Shaina Meyer
Monroe to preserve 65 acres of Benedict family ...

The Monroe Sun by Bill Bittar
MONROE, CT — A gap in a stonewall along 35 Old Newtown Road opens up to 65-acres of farmland that has been in the Benedict family for over 100 years. Rebecca Benedict Bottomley, who now lives in Massachusetts, remembers training and riding horses, and playing on the property with her brothers as children, roaming in the fields, and sledding down a steep hill in the wintertime.

Monroe to preserve 65 acres of Benedict family farm as open space
Shaina Meyer
Governor Lamont Announces State Grants To ...

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is awarding $14.5 million in state grants to aid in the purchase and protection of more than 2,626 acres of open space through 17 projects in 18 municipalities across Connecticut. Additionally, $343,015 in state grants are being awarded to create two new urban community green spaces in Stratford and Thomaston.

These funds are being provided through the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program and the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program, both of which are administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). They mark the largest round of open space protection awards – both by acreage protected and by dollars awarded – in more than a decade.

Governor Lamont Announces State Grants To Protect 2,626 Acres of Open Space and Create Two New Urban Community Green Spaces
aspetuck land trust
#LoveYourCTLandTrust - Growing the Green ...

Aspetuck Land Trust 's socially distanced native plant sale at Gilbertie’s Farm in Easton was a big hit. Nearly 200 people purchased 700 native plants, shrubs and trees, creating " a great opportunity to get people excited about native plants that they can plant in their own yards that help us to promote biodiversity in the landscape..." as Executive Director, David Brant noted.

#LoveYourCTLandTrust - Growing the Green Corridor

Guidance for Trout Brook

PUBLISHED ON March 23, 2020 from Weston Today

Aspetuck Land Trust urges visitors to Trout Brook to leave dogs at home, practice social distancing, and consider visiting other preserves managed by the Trust.

While leashed dogs are normally allowed at Trout Brook, for the time being, ALT asks that you leave them home.

Trout Brook is receiving a volume of visitors much larger than usual. The concern is that dogs create opportunities for close human contact and that having too many of them on the site stresses flora and fauna.

The Trust also emphasizes that, even outdoors, you need to stay at least six feet away from other people, and not be in a group of more than ten.

Aspetuck Land Trust has many open space areas, and encourages you to spread out and visit other locations. A helpful guide to properties other than Trout Brook can be found on the Trust's website.

The full version of guidance for Trout Brook Valley can be found here.

Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Awarded

Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Awarded

Hartford, CT — State Senator Tony Hwang today applauded the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in awarding bond allocation funds to support the regional open space preservation organizations to acquire and preserve two parcels of land in Weston and throughout Connecticut. These grants are made through the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program.

Aspetuck Land Trust Celebrates It's First Demonstration Garden

Aspetuck Land Trust Celebrates It's First Demonstration Garden

Aspetuck Land Trust celebrates the planting of its first Demonstration Garden, a garden filled with native plants that will inspire the community and homeowners to rethink lawns. This garden will be an example of how landowners can take care of their yards in a more sustainable, pollinator-friendly way. It will create a non-toxic space for children and pets, and the native plants will increase the variety of native birds and wildlife that are attracted. This is a community effort and has been created with the support of the Westport Women’s Club 2019 Ruegg Grant and Earthplace in Westport.

"Focus on Native Bees"

"Focus on Native Bees"

The public is very aware that we are in the midst of a pollination crisis. In fact, concern about bees and other pollinators is nearly unanimous in public polling.

At a time when we are polarized on most issues, the need to do something about bees is something we can all agree on. Unfortunately, when people fret about bees and the threats they face, most are thinking about strictly about honey bees.

2019 Ruegg Grant Received

2019 Ruegg Grant Received

The Westport Woman’s Club’s Ruegg Committee presented their 2019 Ruegg Grant, in the amount of $10,000, to Aspetuck Land Trust to help sponsor their “Green Corridor: Saugatuck to Shore" program, focusing on "Westport: A Model of Change."  The WWC grant will be used to educate and motivate homeowners to take care of their yards in more sustainable ways to increase biodiversity and improve our environment by planting native plants, switching to organic lawn care and reducing pesticide usage.  

Weston Kiwanis Club to Present Millie Awards

Weston Kiwanis Club to Present Millie Awards

The Weston Kiwanis Club’s 15 Annual Millie Best Environmental Award will be presented to The Chauncey Belknap Family for its contributions to open space in the area. The presentation takes place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the club’s weekly 8:30 a.m. meeting at Norfield Parish Hall, 64 Norfield Road, Weston. Chauncey Belknap’s grandson, Howard Giles Carter who is an avid birder and conservationist, will accept the award on behalf of the Belknap family. A representative from the Aspetuck Land Trust, which worked with the family to create open space preserves on former family land, will also be present.