Branford Land Trust

Work Party
2018-02-17 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)

Animal Tracking Classes
2018-02-24 09:30 - 11:00 | Lake Saltonstall Preserve, Hosley Avenue, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Every year, dozens of families come out for the Branford Land Trust’s popular Animal Tracking classes led enthusiastically by naturalists Tom Cleveland and Chris Woerner. Come learn how to recognize animal footprints and other signs of their passage through the woods during two upcoming Animal Tracking Classes from 9:30 to 11 am on January 27 and February 24 at the Lake Saltonstall Preserve. We’ll hope for snow, but it will be fun even without it!
Please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome. We’ll meet at the Regional Water Authority parking lot on the north side of Hosley Avenue, down Hosley Avenue 0.3 miles from Brushy Plain Road. Expect moderate terrain, some sloping trails and inclines, rocky underfooting. Parents should be prepared to carry younger children if they get tired.
Bad Weather dates: January 28 and February 25. Watch our Facebook page for possible schedule changes. For questions please call Tom Cleveland @ 203-981-9040.
The Branford Land Trust is a non-profit organization, celebrating 50 years of protecting Branford’s open space and natural resources. This annual event is free and open to the public. For updated information, visit www.branfordlandtrust.org.

Winter/Spring Lecture Series
2018-02-27 19:00 - 20:30, 2018-03-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Canoe Brook Senior Center, 11 Cherry Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
This year’s Winter/Spring Lecture Series will be held in the Totoket Room at the Canoe Brook Senior Center, 11 Cherry Hill Road. Save the dates!

Earth Day Spring Clean Up!
2018-04-21 09:00 - 12:00
Join the Branford Land Trust, the town of Branford, and LOTS of Branford residents for the annual “Rid Litter” Day on Saturday, April 21! (More Info)

World Fish Migration Day
2018-04-21 11:00 - 15:00 | Branford Fish Ladder, 29 Short Rocks Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Join the Branford Land Trust as we celebrate World Fish Migration Day on Saturday, April 21!
Come see the beautiful fish ladder and counting station at Branford’s Supply Ponds. Hopefully, alewives will be running in the Queach Brook and shooting up the fishway to spawn in the Supply Ponds. It’s a great place to take the family for an outing in nature. Massive trees have fallen around the stream and provide excellent seating for groups. On a good year, we have 3,000 fish move up – one year (2010) we counted 40,000! Maybe this year…
Get details on the event here!

ANNUAL MEETING
2018-04-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Canoe Brook Senior Center, 11 Cherry Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
April 24 – 7:00 p.m.
BLT Annual Meeting – “Effects of Climate Change on Connecticut”
James O’Donnell (CT Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation | UCONN
Jim will discuss sea level, flooding, river flow, and drinking water resilience and touch on some of the impacts including insurance rates and health, and adaptation strategies. A short business meeting will take place for our featured speaker. Canoe Brook Center,11 Cherry Hill Road, Branford.

Spring Bird Walk
2018-05-12 08:30 - 10:30
May 12-13
Saturday & Sunday, 8:30am
Make time for these fun educational bird walks at the Trolley Trail and Vedder property with naturalist Chris Woerner.

Spring Bird Walk
2018-05-13 08:30 - 10:30
May 12-13
Spring Bird Walk
Saturday & Sunday, 8:30am
Make time for these fun educational bird walks at the Trolley Trail and Vedder property with naturalist Chris Woerner.

Poetry Reading
2018-05-18 18:30 - 20:30
May 18
Poetry Reading
Friday, 6:30pm
An evening of poetry with shoreline poets Carol Altieri, Juliana Harris, Nancy Meneely and Jen Payne. Bring your own poems for the open mic! At the Land Trust House, 26 School St, Stony Creek.

Spring on the Point!
2018-05-19 13:00 - 15:00
May 19
Spring on the Point!
Saturday, 1:00pm
Join us for a spring walk at Killam’s Point*. You’ll see and learn to identify the trees, flowers, and wildlife native to one of Branford’s most beautiful shoreline preserves.

Wildflower Walk
2018-06-02 14:00 - 16:00
June 2
Wildflower Walk
Saturday, 2:00pm
Join botanist Lauren Brown in search of spring flora and fauna on a hike through the scenic Goss property off Tilcon Road in Pine Orchard.

Protect Our Valuable Neighbors, Horseshoe Crabs
2018-06-07 19:00 - 20:00
June 7
Protect Our Valuable Neighbors, Horseshoe Crabs
Thursday, 7:00pm
Martha Rice will describe the work being done to protect horseshoe crabs. Tag a crab and marvel at its complexity. Held at Killam’s Point*.

