Branford Land Trust

Thanksgiving Weekend Walk
2021-11-28 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Van Wie Woods, 87 Red Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Join the Branford Land Trust on Sunday, November 28 at 1:00 PM for this traditional Thanksgiving hike at Van Wie Woods, exploring fields, woodlands, streams, and granite outcrops of the 100 acres donated by two generations of the Van Wie family. We’ll be joined by several local naturalists and members of the Branford High School Land Conservation Club. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and refreshing fall weather with friends and family you might not have seen for a while. (Read More)

January Lecture: Betty Ann Donegan
2022-01-26 19:00 - 20:30 | CT
With climate change one of the most important issues of our time, let’s start at home and think about how we can lower our carbon footprint right here. Using locally sourced ingredients, local food phenom Betty Ann Donegan will teach us how to make a Vegetarian Chile and Cheese Casserole, Cornbread with Manchego Cheese, and a Berry Tart. This Branford Land Trust January lecture will be held on Wednesday, January 26 at 7:00PM via Zoom.
Together, we’ll explore how to find and use locally sourced ingredients while making some delicious dishes to share with loved ones during these cold winter days. Upon registration you’ll be provided with recipes so you can follow along — and even cook along — at home! Bon Appétit!
Betty Ann has been teaching her popular cooking classes in the Pine Orchard section of Branford for 46 years. She has written several cookbooks and was a guest chef on Connecticut Style for eight years.
The January program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please contact Martha Rice at mhbrice@gmail.com to sign-up or for more information. Once registered, a Zoom link will be emailed along with the recipes.

Winter Animal Tracking Classes
2022-02-26 09:30 - 11:00 | Lake Saltonstall Preserve, Hosley Avenue, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Branford Land Trust Winter Animal Tracking Classes
Saturday, January 29 & Saturday, February 26
9:30am – 11:00am at Lake Saltonstall Recreational Area
Not just a walk in the woods, the Branford Land Trust’s popular Animal Tracking classes are led enthusiastically by naturalists Tom Cleveland and Chris Woerner each winter. Learn how to recognize animal footprints and other signs of their passage through the woods during two Animal Tracking Classes scheduled for Saturday, January 29 and Saturday, February 26 from 9:30 to 11am at the Lake Saltonstall Recreational Area. We’ll hope for snow, but it will be fun even without it! This program is fun for both kids and adults.
Expect moderate terrain, some sloping trails and inclines, rocky underfooting. Parents should be prepared to carry younger children if they get tired. Please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome. We’ll meet at the fishing area parking lot off of Hosley Avenue in Branford. The address is 100 Hosley Avenue and it is located approximately halfway down Hosley Avenue off of Route 1 to the south and Brushy Plain Road to the north.
Bad Weather dates: January 30 and February 27. Watch our Facebook page for possible schedule changes. For questions please call Tom Cleveland @ 203-981-9040.

Winter Tree Walk
2022-03-13 14:00 - 15:30 | Red Hill Woods, Red Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Winter Tree Walk
Hosted by the Branford Land Trust
Sunday, March 13, 2:00 p.m.
at the Red Hill Woods Preserve
You don’t need leaves to tell one tree from another! Local botanist and author Lauren Brown will show you how to use growth form, bark, and other features to make some sense out of the winter woods.
Meet at trailhead at the end of Red Hill Road. The walk will be about 1.5 miles, starting on a flat gravel roadbed, then with some up and down in the woods. Walkers should expect moderate terrain, with some sloping trails and inclines. Bad weather cancels.
To maintain social distancing, space is limited to 15. Registration required. Email Martha Rice at mhbrice@gmail.com

BLT Earth Day Clean-up
2022-04-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Red Hill Woods, Red Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
In coordination with the Town of Branford please join us for the BLT Earth Day Clean-up on Saturday, April 23, 10:00am-12:00pm at Red Hill Woods. Volunteers should meet at the end of Red Hill Road so we can hike into the preserve together. BLT will supply pickup sticks and bags. Please wear gloves, long sleeves & appropriate footwear that may get muddy! No open toed shoes!
Rain Date: Sunday, April 24th.
No need to reserve — just show up!

