Avalonia Land Conservancy

Avalonia Annual Meeting 2022
2022-11-30 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | CT
Join us for Avalonia’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 30 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Woodfellas Pizza at the Velvet Mill. Catch up with your Avalonia friends over pizza and drinks, while you hear about Avalonia’s work over 2022 and our plans for 2023.

RSVP’s are required – please contact Terri at terri@avalonialc.org to RSVP.

Two Day Bridge Build at Cedar Wood Preserve
2022-12-08 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
Two Day Bridge Build at Cedar Wood Preserve

Dates: Thursday and Friday, December 8th and 9th

Time: 9:00 am -12:00 pm

Join us at the newly opened Cedar Wood Preserve in Norwich for two consecutive mornings of bridge building! This is an opportunity to exercise your general carpentry skills as we work to finish up a walkway over a vernal pool. No woodworking experience? Not to worry, there is still a spot for you to assist in positioning materials, etc. On-site training/guidance will be provided.
There is ample parking in the newly constructed parking/trailhead area, located opposite 183 North Wawecus Hill Road in Norwich. Gloves and knee/hip boots are highly recommended (the recent rains have already begun to fill the area with water). Feel free to attend one or both days.
Although not required, your registration will allow us to better plan for the day!
Thank you!

A Vernal Pool Adventure, Babcock Ridge Preserve
2023-03-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Babcock Ridge, 113 Babcock Road, North Stonington, CT, United States
There’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than to visit a woodland pond alive with the sounds and sights of newly awakened amphibians and invertebrates—and there’s no more exciting time to do so than at dusk, when the local vernal pools are a noisy chorus of quacking wood frogs and bell-ringing spring peepers. As the skies darken, we’ll follow our ears for about a half-mile to a group of special ponds at the center of the Babcock Ridge Preserve that were dry holes last autumn and are now filled to the brim with a variety of exciting creatures. In addition to frogs, we’ll likely see marbled salamander youngsters, fairy shrimp, giant predaceous diving beetles, and the stars of the show, the exquisite yellow-spotted salamanders. We’ll use nets to collect pond residents and examine them at close range before releasing them unharmed, and if we’re especially lucky, we might also hear the booming hoots of barred owls and the peents of woodcock.
Bring a flashlight and a headlamp, wear warm clothes and waterproof boots, and don’t forget your spirit of adventure on this family-friendly exploration of a fascinating part of the natural world.
Walk leader Bruce Fellman has been introducing people to vernal pool life for almost half-a-century. “As a kid, I liked to jump in puddles,” explained Bruce about his lifelong love of all things aquatic. “I guess I never grew up.”
Directions: Babcock Ridge
For more information, contact the leader at bruce.fellman@yale.edu or 860-599-4867.
To register for the adventure, which is free and open to the public but limited to 25 people, REGISTER HERE. This program tends to fill up quickly, but If there’s sufficient interest, we’ll try to schedule additional walks.

Stewardship Weekend - Saturday April 15 and Sunday April 16, 2023
2023-04-15 - 2023-04-16 | CT
Spring has sprung and it’s time to clean up the trails! If you are itching to get outside, we have multiple opportunities to help clear the trails, remove invasives, and more. Stewardship activities will be on Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16. Times vary by location – see below for preserve locations and details.
In general, bring gloves, bug spray, and loppers (if you have them.) If you don’t have them, that is OK – we try to have extras.
Register here!
Griswold

Date: Sunday April 16, 2023 (rain date Saturday April 22)
Location: Dutka Nature Preserve (Dutka Lane parking lot immediately off Bethel Road on right-hand side)
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Activity: Clearing, cutting, blazing nature trail
What to Bring: Gloves, rakes, bug spray, water, loppers
Leader: Dick Conant (contact details will be sent out to registrants)

Groton

Date: Saturday April 15, 2023 (rain date Sunday April 16)
Location: Leo Antonino Preserve (parking area at the cul de sac at the end of Antonino Road).
Time: 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Activity: Removal of stumps, branches and brush in a large area that will be mowed and replanted this spring. Parking and roadside/trail clean-up
What to Bring: Gloves, bug spray, water, loppers
Leader: Bonnie Castellani (contact details will be sent out to registrants)

North Stonington

Date: Saturday April 15, 2023 (rain date Sunday April 16)
Location: Yannatos/Jones Preserve (parking area between 111 and 117 Clark Falls Road, adjacent to Green Fall River). Carpool if possible.
Time: 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Activity: Parking and riverside area clean-up (invasives and brush), re-routing of small section of trail, and removal of livestock fencing
What to Bring: Gloves, bug spray, water, loppers
Leader: Tobias Glaza (contact details will be sent out to registrants)