Branford Festival
2018-06-16 10:30 - 16:00
June 16
Branford Festival
Saturday, 10:30am
Stop by the BLT tent at the Branford Festival! See you there!

50th Anniversary Celebration
2018-06-23 10:30 - 12:30
June 23
50th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, 10:30am
Join us for this special celebration that includes dedication of the new the Red Hill Woods Bog Walk and a 50th Anniversary Reception.

Denali Branford Grand Re-Opening
2018-08-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Denali, 1004 Main Street, Branford, CT, 06405
Denali (formerly Trailblazer) has partnered with the Branford Land Trust in recent months to help maintain Branford’s open space. Denali has recently renovated their store at 1004 Main Street, Branford. All are welcome to help them celebrate their redesigned space. Refreshments will be available, and there will be a raffle, the proceeds of which will be divided between the Branford, Guilford, and East Haven Land Trusts.

23rd Annual Environmental Day Camp
2018-08-17 09:00 - 16:00
August 17
23rd Annual Environmental  Day Camp
Friday, 9:00am
Children ages 5-9 will enjoy hands-on activities, including touch tanks, woodland and Long Island Sound exploration, nature crafts, and more. The day will run from approximately 9am to 4pm. Register by August 14.

Summer on the Point
2018-08-18 09:00 - 11:00
August 18
Summer on the Point
Saturday, 9:00am
Martha Rice will share her extensive knowledge of Killam’s Point*. Hike the trails as nature prepares for the arrival of fall.

Trail Maintenance
2018-09-04 08:00 - 09:00 | Van Wie Preserve, 100 Red Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405
The Trail Maintennce team will do minor, but needed trail trimming in Van Wie Preserve. Meet at the Van Wie blue trail head across from the Land Trust cottage on Red Hill Rd.

Trail Maintenance
2018-09-11 08:00 - 10:00 | Medlyn Upper Field, Saw Mill Rd, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
The BLT Trail Maintenance team will work exposing rocks and trimming the branches and saplings around the perimeter of Medlyn field at the end of Saw Mill Rd off 146 in Stony Creek.
Meet at: Medlyn upper field aluminum gate at the north end of Saw Mill Road (drive up the granite surfaced driveway to the dirt road and up). Bring water — temps could be approaching 80°F again by the time we head home!

2018-09-13 08:00 - 10:00 | Medlyn Upper Field, Saw Mill Rd, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
The BLT Trail Maintenance team will work exposing rocks and trimming the branches and saplings around the perimeter of Medlyn field at the end of Saw Mill Rd off 146 in Stony Creek.
Meet at: Medlyn upper field aluminum gate at the north end of Saw Mill Road (drive up the granite surfaced driveway to the dirt road and up). As always, bring water — temps are predicted to hit about 80.

WORK PARTY: Lower Sybil Creek Preserve
2018-09-15 09:00 - 12:00
We will return to the Sybil Creek property next to the Bruce & Johnson marina to continue cutting bittersweet and other climbing plants that are strangling the trees on this important upland part of the Sybil Creek Preserve. Meet at 9:00 am. Park next to the woods between buildings #3 and #4 (on the left immediately after entering the Bruce & Johnson Marina at the end of Block Island Road. Bring loppers, small handsaws, sturdy hand clippers, and work gloves. Call Bill Horne (203-488-6146) for more information.
Many of you specifically expressed interest in helping with trail maintenance. The Land Trust’s Trails Committee, chaired by Bud Dannheim and Matt Reed, focuses on blazing and maintaining the numerous trails on BLT properties. Work events are scheduled during the week, generally on Tuesday or Thursday mornings from 9:00 to noon. If you would like to receive information of where the Trail Committee will be working the following Tuesday morning, please contact Bud (Gunther.dannheim@gmail.com) or Matt ( mwreed81@gmail.com) and let them know of your interest.
The work parties offer a chance to get to know some of the BLT properties and to spend a little time with some great people. If you have school age kids, this is a chance for them to pick up some community service credits.

Help Support the New Haven Land Trust
2018-09-16 16:00 - 19:00 | Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven
Enjoy craft beers from exciting local breweries, Copps Island oysters, live bluegrass music by The Bluegrass Characters, carousel rides, food trucks and more!
For more information and tickets, visit http://www.newhavenlandtrust.org/FallFundraiser18.