Annual Spring Bird Walk
2022-05-07 09:00 - 11:00, 2022-05-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Stony Creek Trolley Trail, West Point Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
The Branford Land Trust is hosting two spring bird walks on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Local birder Chris Woerner will lead these popular walks along the Stony Creek Trolley Trail and into the Land Trust’s Vedder property. Chris will help us identify the birds by sight and by call. It should be a fun and exciting walk for both adults and families, rain or shine.
The event is free and open to the public. We’ll meet in Stony Creek at the far end of West Point Rd. across from the Willoughby Wallace Library. You can choose the day that fits best into your schedule, or for birding enthusiasts, you can even come both days-since the birds we sight will vary on each day. Mostly flat terrain with one steep, rocky hill. Families are welcome, but no dogs please.
We’ll abide by current COVID precautions at the time of the walk. Please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome.

BLT Annual Meeting
2022-05-23 18:00 - 20:00 | CT
Join us for our Annual Meeting on Monday, May 23 beginning at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom featuring Gerald Torres, Professor of Environmental Justice, Yale School of the Environment. His presentation on the implications of environmental justice for conservation land trusts will follow a brief business meeting and the election of officers and directors. Click here for more information.

Horseshoe Crab Program
2022-05-24 19:00 - 20:00 | CT
Horseshoe Crab Program
May 24, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Loves Beach, Killam’s Point Conference Center

Join this co-sponsored program with the First Congregational Church of Branford and the Branford Land Trust led by Martha Rice to learn about the ecology and importance of Horseshoe crabs in our lives today. This program is open to the public, but registration is required. Please email info@killamspoint.org to register.

Annual Branford Land Trust Environmental Day Camp
2022-08-18 09:00 - 16:00 | CT
Children ages 5-9 will enjoy hands-on activities, including touch tanks, woodland and Long Island Sound exploration, nature crafts, and more. Click here to read more.

CLCC Award Ceremony
2022-08-30 16:00 - 17:30 | CT
We hope you will join us, the CLCC, and local officials and representatives, for a special award ceremony in honor of Bill Horne to be held on Tuesday, August 30, 4:00 p.m. at DeLeo Field, 156 Laurel Hill Road, Branford. The ceremony will feature an award presentation and music, followed by a guided hike at Pieper Woods.
Register here: https://bit.ly/3Pn9pi9.
Carpooling is highly encouraged, as parking spaces are limited. We’ll be in an open field, so please wear comfortable shoes and socks, bring a lawn chair if you’d like, consider a hat and bug spray. Bring a refillable water bottle as no plastic water bottles will be given out.
READ MORE

Book Launch & Art Reception, Writing the Land: Windblown I
2022-11-13 14:00 - 16:00 | BACA Gallery, 1004 Main Street, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
A Creative Project from the Branford Land Trust & the Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance
You don’t want to miss this special Book Launch and Art Reception for Writing the Land: Windblown I on Sunday, November 13 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The event is hosted by the Branford Land Trust and the Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance, and will be held at the BACA Gallery in downtown Branford. Poet Laurel Peterson will read a selection of her poems about Branford’s Beacon Hill Preserve, and the book’s featured artwork by BLT and BACA members will be on display.

Writing the Land: Windblown I Online Poetry Reading
2022-11-19 14:00 - 16:00 | CT
November 19
POETRY READINGS & BOOK LAUNCH
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Watch for details about this virtual book launch for Writing the Land: Windblown I, an anthology featuring the work of poets writing about conserved lands for 11 land trusts across the country. Branford Land Trust’s poet, Laurel Peterson, and 15 others, will read at least one of their poems in recordings made mostly out on the lands themselves. These are interspersed with short videos featuring the land trusts and the work they do. All proceeds from the sales of Writing the Land: Windblown I benefit the BLT. Watch the Branford Land Trust website for more information.