Stonington

Date: Saturday April 15, 2023
Location: Copps Brook Preserve (parking just north of 115 Al Harvey Road)
Time: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Activity: Invasive removal, pollinator garden preparation, and trail, fence, and stone wall maintenance
What to Bring: Gloves, bug spray, water, loppers, and/or rake
Leader: Beth Sullivan, Rick Newton, MaryEllen Mateleska (contact details will be sent out to registrants)

Ledyard

Date: Saturday April 15, 2023
Location: Avery Preserve (parking in lot at 32 Avery Hill Road)
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Ages: 12 years and above
Activity: Thinning/release cutting Beech tree saplings
Description: Beech trees in the eastern US are under threat from a number of new and specific pests, both fungal and insect. Beech Bark Disease and Beech leaf disease are examples. The Western parcel of the Avery preserve contains many American Beech trees ranging from very large mature specimens to much smaller saplings usually arising from suckering from roots of more mature trees. There is evidence of early-stage Beech Bark disease on some of the Beech including many of the larger trees. This will be fatal for the trees so infected. Beech Sooty fungus is also prevalent on branches in areas of concentrated tree numbers. The objective of the work party is to cut small saplings to release healthy looking specimens and encourage their growth so that they can eventually replace the infected larger trees.
What to Bring: Gloves, water bottle, hand saw and/or loppers, tick repellant
Leader: Laurie Gorham (contact details will be sent out to registrants)

Register here!

Groton Earth Day Expo Fair
2023-04-22 11:00 - 16:00 | CT
Saturday, April 22, 2023
11 am – 4 pm
at the Groton Public Library
FREE – rain or shine

Visit Avalonia at the Groton Earth Day Expo Fair this Saturday, April 22 at Groton Public Library.

40+ local and regional vendors, kid-friendly activities, vegan food, and speakers throughout the day!

Let’s celebrate Earth Day!

Event Link:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090882395624

Early Emergent Habitat Management: Continuation of the New England Cottontail Work at Appleton Preserve in North Stonington
2023-05-13 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
You are invited to join us on Saturday, May 13th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Appleton Preserve, a part of the larger Bell Cedar Swamp.
We have been working to create and maintain habitat for the New England Cottontail and other fauna on a number of our preserves, in association with the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge initiative. At Appleton Preserve, with our wildlife habitat piles (i.e. bunny piles) built, we turn our focus to the removal of autumn olive, multiflora rose, and black locust, invasive species that have crept into some of the early emergent habitat or “thicket”.
If you’ve assisted with this before, you know that it is not for the faint of heart. We will work in small teams of 2-3 to cut, remove, and treat these invasives. Stump painting with herbicide will be a component of this management effort, although there are plenty of other tasks to be done. Thick clothing and heavy gloves are recommended. Tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. No experience necessary. Plant identification tutorial provided on-site.
Although not required, please consider registering here to assist us in event planning.

Earthfest CT
2023-05-13 11:00 - 16:00 | CT
Avalonia is taking part in this year’s Earthfest CT!
Join us on Saturday, May 13 from 11 am – 4 pm at McCook Point Park in Niantic. We’ll be celebrating the earth at this free event which includes food trucks, music, activities for kids, live animals with our friends at DPNC, and more.
For a full list of organizations participating, visit: http://www.earthdayeverydayct.org

In Preparation for CT Trails Day: A Stewardship Opportunity at Cedar Wood Preserve
2023-05-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Cedar Wood Preserve, 180 North Wawecus Hill Rd., Norwich, CT, 06360, United States
You are invited to join us on the morning of Sunday, May 14th at Cedar Wood Preserve in Norwich as we work to connect our improved parking area to the newly constructed vernal pool walkway. This effort will require some digging, moving, and compacting of processed gravel. Tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own (shovel, mattock, and/or wheelbarrow, for example). Your help will bring us one step closer to increasing accessibility to this beautiful preserve!
The event will start at 9:00 am and teams will accomplish as much as possible until 12:00 pm. There is a small parking area at 180 North Wawecus Hill Road with an overflow parking area nearby. Carpooling is encouraged.
While not required, please consider registering for this event here as it will help in our planning efforts.
Hope to see you on the 14th!

Stewardship Opportunity with Avalonia & Reforest the Tropics
2023-05-20 09:00 - 11:30 | Sheets Family Forest, Puttker Road, North Stonington, CT, United States
Reforest The Tropics and Avalonia are seeking volunteers for a morning of environmental service at Herman E. Sheets Family Forest in North Stonington, Connecticut. Activities include tree planting, trail maintenance, and invasive species removal. Volunteers are asked to bring sturdy gloves and perhaps a tool of choice (loppers, handsaws, pruners).
The event will start at 9:00 am and teams will accomplish as much as possible until 11:30 am.
There is a small parking area on Puttker Road. Carpooling is encouraged.

