lyme.
Rain cancels.
Directions: The parking lot is on Gungy Road about 1.5 miles north of the 4-way stop signs at the intersection of Beaverbrook Road, Grassy Hill Road, and Gungy Road.
Registration is appreciated: openspace@townlyme.org
CANCELLED-Trail Work Day – Hartman Goodwin Trail Re-route
Date: Sun November 18, 2018Time: 10 am -2 pm
Place: Hartman Park, Meet at powerline entrance.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
CANCELLED due to unsafe trail conditions. This will be rescheduled.
Please join with the SECT NEMBA Mountain bike group to re-route a section of the Goodwin Trail in Hartman Park. Bring your loppers, works gloves, tools, ear protection, and muscles to re-route a section of the Goodwin Trail in Hartman Park.
Please meet in the vicinity of the powerline right of way and we will direct volunteers to work zones.
Rain cancels.
Directions: The parking lot is on Gungy Road about 2 miles north of the 4-way stop signs at the intersection of Beaverbrook Road, Grassy Hill Road, and Gungy Road.
