A Rich History

In the past four decades, the Branford Land Trust-your land trust-has acquired and protected more than 800 acres of priceless open space in Branford. The Land Trust also holds conservation easements on another 340 acres.

In addition, we've worked with all of Branford to help acquire several publicly owned tracts including the Stony Creek Quarry Preserve, Beacon Hill, Saltonstall Mountain and the Queach Preserve.

During these four decades, the Land Trust has been learning about our own properties and the rest of Branford's natural resources, and sharing this knowledge with the Branford community through our newsletters, website, lectures, guided walks and other activities.

The Land Trust Today

The Land Trust is an active and important part of the Branford community. Nearly 1000 households and businesses in Branford and beyond receive our newsletter and actively support Land Trust membership. Many more enjoy our trails, join us for guided walks, attend lectures and children's programs and visit our award winning website and displays at the Branford Festival.

We protect diverse natural environments-tidal salt marshes at the shore, wetlands along the Branford River and its tributaries, upland forests and meadows, and even a few tiny islands in Long Island Sound. The many areas that are not too fragile for pedestrian access are available for walking, bird watching, cross country skiing or just enjoying a few quiet moments.

Maintaining the diversity of habitat for Branford's natural areas is at the heart of what we do. Our active osprey program monitors and maintains osprey platforms and helps band the young chicks, we mow meadows to maintain increasingly rare grassland habitat, we've erected bluebird boxes and wood duck boxes, and established the fishway over the Supply Pond dam, restoring access to breeding areas for anadromous fish.

Looking Toward The Future

As we celebrate our 40th year, we look ahead and envision a major transformation of the Land Trust. As we preserve what we can of Branford's last remaining open space we must increase our capacity to care for the natural areas we protect for future generations.

Your Membership Matters

YOUR MEMBERSHIP DOLLARS help in many ways-acquisition of properties; maintenance of trails, dams and fences; trail maps; helping threatened species; lectures; guided hikes; newsletter; website; educational projects in the schools; and sharing environmentally important information with the people of Branford.

YOUR PARTICIPATION AS A MEMBER goes beyond your financial commitment. Membership is both commitment to a common goal and participation in the activities that help achieve it. You can care for the land as tract stewards, help maintain trails at monthly work parties, contribute to our newsletter, and share the message of sound environmental practices with family and friends. Join us!

Membership gives you access to:

• Guided walks on the properties
• Maps and guides
• Lectures and articles
• Branford Land Trust News

Membership helps support:

• Efforts to monitor and protect our local environment
• Maintaining our properties, with their trails, dams and fences
• Restoring lost or damaged habitat
• Helping threatened species here at home
• Lectures and hikes
• Hands-on Environmental Day Camp
• Library Book Project
• Website and newsletters
• Environmental education for our children
• Branford High School Partnership

Please check newspaper listings, Land Trust mailings, or our website calendar for more information about special and regularly-scheduled events throughout our 40th Anniversary Year.

Come Celebrate With Us!

We face the challenge of passing the torch to a new generation of members.

We need a membership ready to complete Branford's open space system, and to protect it now and in the future. Whether clearing trails, marking boundaries, or assisting with educational programs, a large, diverse and active membership will assure the Land Trust's successful role as stewards and educators.

40th Anniversary Celebration
We're celebrating this 40th anniversary with a series of events. Join Us!

KICKOFF EVENT-BRANFORD PROCLAMATION
and Lucy T. Hammer Woodlands WALK
First Selectman Unk DaRos will proclaim April as Branford Land Trust Month Saturday, April 5 (Blackstone Library, 10 am). Banners will fly, photos and maps of Land Trust properties will be on display, and you'll get your first look at the new Land Trust trails guide.  Following the Proclamation, buses will take people to a guided walk at the Land Trust's Lucy T. Hammer Woodlands and return them to the Library.

SPRING AND SUMMER EVENTS (See the Calendar)
Throughout this spring and summer there will be opportunities everywhere in Branford to learn more about what the Land Trust has accomplished, where we're heading, and how you can become a part of it.

FESTIVE TOWN PICNIC!
On Saturday, September 13 the entire town will be invited to Young's Park where we'll celebrate the Land Trust's 40 years; the donation of Bob's Woods to the Land Trust by the Vlock, Pritzker and Schwartz family foundation; and as importantly, the people of Branford who have made our town a leader in land preservation. Join us for walks around the Park, a scavenger hunt, displays of children's artwork, educators with live animals, numerous other activities, and lots of good fun and food.

This will be a very special year for the Land Trust. Join us!