While not required, please consider registering for this event here as it will help in our planning efforts.
In the afternoon, volunteers are invited to Outer Light Brewery in Groton to enjoy music, games, swag giveaways, a raffle of Eastern Mountain Sports items, and a specially crafted brew called “Klinkii Cold IPA” in support of the Reforest The Tropics program.

Knotweed Removal from Shunock River Complex
2023-05-31 10:00 - 12:00 | CT
The recent late-season frost, while not a friend to the Spring gardeners amongst us, has turned out to be an ally in the management of Japanese knotweed. You may have noticed patches of it along the roadsides withered or stressed from the cold snap. Perfectly timed, as we typically do a Spring cutting and removal of this troublesome and aggressively spreading plant.
Wednesday May 31st from 10-12 we plan to meet at the parking lot across from the North Stonington Town Hall (40 Main Street). Depending on the number of participants, we’ll either walk or carpool (1/4 of a mile) to the Parke Memorial Preserve, one of several that Avalonia stewards along the Shunock River. The parking area at the preserve can only safely accommodate 2 vehicles. There is a fairly steep decline from the trailhead to the work site, but it is otherwise close to and visible from the road.
Gloves and bug repellant are recommended. While tools will be provided for your use, feel free to bring your own set of clippers, loppers, or serrated knife to cut the hollow stems of the knotweed. If you have an old tarp or sheet of plastic that you would be willing to donate to the cause, please bring it along!
To learn more about this noxious weed and various management and disposal practices, visit the Avalonia Stewardship page. Contact tglaza@avalonialc.org for more detail.
Hope to see you on Wednesday!

Hike Cedar Wood Preserve
2023-06-03 11:00 - 12:30 | Cedar Wood Preserve, 180 North Wawecus Hill Rd., Norwich, CT, 06360, United States
CT TRAILS DAY EVENT:
This year, Avalonia’s is hosting three events during the annual Connecticut Trails Day event.
This hike is at one of Avalonia’s newest acquisitions and only Norwich property, Cedar Wood Preserve —47 acres of field, woods, and water. This 1.4-mile hike goes through an upper trail with open fields and good birding opportunities and through a lower forested trail. This will be a moderate hike with some hills/slopes and a narrow, somewhat precarious path crossing a dam in the forested section. As funding becomes available, Avalonia plans to create maximum accessibility on the mostly flat upper trail.
Avalonia is hosting this adventure, but please register on the CT TRAILS DAY website. Registration opens May 10th.

Accessibility Note
Parking: Off-street lot with room for about 4 cars. Lot is located at trailhead. Accessible space. Parking available on side of road.
Trails: Long entry bridge with ramps not yet installed. Initial area has some rocky spots, but most upper trails are grassy and at least 4 feet wide, with some dips and slopes. Some protrusions. Lower forested trails are hilly with numerous protrusions and tripping hazards.
Communication: This walk will be amplified.
Avalonia Accessibility Statement
Accessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman (860) 884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com

Double Stroll Through The Herman E. Sheets Family Forest
2023-06-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Sheets Family Forest, Puttker Road, North Stonington, CT, United States
CT TRAILS DAY EVENT:
This year, Avalonia’s is hosting three events during the annual Connecticut Trails Day event.
This event is an adventure at The Herman E. Sheets Family Forest, an 87-acre picturesque preserve that lies adjacent to the Green Fall River which opened last year. It’s a mixed forest with ponds and brooks to be crossed by bridges.
The hike will start out on the yellow trail (south loop). After about 0.75 miles, folks may continue on the south loop to complete an easier 1.4-mile hike, while others may take the red trail (north loop) which will result in a moderate 2.8-mile hike. There will be leaders for both of these options.
Avalonia is hosting this adventure, but please register on the CT TRAILS DAY website. Registration opens May 10th.

Accessibility Note
Parking: Grassy off-street lot with room for about 6 cars. No accessible space. Location is adjacent to trailhead. On-street parking.
Trails: Narrow, steep, compacted soil, with some protrusions.
Communication: No communication aids or services scheduled for this walk.
Avalonia Accessibility Statement
Accessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman (860) 884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com

