The 36.4-acre Woodward Nature Preserve, an important part of the Bethany’s northwest corner greenway, was obtained by the Land Trust as a subdivision set-aside. Natural features include rocky ridges, vernal pools, and an extensive wetlands with an outlet stream that empties into the beaver pond in Mendell’s Folly. The wooded areas are in an understory reinitiation stage of forest succession following activity related to gravel extraction.
The Woodland Nature Preserve is part of continuous forest block of 186 acres, whose geometry fosters sensitive forest-interior-dwelling wildlife and whose size serves as both reservoirs of diversity and as sources for wildlife that will range beyond the preserve’s borders. Like the adjacent Grobe Preserve, the primary cover type is deciduous forest of mainly oak, maple, birch, hickory, black cherry, and tulip poplar with an occasional small groves of eastern hemlock seen.
The wetlands area provides extensive habitat for amphibians and other species. In addition to the outlet stream, it has been suggested that a subsuface groundwater connection exists with the wetlands in Mendell’s Folly.
Trails:
The Woodward Trail (1 mile; difficult) from Mesa drive passes through a narrow access corridor and climbs over 100 feet past a vernal pool up to the top of a ridge. From there, it descends to some dirt paths around the wetlands back to the Northrup Road entrance. Connections exist from this trail with Mendell’s Folly via the Red Trail (0.2 miles; moderate) and the Grobe Preserve via the Green Grobe Gadabout Trail.
Address: Mesa Drive, Bethany CT (adjacent to 46 Mesa Drive)
Size: 36.4 acres
Parking: Roadside parking is available on Mesa Drive; trail entrance is adjacent to 46 Mesa Drive. Another entrance is at the end of the paved portion of Northrup Road, with access through a gate onto the abandoned portion of the road.
Trail Map
Gallery
