The Mission of the Branford
Land Trust:
Leaving a
Legacy

by Bill Horne, President

The mission of the Branford Land Trust is to preserve open space in Branford and to promote our community's appreciation of Branford's diverse natural features.

Preserving open space is certainly leaving a legacy. As we and our partners (the Town of Branford, the Guilford Land Conservation Trust, the State of Connecticut) assemble preserves that cover hundreds of acres, we're insuring that our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be able to walk the trails along Hoadley Creek and Pisgah Brook, or explore the salt marshes that line the rivers and creeks along the shoreline of Long Island Sound as we do now. They will be able to discover the lady's slippers and bloodroot blooming in the out of the way places, watch the blue birds, swallows, ospreys, and egrets that brighten our summers, and learn which butterflies lay their eggs on the milkweeds and how the boulders came to rest on the top of the hill.

Looking ahead, we will be concentrating on "closing the gaps" by acquiring additional parcels that connect or expand the preserves that we already have. Another important consideration will be the protection of our wetlands, both tidal and fresh water. We will also be working to permanently protect the route of the Branford Trail. Only about half of this recreational resource that circles the town is on protected land, and more must be done to guarantee its continued presence.

Management is an important concern as well, as we strive to maintain and enhance the ecological value of our properties to pass along to future generations. Such stewardship requires careful consideration of the existing and potential values of each property. On some, the most appropriate management policy is to simply keep them clean and the trails clear and otherwise let nature take its course. But we also have opportunities to maintain, improve, or create habitat that will enrich the natural communities on our tracts, or protect rare species that exist there. By acting to maintain or increase the biological diversity of our properties, we will be creating a richer legacy to those who follow us.

But protecting the land entails more than acquisition and management, which brings us to the second half of our mission statement.

We speak of keeping our preserved land in its undeveloped state "in perpetuity." The continued preservation of Branford's open space requires that the generations that follow us must share our love of nature, our appreciation of the importance of woods, fields and wetlands, and our commitment to passing the land and all that it contains on to their successors. We are building the foundation on which perpetual protection will rest in many ways: working with students in Branford schools, presenting lectures, walks and special events, and taking our friends and families to our 'special places' and sharing the wonders that they hold for us.

Since 1967, Branford Land Trust members have been working together in many ways to build the legacy that we will pass on. Land acquisition and stewardship, the Branford River Project, community education, and special events: all of these are important parts of our effort. As you read about our activities, remember that all of this is accomplished by volunteers. Members of the Branford Land Trust can be proud of their contributions to the legacy that we will be leaving for Branford and for Connecticut.