Beavers, Bird Calls, and Brilliant Bugs
2023-06-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Babcock Ridge, 113 Babcock Road, North Stonington, CT, United States
CT TRAILS DAY EVENT:
This year, Avalonia’s is hosting three events during the annual Connecticut Trails Day event.
Join Avalonia naturalist Bruce Fellman for this special family-friendly exploration of two adjoining refuges (Babcock Ridge and D.R. Henne Memorial & Shunock Brook Preserves), which are among the Conservancy’s most ecologically diverse preserves. Accompanying us on this gentle, two-mile hike is sign-language interpreter Joy Valenti, who’s experienced in making nature accessible to the D/deaf/hard of hearing community. In addition to ASL interpretation, this hike will use amplification to ensure hikers can hear Bruce’s information and guidance.
We’ll comb the uplands for its array of wildflowers, amphibians, reptiles, and colorful songbirds and see how to convert bird calls into accessible sound prints. We’ll also examine the beaver-created wetlands, home to a large and thriving Great Blue Heron rookery and an abundance of dragonflies and butterflies, and learn, first hand, how these “eager” rodents have transformed local habitats throughout North America. This is a typical woodland trail, with some rocks and roots. It is up-and-down terrain, not flat but not steep; fairly wide, allowing for walking two abreast.
Meet leader and veteran naturalist Bruce Fellman at 113 Babcock Road (0.9 miles from Wyassup Road or 0.8 miles from Route 49). The parking area is on the north side of the road. The trailhead for the Babcock part of the walk is here; the trailhead for the Henne walk is nearby.
Rain postpones to June 3, 10:30 AM. For more information, visit the CTFPA’s website. The event is part of National Trails Day, which in Connecticut is coordinated by the CT Forest and Park Association.
Avalonia is hosting this adventure, but please register on the CT TRAILS DAY website. Registration opens May 10th. Pre-registration is recommended and can be done by contacting walk leader Bruce Fellman at (860) 599-4867 or fellnature@sbcglobal.net.
Accessibility Note
Parking: Small off-street lot, packed dirt surface, no accessible space, room for 7-8 cars. Lot located at Babcock Ridge Preserve trailhead about 100 feet from Henne Preserve trailhead. Additional parking available along the road.
Trails: Narrow in spots, some slopes, some protrusions into pathway, occasional wet areas.
Communication: This walk will be amplified and sign language interpreted, and will include live sonograms that provide pictorial representation of birdcalls.
Avalonia Accessibility Statement
Accessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman (860) 884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com

White Oak Restoration - A Second Day of Planting
2023-06-12 | Sheets Family Forest, Puttker Road, North Stonington, CT, United States
If you weren’t able to make it to last month’s white oak planting, you have another chance!
On Monday June 12th we’ve planned a morning of environmental restoration at Herman E. Sheets Family Forest in North Stonington, Connecticut. We will focus on planting, protecting, and watering approximately 50 white oak seedling. Volunteers are asked to bring gloves, sturdy footwear, drinking water, and bug spray. Shovels and other planting tools will be provided. No experience necessary!
The event will start at 9:00 am and we’ll will accomplish as much as possible until 12:00 pm. There is no expectation of rain, as of yet!
Please use the parking area on Puttker Road and we will carpool to the Loin Hill entrance.

While not required, consider registering for this event here as it will help in our planning efforts.

Morning work, Monday June 26th, at our model climate resilient forest, the Hoffman Preserve, in Stonington
2023-06-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Hoffman Evergreen Preserve, 580-632 CT-201, Stonington, CT, 06378, United States
In 2018 Avalonia initiated a climate resiliency forestry plan at this preserve, including the planting of many tree species projected to do well in the face of ongoing climate change. While most of these have succeeded in becoming established, we do need to help them out by cutting back surrounding vegetation, including grey birch suckers and saplings.
Please consider joining us on Monday, June 26th from 9-12 at the Hoffman Preserve. Parking will be at the southern entrance off Route 201. Sturdy footwear, bug/tick repellant, and drinking water are recommended. Feel free to bring your favorite pair of loppers, but extra loppers and other tools will be available for your use. No experience necessary. If you haven’t volunteered with us before, this is a perfect entry point into Avalonia conservation and stewardship efforts. You’ll have an opportunity to do a bit of hiking, learn more about on-the-ground climate resiliency work, and help us to give these seedlings every advantage!
While not required, consider registering here, so that we might better plan for this event.

CLCC Community Engagement Award Celebration at Cedar Wood Preserve
2023-07-08 12:00 | Cedar Wood Preserve, 180 North Wawecus Hill Rd., Norwich, CT, 06360, United States
Join us for a ceremony honoring Avalonia Land Conservancy for winning the Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s 2023 Excellence in Community Engagement Award.
Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 12 PM
at Cedar Wood Preserve in Norwich, CT
Rain Date: Sunday, July 9 at 12:00 PM
The ceremony, co-sponsored by Avalonia Land Conservancy and the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, will feature brief statements by elected officials and will include performances by vocalists Teresa Eickel and Jaime Hamel, as well as dancers from the youth performance group Blooming Into Greatness. This will be followed by an optional guided ½ mile walk through the relatively flat upper trails of the Preserve.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Limited seating will be available.

About Cedar Wood Preserve
The parking lot is at 180 North Wawecus Hill Road in Norwich. The lot has room for four vehicles and is located at the trailhead. Additional parking is available on the side of the road. Click here for more information about Cedar Wood Preserve.

