Walk Your Land Trust Series

On Sunday, September 29th at 10:00 AM, we will explore Forest Bathing at Mary Peatman Preserve with Bill Wrenn, Director of NLT. Parking is available at 16 Birchside Drive Norwalk. We hope to see you there for this nature grounding experience.

Mary Peatman Preserve Grand Opening

On Sunday, September 22nd at 4:30 PM, we had the grand opening of the Mary Peatman Preserve at 16 Birchside Drive in Norwalk. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to enjoy live music and appetizers! 

Spring Norwalk Land Trust Newsletter 2024

Our Spring 2024 newsletter has been released, discussing Hoyt Island, the Mary Peatman Preserve, and the generosity of a Norwalk auto dealer. The newsletter also discusses several of our upcoming events.

The 4th Graders Returned to Farm Creek Preserve

During the last two weeks of May and the first week of June, the Norwalk Land Trust had 21 volunteer guides, 14 field trips with 7 elementary schools, and 533 students going through the 4th grade field trip program at Farm Creek Preserve.  

NLT provides free bus service to and from the Farm Creek Preserve and the schools thanks to generous donors.  Board member, Lisa Jewett, organized the logistics with the 4th grade teachers and Durham bus company, and board member, Connie Bennett, recruited, trained and coordinated the volunteer guides and their guiding schedules so that each guide had small groups of students to take through the preserve. 

Quoted from Connie:  “The fourth graders are extremely excited and enthusiastic to get out into nature and learn first-hand what a Land Trust is and why it’s so important to protect natural open space.”

Norwalk Land Trust has been selected for a Community Partnership with Garavel Subaru

Today, Garavel Subaru is proud to present a check to the Norwalk Land Trust, one of our cherished Community Partners. The Norwalk Land Trust is dedicated to balancing nature and development by acquiring and preserving land in its natural state for the benefit of Norwalk residents and future generations. Currently, they steward 33 parcels of open space, owning 84 acres and holding 25 acres via conservation easement. Together, we’re ensuring a greener future! Learn more

Path Building event at the Mary Peatman Preserve March 3, 2024

An energetic group from Temple Shalom, 259 Richards Ave, Norwalk joined with members of the Norwalk Land Trust to begin a trail system through the Mary Peatman Preserve.  Through the hard work of the volunteers more than half the trail was laid with wood chips onto a steep incline on February 4th and on the remaining trail on March 3rd.

Mike Mushak, owner of Tuliptree Site Design Inc. Norwalk, dedicated his time designing the trail layout as well as prepping the planted meadow area and leading the volunteer team on February 4th.

Abel Amaya, owner of A&A Lawn Service, opened up the Preserve by removing fencing, supplied wood chips, the use of wheel barrels and additional tools. We thank all involved.

The Margaret and Stephen Holton Bird Sanctuary at Hoyt Island

A highlight at the recent Norwalk Land Trust annual meeting was a wonderful presentation given by NLT Vice President and Stewardship Chair, Mary Verel, about the history and natural attributes, as well as current efforts to protect Hoyt Island. (Enjoy the history text and slideshow at the links below).

You will find interesting the history of Hoyt Island and its transformation to The Margaret and Steve Holton Bird Sanctuary.  This story will be an ongoing one.  Let’s see what the Spring of 2024 brings.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Fundraising for Farm Creek and enjoying a fall day. Thank you Miki Alicastro for this memory. And thank you John Lennon for such a perfect song.

Norwalk Land Trust Annual Meeting

If you missed Dominique Browning at our annual meeting, hear her lecture!

News Links

Rethink Your Lawn – Read “Lawn maintenance & Climate Change” published by the Princeton Student Climate Initiative. Let that green lawn go! It’s time to put the planet’s needs first.

This Story Is About Trees – Cities and towns across southwest Connecticut are working to increase the number of trees in their communities, due to their many benefits.

Farm Creek Preserve in Sound Watch  – A recent issue of Sound Watch Magazine features a story on our fundraising for the Farm Creek Preserve, which is one of our finest properties. A small group of volunteers raising $4.3 million over a five-year period is a story of great dedication and hard work.

The Incredible Shrinking Lawn – Read this great article about the virtues of letting your yard go “native” with wildflowers and natural plantings instead of the traditional lawn. You’ll support pollinators, save yourself a lot of work, and create a beautiful, natural habitat.

Discovery Day at White Barn – In September 2018, we held a Discovery Day at our White Barn property. The hit of the day was Skyhunters in Flight, presented by Falconer Brian Bradley. Here are highlights of this wonderful demonstration.