Annual Van Wie Walk
2022-12-04 13:00 - 14:30 | Van Wie Woods, 87 Red Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Join the Branford Land Trust on Sunday, December 4 at 1:00 PM for this annual hike at Van Wie Woods, exploring fields, woodlands, streams, and granite outcrops of the 100 acres donated by two generations of the Van Wie family. The walk will be led by several local naturalists, and it’s a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and refreshing fall weather with friends and family.
We’ll meet by the trailhead at 87 Red Hill Road. Directions: From Exit 56 on I-95, go south on Leetes Island Rd. for 0.1 mile, and turn left (east) onto Red Hill Rd. Proceed to #87, which is on the right, and park on the right side of the road or at the pull-off by the pond.
The full walk is approximately two miles long (90 minutes) and of moderate difficulty with two or three short steep stretches. Walkers will also have the option of a shorter (one mile) walk. Please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks encouraged for the rocky and leafy terrain. The walk is good for kids as young as six or seven. Parents of younger children should use their discretion and be prepared to carry them for parts of the route.

BLT January Film Series: Afro-Indigenous Relationships to Land
2023-01-21 13:30 - 16:00 | Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
An Afternoon of Film and Discussion with Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay Piper of the Golden Hill Paugussetts
Join the Branford Land Trust on Saturday, January 21 from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. at the Blackstone Memorial Library for a series of short films that highlight Native American bonds to land, including nations in the northeast like the Narragansett, Penobscot, and Shinnecock. The films will be followed by a discussion led by our guest Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay Piper, author of the book Red Road: Traditional Voices of Afro-Indigenous America. (Read More)

Branford Land Trust Winter Animal Tracking Classes
2023-01-28 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-02-25 09:30 - 11:00 | Lake Saltonstall Preserve, Hosley Avenue, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Watch for details!

Saturday Work Party: Hillside Avenue/Hillside Park
2023-02-25 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
Saturday February 25, 2023, 9:00am-12:00pm, Hillside Avenue/Hillside Park Parcel
A joint project between the Branford Land Trust and the Town of Branford’s Conservation Commission. This roughly 10-acre parcel sits just north of the town green and is surrounded by developments on all sides. As such, reports of dumping, encroachments, and invasive species (especially English ivy) have been observed over the recent years.
During a recent visit, much of the southern half of the property is infested with invasive species including dense monocultures of winged euonymus, verdant carpets of English ivy, and occasional patches of multiflora rose, tree of heaven, lesser celandine, Japanese barberry, and Japanese knotweed. Given how well established these plants have become, we hope to commit part of the day towards eradicating plants in manageable areas to control the spread. We also plan to spend part of the day (or split up based on attendance) picking up litter.
What to bring: hand pruners, loppers, gloves, proper clothing/sturdy footwear. I will bring extra hand tools, a weed wrench, plastic trash bags, and paper leaf bags.
Where to park: there are a couple of public lots near the property: 23 Hillside Avenue and 19 Harrison Avenue. From there walk north along Hillside Avenue, near Green View Commons and Rosehill Apartments, until you reach a small roundabout driveway. The very northern end of Hillside Avenue is the public access point for this property.

Saturday Work Party: Pisgah Brook/Knocker’s Hole
2023-03-18 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
Saturday March 18th, 9:00am-12:00pm, Pisgah Brook/Knocker’s Hole
There have been a lot of on-going projects in these Town-owned parcels and the trail network is extensive. If you have not hiked through these woods, this would be a great time to check out the trail! During this project, we hope to achieve a number of trail improvement tasks. Heading east on the red and white (Branford) trails, a number of smaller sections of the trail have been flooding after rain events and need some maintenance in order to better drain. Some sections of the trail need hardscaping to improve footing over muddy areas. We intend to use local materials for the hardscaping.
What to bring: waterproof boots, hand tools (spades, rakes, grub hoe, pickaxe, pry bar, etc.), work gloves. I will have extra tools on hand for those who don’t have access to them.
Where to park: park in the gravel lot off Laurel Hill Road. The closest navigable address is 154 Laurel Hill Road. The parking lot entrance is just north of this private residence. There is a wooden trail kiosk at the entrance to the parking lot.

