News and Events

Patty Wey of Bethany has meticulously restored wooden marquee signs for two Land Trust preserves, the Edna L. Delano Nature Sanctuary on Amity Road across from the library and the Podgwaite Preserve in the northeast corner of the junction of Routes 69 and 42.  Constructed and installed over two decades ago, both signs had weathered, their faded green lettering barely readable from the road. After prepping, sanding and restaining the wood, Patty painted the faded logo and lettering a vibrant green, finishing with an application of polyurethane. Patty said, “I am very happy I could help the Land Trust.” The Land Trust is indebted to Patty and to our many other active volunteers, who help us continue to be Bethany’s Link to Nature.

At the May Town Meeting, Ali Beres-Nork was recognized as Bethany’s 2025 Conservationist of Year Presented each year by the Conservation Commission recognizes excellence in environmental protection or significant contributions to the advancement of conservation Ali with her son, Evan Nominated by one of her students at Amity High School, Ali is an environmental science teacher, passionate about inspiring a love for science and the natural world.  Her students have volunteered to clear invasive plants from Bethany’s trails and they help maintain the campus pollinator garden she created.  She has also created a food rescue initiative through which thousands of pounds of donated school cafeteria food and drink have been given to Haven’s Harvest, an organization dedicated to reducing food waste. Ali also serves as a member of the Bethany Conservation Commission, the Sustainable Bethany Committee and the Bethany Land Trust Board of Directors. As a CT State Master Naturalist, Ali leads hikes and delivers lectures on ecology and natural history.  She holds two master’s degrees, one in science education and the other in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences. Currently, she is seeking her PhD in Environmental Experiential Learning at the University of Idaho.

Using funds from two grants, the Town of Bethany has purchased 50.88 acres of undeveloped land from the Simpson family. Back in 2018, applications for two grants written by the Land Trust and submitted by the town were approved: one from the State of Connecticut’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) Grant Program and the other from Audubon Connecticut In-lieu Fee Program. The town closed on the property in early May.  The Simpson Preserve is bordered on three sides by open space, including Bethany Veterans Memorial Park and three open space preserves of the Bethany Land Trust. Public access to the preserve exists from the Veteran’s Memorial Park parking lot, the ends of both Lebanon and Northrup Roads as well as trails from the Land Trust preserves. With the addition of these 50 plus acres, there are now almost 400 acres of contiguous protected open space on that side of Beacon Road.  Numerous at-risk species have been observed in the vicinity, including the American woodcock, Virginia Rail, Two-lined skink and Wood turtle, and preservation will serve to protect their habitat.  While owned by the town, the Simpson Preserve will be managed by the Bethany Land Trust per a stipulation in…

After weeks of planning and construction, the Wild Bunch, under the direction of master carpenter Bart Piccirillo, has finished building a new bridge, replacing a series of inundated stepstones. This one crosses Hockanum Brook below the beaver dam in Mendell’s Folly.  After constructing gabions, metal cages filled with stones that support the bridge on both shorelines, the trail crew floated the bridge support beams to the site via boat and carried bridge decking through the woods. To provide access to the bridge from the trail, the crew created wooden steps and stone ramps, pulling large stones from the brook using a rope and sling. Those hiking in Mendell’s can now walk across Hockanum Brook without the concerns of getting wet.

Enclosed in a handsome display case crafted by master carpenter Bart Piccirillo, the Three Sister’s Preserve historical boundary stone has found a permanent home at the Clark Memorial Library across from the upstairs circulation desk.  This historical boundary stone once marked the location (circled in red on the map) where the boundaries of Bethany, Naugatuck, and Prospect meet at the head of a steep ravine in the Bethany Land Trust’s Three Sisters Preserve. The site marked later by the stone was also the location of a long-gone chestnut tree with three trunks that served as a reference point for Native Americans, and later the colonies. The Land Trust and the neighbors whose properties share the historical boundary site are grateful to the Clark Memorial Library for providing a home for this historical treasure.

Thanks to the generosity of over 50 donors and a match of $15,000 from an anonymous donor, the Land Trust is happy to announce that we’ve raised over $21,000 through the Great Give® 2025 held in early May.  We are very grateful to those who supported us during this campaign. The Land Trust plans to use Great Give donations towards the purchase of a large tract of forest that abuts one of our established preserves. When sufficient funds are raised, the Land Trust will be able to: Protect critical habitat within a wildlife corridor Safeguard the land from potential development and degradation Protect a boisterous stream flowing through a rocky gorge Connect with hiking trails in another Land Trust preserve Provide a sanctuary for future generations to explore and enjoy Thanks once again to our donors for your generosity.