Accessibility Note
Parking: A short, steep, crushed stone driveway leads to the lot. One of the four spaces is accessible for people with disabilities.
Trail: The upper trail is grassy and relatively level, with occasional dips; most areas of the trail are about four feet wide.
Communication: This event, including the walk, will be amplified and sign language interpreted.
If you have questions regarding the accessibility of this event, please email Avalonia at Accessibility@avalonialc.org or call 860-884-3500. For Avalonia’s Accessibility Statement, please visit our website.

Explore the Preston Nature Preserve's Field of Natural History Dreams
2023-08-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Preston Nature Preserve, Krug Road, Preston, CT, United States
Explore Preston Nature Preserve’s Field of Natural History Dreams
Don’t be fooled: a natural meadow may look like an unkempt lawn that a lazy homeowner has taken a holiday from mowing, but look closer and you’ll discover an amazing and fascinating array of biological diversity.
The Preston Nature Preserve (PNP) offers explorers a pathway through several interconnected meadows that are at their prettiest in August. On Saturday, August 5th, from 10 a.m. to at least noon, Avalonia naturalist Bruce Fellman will guide visitors on a leisurely tour of the 56-acre refuge’s treasure trove of native plants, insects, and birds that thrive in the fields, as well as in the surrounding woods and wetlands. The botanical star of the meadow show is an expanse of Bee Balm, a native member of the mint family whose showy pink, red, and purple flowers are butterfly, bee, and beetle magnets. If we’re lucky and patient, we’re often blessed with sightings of hummingbird moths, pint-sized hummer mimics that find Bee Balm blooms irresistible—and this is just the tip of the floral iceberg. Joe Pye Weed, goldenrod, native grass, thistle, and aster flowers will also be bringing in the pollinators. The milkweeds, though past their blossom time, will still be attracting Monarch butterflies, whose eggs and leaf-eating caterpillars we’ll seek. Last but hardly least, the PNP banquet usually includes a variety of dragonflies, birds, frogs, and even a deer or two.
Bring binoculars, hand lenses, cameras, notebooks, your natural history curiosity, and, if you have them, your kids and grandkids. Don’t forget the sunscreen, bug spray, water, and a hat—it’s an easy 1.5 mile hike, but it can be bright and hot in the fields. Rain date Sunday August 6. For more information, contact Bruce Fellman, 860-599-4867, or bruce.fellman@yale.edu.
Register Here
Accessibility Note
Parking: Ample off-street lot, grass surface, room for about a dozen cars, no parking space accessible to people with disabilities. Lot located on 38 Krug Road at the PNP trailhead. Additional parking available along Krug Road.
Trails: Mostly mowed grass surface pathways through open meadows, some slopes, wide enough for several people to traverse side-by-side. One quarter-mile stretch of trail through upland woods, hilly and narrow, with some roots and rocks in the pathway, as well as occasional protruding branches.
Communication: This walk will be amplified (Bruce will use a portable microphone system), with sign language interpretation available upon request. It will include sonograms of bird calls that we hear to provide pictorial representations of their songs.
Avalonia Accessibility Statement: https://avalonia.org/accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-statement/ If you have questions on the accessibility of this event, please call Avalonia at 860-884-3500 or email accessibility@avalonia.org.

Photo credit: Bruce Fellman

An Introduction to Stewardship at Avalonia's Newest Preserve- Hunter Brook in Norwich!
2023-08-20 | CT
Join us Sunday morning, August 20th from 9:00 -12:00, on a visit to Avalonia’s recently acquired Hunter Brook Preserve in Norwich and be a part of our initial efforts at managing this beautiful 27-acre preserve!
Whether you are new to Avalonia or a longtime volunteer this will be chance to get acquainted with (or reacquainted with) some of the basics of preserve stewardship to include trail maintenance, boundary posting, invasive plant identification and removal techniques, and general preserve monitoring. We also hope to install the new preserve sign adjacent to the trailhead.
Volunteers are asked to bring gloves, sturdy footwear, drinking water, and bug spray. If you have loppers or clippers feel free to bring them. Extra tools will be available on site. No experience necessary!
This is meant to be an informal introduction combined with some light work. Just as important, it will be a time to meet new people and, hopefully, an opportunity to learn from and share with our new neighbors along Hunter Brook!
The event will start at 9:00 am and we’ll will accomplish as much as possible until 12:00 pm. There is no expectation of rain, as of yet!
We will meet at the informal parking area, between 163 and 139 on Hunter’s Road.
Consider registering here. Although it is not required, it can help us in preparing for the event.

Join Us to Paint the Preserve at Knox Preserve
2023-09-09 09:00 - 11:30 | Knox Preserve, Wilcox Road, Stonington, CT, 06378, United States
Knox Preserve in Stonington is a former farm that runs along Quiambog Cove, just off Route 1 on Wilcox Road. With sweeping views of old orchards, fields, and of course the cove itself, it’s an idyllic place for an outdoor painting event.