BLT's Annual Branford River Parade
2018-09-22 11:00 - 13:00
Celebrate the beauty of the Branford River! Join kayakers and canoeists from Branford and surrounding communities as we paddle in a boat parade from behind the Branford High School to Branford Point on Saturday, September 22. Click here for details.

Noble Proctor Memorial Bench Dedication
2018-10-13 10:30 - 23:30
Amidst the flora and fauna of Supply Ponds, a bench of Stony Creek granite will be dedicated to the memory of Noble Proctor, Branford resident, professor emeritus of biology at Southern Connecticut State University, author and noted ornithologist. The ceremony will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, October 13th, along the Orange Trail beyond the old foundation. (If needed, rain date is October 14th.)
All are invited to attend and encouraged to share this information with others.

Virtual Treasure Hunt at Killam's Point
2018-10-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Killam’s Point, Shore Drive, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Join the Branford Land Trust and the First Congregational Church on Sunday, October 14 for A Virtual Treasure Hunt at Killam’s Point, 1:00pm. This is the final of four 2018 outdoor events co-sponsored by the two groups; it is free and open the public, giving all an opportunity to enjoy Killam’s Point and to learn about how we interact with nature. Click here for more information.

WORK PARTY: Stony Creek Partnership Field
2018-10-20 09:00 - 12:00
We will continue the clearing of woody shrubs and trees from the field on the Stony Creek Limited Partnership Preserve to maintain the old-field character. Meet at 9:00 am. Bring loppers, small handsaws, sturdy hand clippers, and work gloves. Park on Long Point Rd or Wallace Rd (the far intersection of Wallace Rd with Thimble Island Rd, opposite Long Point Rd). We will walk in along the private road that goes off to the right just as Wallace Rd starts to climb the hill. Take the first driveway on the left (where the road curves right) and look for some stepping stones going up the hill on the right side of the driveway with a BLT signpost at the top. Follow the red blazes to the field, bearing left at the point where the trail splits. Call Bill Horne (203-488-6146) for more information.
Many of you specifically expressed interest in helping with trail maintenance. The Land Trust’s Trails Committee, chaired by Bud Dannheim and Matt Reed, focuses on blazing and maintaining the numerous trails on BLT properties. Work events are scheduled during the week, generally on Tuesday or Thursday mornings from 9:00 to noon. If you would like to receive information of where the Trail Committee will be working the following Tuesday morning, please contact Bud (Gunther.dannheim@gmail.com) or Matt ( mwreed81@gmail.com) and let them know of your interest.
The work parties offer a chance to get to know some of the BLT properties and to spend a little time with some great people. If you have school age kids, this is a chance for them to pick up some community service credits.

WORK PARTY: Hoadley Creek Preserve Fields
2018-11-17 09:00 - 12:00
We will clear around large rocks and boulders in the fields to make them more visible when the fields are mowed. Meet at 9:00; park on the woods road (continuation of the private driveway at the right-angle turn of Sawmill Rd [1 on attached map]), first in/last out, or at the small pull off at the intersection of Sawmill and Leetes Island Rd [2 on map]. Bring loppers, clippers and work gloves. Rain cancels. Call Bill Horne (203-488-6146) for more information.
Many of you specifically expressed interest in helping with trail maintenance. The Land Trust’s Trails Committee, chaired by Bud Dannheim and Matt Reed, focuses on blazing and maintaining the numerous trails on BLT properties. Work events are scheduled during the week, generally on Tuesday or Thursday mornings from 9:00 to noon. If you would like to receive information of where the Trail Committee will be working the following Tuesday morning, please contact Bud (Gunther.dannheim@gmail.com) or Matt ( mwreed81@gmail.com) and let them know of your interest.
The work parties offer a chance to get to know some of the BLT properties and to spend a little time with some great people. If you have school age kids, this is a chance for them to pick up some community service credits.

A Walk in the Woods: Annual BLT Pre-Thanksgiving Walk
2018-11-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Van Wie Woods, 87 Red Hill Road, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
Join the Branford Land Trust on Sunday, November 18 at 1:00 PM for this traditional pre-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. Led by Bill Horne and Matt Reed, this is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and refreshing fall weather with friends and family.

Changes in the Land: A Talk by Jane Bouley
2018-11-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Branford Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main Street, Branford, CT, 06405, United States
The Branford Land Trust is pleased to welcome Town Historian Jane Bouley for a special presentation on “Changes in the Land,” to be held on Thursday, November 29, 7:00 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters.
