Avalonia is the Recipient of a Connecticut Botanical Society Grant!

The Connecticut Botanical Society has generously awarded Avalonia grant funding to initiate a small-scale wetland restoration project on our Anguilla Brook, Northern Headwaters Preserve in North Stonington.

This effort will focus on the restoration of a nearly 3/4-acre portion of an approximately 10-acre Atlantic white cedar swamp. This larger forested wetland plays a significant role in the health of the Anguilla Brook/Inner Wequetequock Cove Watershed by filtering and slowing the flow of water, processes that have become increasingly important in the context of climate resiliency. These cedar wetlands are also recognized as unique plant communities that serve as specialized habitats for a number of different types of plants and animals, some of which are listed as threatened or endangered in Connecticut. They also rank as one of a handful of critical habitat types in the state.

Unfortunately, over the years, a variety of environmental and human-induced factors have impacted the quality and quantity of Atlantic white cedar swamps in Connecticut, such that they are considered imperiled ecosystems. Using best management practices, Avalonia’s restoration project proposes to improve conditions for young cedars by increasing available sunlight, removing competitors, planting cedar trees, and protecting them from deer and other herbivores. 

To learn more about this project’s work plan, timeline, and volunteer opportunities, contact stewardship@avalonialc.org