Join Avalonia’s Office Manager, Mary Anne Sherman, who will lead artists on a short hike through the preserve to spots overlooking the meadows and cove. Artists of all skill levels and mediums are invited. Learn from and share with other artists, enjoy being in nature, and create your next masterpiece. We will meet at the entrance to the Preserve, hike a short distance, and paint to our heart’s content.

This is the first of two Paint the Preserve events planned: the second event will be on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Preston Nature Preserve.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Suggestions: Bring your own easel and painting equipment, water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Parking: Park along the right side of Wilcox Road, approximately 200 feet south of Route 1. The preserve is across the road.
Trails: This is a short hike with an elevation of less than 50 feet on mowed grass or packed dirt with some roots and rocks in the pathway, as well as occasional protruding branches.
In case of inclement weather, participants will be notified of a cancellation via email no later than 2 hours before the event.
Avalonia Accessibility Statement
https://avalonia.org/accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-statement/
For more information, please contact Mary Anne Sherman at info@avalonialc.com or (860) 884-3500.

Knotweed Management at Shunock River Complex
2023-09-16 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
We have been following the Nix the Knotweed management protocols at this preserve and it is time for the third and final cutting of Japanese knotweed for the year!
On Saturday September 16th at 9:00 we plan to meet at the parking lot across from the North Stonington Town Hall (40 Main Street). Depending on the number of participants, we’ll either walk or carpool (less than a 1/4 of a mile) to the Parke Memorial Preserve, one of several that Avalonia stewards along the Shunock River. The parking area at the preserve can only safely accommodate 2 vehicles. There is a fairly steep decline from the trailhead to the work site, but it is otherwise close to and visible from the road.
We hope to spend several hours cutting this hollow stemmed invasive at its base and piling the cut stalks for drying and later removal.
Gloves and bug repellant are recommended. While tools will be provided for your use, feel free to bring your own set of clippers, loppers, or serrated knife to cut the hollow stems of the knotweed. If you have an old tarp or sheet of plastic that you would be willing to donate to the cause, please bring it along!
To learn more about this noxious weed and various management and disposal practices, visit the Avalonia Stewardship page. Contact tglaza@avalonialc.org for more detail.
Although not required, please consider registering here to assist us in event planning.
Hope to see you on Saturday!

Early Emergent Habitat Management: Continuation of the New England Cottontail Work at Appleton Preserve in North Stonington
2023-09-20 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
You are invited to join us on Wednesday, September 20th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Appleton Preserve, a part of the larger Bell Cedar Swamp.
We have been working to create and maintain habitat for the New England Cottontail and other fauna on a number of our preserves, in association with the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge initiative. At Appleton Preserve, with our wildlife habitat piles (i.e. bunny piles) built, we turn our focus to the removal of autumn olive, multiflora rose, and black locust, invasive species that have crept into some of the early emergent habitat or “thicket”.
If you’ve assisted with this before, you know that it is not for the faint of heart. We will work in small teams of 2-3 to cut, remove, and treat these invasives. Stump painting with herbicide will be a component of this management effort, although there are plenty of other tasks to be done. Thick clothing, sturdy footwear, and heavy gloves are recommended. Tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. No experience necessary. Plant identification tutorial provided on-site.
Although not required, please consider registering here to assist us in event planning.

Fledglings: A Nature Experience for Children 2-5 *CANCELLED*
2023-09-23 10:00 - 11:30 | Cedar Wood Preserve, 180 North Wawecus Hill Rd., Norwich, CT, 06360, United States
*THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED*
Children ages 2-5 (and their adults) are invited to join naturalist and educator Beth Sullivan and Avalonia Board member Elanah Sherman for a walk through the relatively flat trails at Norwich’s Cedar Wood Preserve. On this walk, we are going to use our senses to check out EVERYTHING! There is so much to see at this time of year: flowers and other plants; maybe some animals; and all sorts of insects! We will think about how everything in nature seems connected: birds and trees, bees and flowers, butterflies and milkweed. And we will think about changes the seasons might bring to them all. After the walk, we will gather at the trailhead for a craft project: creating seed bombs.
This event is limited to 8 – 10 children. All children must be accompanied by adults. Sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required. Bug repellant is strongly recommended and will be available at the event. Rain date September 24, 10-11:30
Accessibility Note:
Parking: Off-street lot with room for about 4 cars. One space is accessible to people with disabilities. The lot is located at trailhead. Parking is also available by the side of the road.
Trails: Long entry boardwalk with step at each end. (Accessible pathway to boardwalk has not yet been installed.) Some rocky spots at initial trail area, then grassy trails about 4 feet wide, with some dips and slopes. Some protrusions and tripping hazards.
Communication: This walk will be amplified. Sign language interpretation available upon request.
Avalonia Accessibility Statement
This free event is co-sponsored by the City of Norwich.
For more information, please contact Mary Anne Sherman at info@avalonialc.com or 860-884-3500.