EARTH DAY FAIR & Branford Clean-up Day
2023-04-15 10:30 - 13:30 | Branford Green, Town Hall Drive, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Visit our tent at the Earth Day Fair on the Branford Green, sponsored by the Town of Branford and Living Wisely & Well on Planet Earth. There will be exhibits, swaps and giveaways, activities for kids and more. There will be collection dumpsters for those participating in Branford Clean-up Day.

Saturday Work Party: Johnson Point
2023-04-22 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
Heading back out to Johnson’s Point again for April 2023! We aim to continue our work here primarily removing invasive species that have sprawled along the roadsides. Multiflora rose, Asiatic bittersweet, and burning bush were most prevalent last year. Chinese silvergrass was also observed spreading into the high marsh area as well. We will use manual methods to remove or mitigate the spread of these plants during this work party. Click here for more information.

Great Give
2023-05-03 08:00 - 2023-05-04 20:00 | CT

Branford Forum: Protecting the Natural Beauty of Branford
2023-05-07 14:00 - 15:30 | Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Protecting the Natural Beauty of Branford
Julie Wagner, President, Branford Land Trust
Have you hiked a trail in Branford? Or enjoyed a view of a saltmarsh? Or watched the ospreys nesting in the spring? If so, chances are you have enjoyed the work of the all-volunteer Branford Land Trust. Since 1967 the BLT has protected Branford’s natural resources, acquired and managed open space, promoted public access, educated the public about our natural resources, and encouraged our community to get involved.

Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Bird Walks
2023-05-13 09:00 - 11:00, 2023-05-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Stony Creek Trolley Trail, West Point Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Local birder Chris Woerner will lead these popular walks along the Stony Creek Trolley Trail and into the BLT’s Vedder property to help identify birds by sight and by call. We’ll meet in Stony Creek at the end of West Point Road across from Willoughby Wallace Library. Families are welcome, but no dogs please.

May Mountain Laurel Walk
2023-05-27 10:30 - 11:30 | Stony Creek Quarry Trail, Quarry Road, Branford, 06405, United States
Come out and enjoy a walk with the Branford Land Trust as we explore the Quarry Preserve and learn about Connecticut’s state flower with Stony Creek resident Joseph Inguanti on Saturday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m.
Branford Land Trust Mountain Laurel Walk at the Quarry Preserve

Film Screening of A River Speaks by Steve Hamm
2023-05-30 18:30 - 20:00 | Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
The Branford Land Trust and the Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance join forces to present the film A River Speaks by Steve Hamm on Tuesday, May 30, 6:30 p.m. at the Blackstone Memorial Library. The film will be followed by a Q&A discussion.
Film Screening of A River Speaks by Steve Hamm

Horseshoe Crab Program
2023-06-13 19:30 - 20:30 | Killam’s Point, Shore Drive, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
June 13, 2023 at 7:30pm
Love’s Beach, Killam’s Point, Branford, CT
Join this co-sponsored program with the First Congregational Church of Branford and the Branford Land Trust for hands-on program to learn about the ecology and importance of horseshoe crabs in our lives today. The program will be held at Love’s Beach, part of Killam’s Point Conference Center.
This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please email info@killamspoint.org to register.

Branford Festival
2023-06-17 | Branford Green, Town Hall Drive, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Come visit the Branford Land Trust booth on the Branford green during the Branford Festival!

26th Annual Branford Land Trust Environmental Day Camp for Kids
2023-08-07 09:00 - 16:00 | Killam’s Point, Shore Drive, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Registration is now open for the Branford Land Trust’s popular Hand-on Environmental Day Camp to be held on Monday, August 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is an awesome experience for children ages 5-9 who will enjoy lots of hands-on activities, including touch tanks, woodland and Long Island Sound exploration, nature crafts, and more. A full day’s agenda, map, and list of what to bring will be mailed upon receipt of your registration and payment of $45.00 (additional children, same family $35.00), or $35 for BLT members.
