As we near Halloween, join us for a walk to learn all about the creepy crawlies! Join naturalists from the Branford Land Trust on Sunday, October 18, at 2:00 PM, to observe and learn about captivating insects as we explore Young’s Pond and Bob’s Woods. We’ll meet in the parking lot off Blackstone Avenue in Branford. From there, we will head into the forest for a beautiful hike around Young’s Pond, where we will see wetlands, rock outcrops, beautiful pond views, wildflowers in bloom, and hopefully, some interesting insects! The estimated distance for the hike is around 1.5 miles.
BLT Board member Julie Michaelson will lead this walk for all ages. We’ll explore the woods to find many not-so-creepy insects and learn about the important roles they play in our lives! We will look for answers to your questions like: Where do insects go in the winter? And find that maybe insects aren’t so creepy after all!
Julie is a Pollinator Conservation Specialist and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Partner Biologist, Connecticut River Valley. As a pollinator conservation specialist and partner biologist, Michaelson collaborates with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and the American Farmland Trust to provide technical support, training, and conservation planning assistance to producers and land managers seeking to develop pollinator and beneficial insect habitat.
The event is free and open to the public. Families are welcome, but no dogs, please. Be sure to wear appropriate clothes and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Long sleeves and light-colored clothing are recommended to deter mosquitoes. Expect moderate terrain, with some rocky underfooting and muddy spots. Bring water. Walking sticks are welcome. Duration: 2-3 hours
Rain or shine unless weather is dangerous, in which case the walk will be postponed. If in doubt, check our website, branfordlantrust.org or Facebook page. For more information: info@branfordlandtrust.org.
(Photos by Julie Michaelson)
ABOUT YOUNG’S POND AND YOUNG’S POND & BOB’S WOODS
Alden M. Young of Waterbury, a backer of the shoreline trolley system, was also the primary developer of the Pine Orchard neighborhood as a summer colony in the early 20th century. In 1971, the company that he founded gave much of his estate to the Town to create Young’s Pond Park. The park contains a small pond (popular for ice skating), woods, and a baseball field. Old carriage roads and vigorous stands of planted rhododendrons are among the remnants of the estate that give this property a distinctive feeling of a bygone era. In contrast to these reminders of human activity, deed restrictions explicitly forbid additional manmade structures, even benches.
In 2004, a for sale sign appeared at the southern end of the pond; land that many had thought to be part of the park was actually privately owned. Park lovers were distressed, but the day was saved by the Pritzker-Schwartz- Vlock family foundation, which bought the property and donated it to the Branford Land Trust. The parcel was named Bob’s Woods in honor of Robert A. Pritzker, the father of one of the foundation members. (Trail Map)