Hike & Seek and Beyond at Preston Nature Preserve
2023-09-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Preston Nature Preserve, Krug Road, Preston, CT, United States
Enjoy a late September Hike (& Seek) at Preston Nature Preserve, one of Avalonia’s 27 Hike & Seek properties. Hike & Seek is a fun, non-competitive outdoor scavenger hunt. Learn about the nature of the Preserve while using clues to find the items listed. We will provide a trail map with clues or visit the Hike & Seek page for Preston Nature Preserve on our website where you will find a trail map and the Hike & Seek clues. Explore at your own pace and come up with your own clues for new Hike & Seek targets.
Long-time Avalonia volunteer and Groton Town committee member Joellen Anderson will meet you at the trailhead to explain what to look for on the trails. She’ll also tell you about Avalonia and the history of Preston Nature Preserve before you set off on your self-guided adventure. After your hike, let us know how many targets you found and what new ones you’d like to add. Share your photos on Instagram. Be sure to tag @avalonialandconservancy and include #MyAvalonia
PLEASE REGISTER HERE
Trails: Mostly mowed grass surface pathways through open meadows, some slopes, wide enough for several people to traverse side-by-side. One quarter-mile stretch of trail through upland woods, hilly and narrow, with some roots and rocks in the pathway, as well as occasional protruding branches. Some side trails not mowed may be more of a challenge.
Parking: Ample off-street lot, grass surface, room for about a dozen cars, no parking space accessible to people with disabilities. Lot is located on 38 Krug Road at the PNP trailhead. Additional parking is available along Krug Road.
Avalonia’s Accessibility Statement
For more information, please contact Mary Anne Sherman at info@avalonialc.com or (860) 884-3500.

Early Emergent Habitat Management at Appleton Preserve (Bell Cedar Swamp)- Take 2
2023-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
You are invited to join us on Tuesday, September 26th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Appleton Preserve, a part of the larger Bell Cedar Swamp.
We have been working to create and maintain habitat for the New England Cottontail and other fauna on a number of our preserves, in association with the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge initiative. At Appleton Preserve, with our wildlife habitat piles (i.e. bunny piles) built, we turn our focus to the removal of autumn olive, multiflora rose, and black locust, invasive species that have crept into some of the early emergent habitat or “thicket”. OUr focus will be on reclaiming/restoring a 2-acre open area or meadow.
If you’ve assisted with this before, you know that it is not for the faint of heart. We will work in small teams of 2-3 to cut, remove, and treat these invasives. Stump painting with herbicide will be a component of this management effort, although there are plenty of other tasks to be done. Thick clothing, sturdy footwear, and heavy gloves are recommended. Tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. No experience necessary. Plant identification tutorial provided on-site.
There is a small parking area adjacent to 64 Boombridge Road, North Stonington. We will meet there. Vehicles with higher clearance/4×4 may continue past the gate, down the access road to the work site, otherwise we can walk down together. Carpooling is encouraged.
Although not required, please consider registering here to assist us in event planning.

Join Us to Paint the Preserve at Preston Nature Preserve *CANCELLED*
2023-10-07 09:00 - 11:30 | Preston Nature Preserve, Krug Road, Preston, CT, United States
*THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED*
Join fellow artists and Avalonia’s Office Manager, Mary Anne Sherman, who will lead you on a short hike through the Preston Nature Preserve to paint en plein air. It’s an idyllic place for an outdoor painting event. Artists of all skill levels and mediums are invited. Learn from and share with other artists, enjoy being in nature, and create your next masterpiece. We will meet at the parking area, hike a short distance, and paint to our heart’s content.

This is the second of two Paint the Preserve events. The first event is planned for Knox Preserve in Stonington on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Suggestions: Bring your own easel and painting equipment, water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Parking: Ample off-street lot, grass surface, room for about a dozen cars, no parking space accessible to people with disabilities. The lot is located on 38 Krug Road at the PNP trailhead. Additional parking is available along Krug Road.
Trails: Mostly mowed grass surface pathways through open meadows, some slopes, some areas with roots and rocks in the pathway, as well as occasional protruding branches.
In case of inclement weather, participants will be notified of a cancellation via email no later than 2 hours before the event.
Avalonia Accessibility Statement
For more information, please contact Mary Anne Sherman at info@avalonialc.com or (860) 884-3500.

Fall Clean-up of Avery Preserve Parking Area
2023-10-14 09:00 - 11:00 | CT
Work Party!!!
Avery Preserve Parking Area
Saturday, October 14th, 9-11 am (or until we get tired).
Our efforts will be focused on clearing the sightlines inside and outside of the parking area. Over the years it has been a challenge to keep this spot open and the encroaching vegetation at bay. With increased visibility, both entering and exiting the preserve will be safer and will allow for more maneuverability within the lot itself. This improvement will also serve to discourage unauthorized dumping in the area.

If you can make it, bring gloves and loppers or pruners if you have them, or any other brush removal device (cordless hedge trimmers, for example). Come when you can and work at your own pace.

To limit the number of vehicles in our work area, we will meet at the Avery Cemetery at the corner of Avery Hill Road and 214 (Stoddards Wharf Road) and either carpool, drop-off, or walk from there. We plan to close the preserve parking area to the public for the duration of the work party. There is no rain date set for this event, so hopefully the weather holds.

Please consider setting aside additional time to explore this beautiful preserve!
Hope to see you on the 14th!

Documenting Discoveries at Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve
2023-10-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Tefftweald at Birchenturn, 282 Grindstone Hill Road, North Stonington, CT, 06359, United States
RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 / 10 AM – 12 PM
Documenting discoveries on the trail is a key skill that needs to be in every naturalist’s toolkit. We’ll have plenty to observe and record as we enjoy the fall colors at Avalonia’s Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve on 280 Grindstone Hill Road.
Tefftweald, a former Girl Scout camp, is a 77-acre masterpiece of upland forest, meadows, wetlands, old graveyards and cellar holes, and the wonderfully photogenic Wyassup Brook.
This is a family-friendly excursion, and we’ll explore the woodland trails at a pace moderate enough to give the Preserve a close read and capture the experience in whatever form, from pen and ink on paper to digital drawings, photos, and text entered on a smart device, your journaling takes. Walk leader Bruce Fellman is a veteran photojournalist, naturalist, and documentarian who has kept and published a weekly Naturalist’s Journal in a number of local newspapers for the past 45 years.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE
For more information, e-mail Bruce Fellman at fellnature@scbglobal.net, or call 860-599-4867.
In case of inclement weather, participants will be notified of a cancellation via email no later than 2 hours before the event.

Accessibility Note

Parking: Small lot located about 100 yards down an unnamed gravel-and-dirt side street off of Grindstone Hill Road (approximately 281 Grindstone Hill Road) at the start of the Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve’s main trail. Lot with packed dirt surface, no accessible space, room for 8–10 cars. Additional parking is available along the road.

Trails: Narrow in spots, some slopes, some protrusions into pathway, occasional wet areas, and occasional off-trail walking.

Communication: This walk will be amplified and sign language interpreted.

Accessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman, 860-884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com.

Avalonia’s Accessibility Statement

Volunteer work party at our model climate resilient forest, the Hoffman Preserve, in Stonington
2023-11-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Hoffman Evergreen Preserve, 580-632 CT-201, Stonington, CT, 06378, United States
In 2018 Avalonia initiated a climate resiliency forestry plan at this preserve, including the planting of many tree species projected to do well in the face of ongoing climate change. While most of these have succeeded in becoming established, we do need to help them out by cutting back surrounding vegetation, including grey birch suckers and saplings.
Please consider joining us on Sunday, November 19th from 9-12 at the Hoffman Preserve. If you haven’t volunteered with us before, this is a perfect entry point into Avalonia conservation and stewardship efforts. You’ll have an opportunity to do a bit of hiking, learn more about on-the-ground climate resiliency work, and help us to give our planted seedlings/saplings every advantage!
Parking will be at the southernmost entrance off of Route 201, the usual place for those of you who have joined us before. Sturdy footwear, gloves, and drinking water are recommended. Feel free to bring your favorite pair of loppers, but extra tools will be available for your use. If you have experience and the necessary PPE, brush saws and small chainsaws are also particularly effective tools for this sort of work.
Work at your own pace and stay for as long as your time and energy allow. It looks, for now, like it will be perfect weather for this sort of work. There is no rain date scheduled.

Avalonia Annual Members Meeting 2023
2023-12-03 16:00 - 18:00 | CT
Join us for Avalonia’s 2023 Annual Members Meeting on Sunday, December 3 from 4 – 6 pm.

The event is at Fellowship Hall in the Ledyard Congregational Church.
722 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, CT.
Light refreshments will be served.

Accessibility Note:
Structural: Accessible parking, entrances, and bathroom stalls.
Communication: Program will be amplified. For sign language interpretation or written material in alternative format, please submit your request by 11/27/23.
For more info, contact: accessibility@avalonialc.org or call (860) 884-3500.

RSVPs are required. Please email avalonialc@yahoo.com by 11/25.

Avalonia's 2024 Membership Drive
2024-01-26 - 2024-03-31 | CT
Our team is shivering with excitement! January has proven to be a busy and productive time as we plan 2024. From upcoming acquisitions to engaging events, there’s a lot to look forward to.

Join Avalonia or renew your membership to support the important initiatives on the horizon that will help preserve and protect the natural beauty that surrounds us. Don’t miss out on all that’s ahead!

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
