News and Events

Last week we worked at the 101 Russell Rd parking area and Hidden Brook Preserve.  A waiting pile of wood chips was distributed, and a second delivery arrived and was spread while we were there.  The Japanese Knotweed at Hidden Brook was pulled up.  And the driveway entrance area was addressed.  We removed the poison ivy and debris. The stone wall was cleaned up and finished with squared off stonework at the edge of the driveway.  This week we are going to Three Sisters Preserve, where a hike is scheduled for June 14 as part of the Bethany 250th celebration.  Projects include: picking… Read more: Wednesday June 3rd

Mendell’s Folly Birding Hike Helped Connect New Haven Youth to the Wonders of Wetlands On Friday, April 17, members from the Boys and Girls Club of New Haven hiked 1.7-miles through Mendell’s Folly and the Simpson Preserve during their Spring Break Camp. The outing was sponsored by the New Haven Bird Club and the Black Wing Coalition with support from Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC).  The group consisted of 13 middle school students, all filled with curiosity and excitement. After a lesson on using binoculars, the group observed red-winged blackbirds and wood ducks and overall, identified a total of 15… Read more: June Bulletin Article

Hike the new loop trails to get a commemorative pin and a Bethany Land Trust T-shirt. To earn a coveted spot in the Bethany Land Trust Loop Trail Hall of Fame, hikers must complete hiking both scenic loop trails: the 4.4-mile Southern Blue Loop Trail and the 4.2-mile Northern Green Loop Trail.  Detailed maps with parking for the trails including GPS maps for use with hiking apps can be found on the Land Trust website. Each trail offers unique landscapes and challenges, providing an enriching outdoor experience for those who seek adventure and connection with nature in Bethany.  The 4.4-mile Southern… Read more: Join the Bethany Land Trust Loop Trail Hall of Fame

After a couple of years of planning, the Land Trust has opened two brand-new loop hiking trails designed to connect a variety of preserves and open spaces across Bethany and neighboring towns. The 4.4-mile Blue Loop Trail, located in the southern part of town connects the Bethany Farms parcels with several others. A shorter loop will be available for those choosing not to do the 4.4-mile loop. To register: contact Bob Harrison by April 10th via cell at 203-506-5888 or bjh51box@gmail.com Parking: We will meet at the new Hidden Brook Parking Area at 101 Russell Road in Bethany at 1:00… Read more: Join Us for the Southern Blue Loop Trail Hike Sunday May 3, 1-4 PM

While many people think fall is New England’s finest season, with its gorgeous display of foliage, I’m here to argue that April and May put on an equally fabulous show. Nothing beats lengthening days, choruses of frogs, and, most beautifully, spring ephemerals! I recently visited the Simpson property and Mendell’s Folly, and I was excited to spot many early blooms, including trout lily, bloodroot, wild violets, and azure bluets. The term “ephemeral” comes from a Greek word meaning “lasting only a day” and refers to how briefly these special flowers appear above ground each spring. These little beauties all race… Read more: April Naturalist’s Notes 4/18/2026

Exciting News for Outdoor Enthusiasts Land Trust Unveils Two New Loop Hiking Trails After a couple of years of planning, the Land Trust has opened two brand-new loop hiking trails designed to connect a variety of preserves and open spaces across Bethany and neighboring towns.  Using existing trails, these thoughtfully planned loops—the 4.4-mile Southern Blue Loop Trail and the 4.2-mile Northern Green Loop Trail—offer hikers a unique opportunity to explore scenic landscapes while enjoying convenient access and clearly marked routes.  The new loop trails align with Bethany’s Plan of Conservation and Development, which recommends creating interconnected, town-wide trail networks and connections to… Read more: Loop Trails Now Available

Van Epps Preserve 390 Beacon Rd, Bethany We’re back on the trails after a long winter! Join us for the second hike of 2026! We will be doing a loop hike of about 2 miles that begins in the Van Epps Preserve and then into the abutting Naugatuck State Forest along the Blue Trail on the ridge before returning to Van Epps. All are welcome but please leave your pets at home. Inclement weather will cancel. Space limited to 25 registered hikers. Register early – 10 people have already signed up! Carpool if you can! Parking: We will meet at… Read more: Welcome Spring April Hike  Sunday, April 12th, 1-3 PM

On January 1st, the Bethany Land Trust started the new year with a First Day Hike, guiding 27 hikers along newly rerouted trails in the Simpson Preserve and through Veterans Memorial Park. From there, we climbed into the woods above the lake to the Bethany Bog, enjoying a bright, sunny day despite chilly temperatures in the 20s. A recent snowfall made the hike especially fun, as we were rewarded with animal tracks in the snow. While areas of melting and refreezing blurred some prints, several tracks were fresh and clear enough to identify. Of particular interest were deer and coyote… Read more: Naturalist’s Notes February 2026

Celebrate the beginning of 2026 by joining the First Day Hike along the trails in Veterans Memorial Park and in the Town’s newly acquired Simpson Preserve. This hike, co-sponsored with Bethany Conservation Commission, will take hikers through rerouted trails in the Simpson Preserve that lead to the uplands near the Woodward Nature Preserve. From there, the hike will proceed to trails in Veterans Memorial Park, climbing up to near the Bethany Bog in the woods above the lake. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes for this hike of about 3 miles.  To register: contact Bob Harrison by Tuesday December 30th via cell at… Read more: First Day Hike – Simpson Preserve and Veterans Memorial Park – New Year’s Day 1-4 PM

Join us for a walk along the trails in Veterans Memorial Park and in the Town’s newly acquired Simpson Preserve, two parcels totaling close to 200 acres owned by the town. This hike, co-sponsored with Bethany Conservation Commission, will take hikers through newly rerouted trails in the Simpson Preserve that lead to the uplands adjacent to the Woodward Nature Preserve. We will then proceed to trails in Veterans Memorial Park above the lake. Expect a walk of about two miles.  To register: contact Bob Harrison by October 10th via cell at 203-506-5888 or bjh51box@gmail.com Parking: Veterans Memorial Park, 265 Beacon Rd (Route 42), Bethany;… Read more: Simpson Preserve and Veterans Memorial Park Hike – Sunday Oct. 12, 1-3 PM

As announced this spring, the Town of Bethany has purchased 50.88 acres of undeveloped land from the Simpson family. While owned by the town, the Simpson Preserve will be managed by the Bethany Land Trust per a stipulation in one of the grants. In addition to identifying exciting natural features and multiple habitat types, the Land Trust has begun work rerouting trails in the Preserve. All the existing trails in the Preserve have been severely impacted by motorized vehicle use, most notably ATV’s and dirt bikes. As readily observed in the Simpson Preserve, ATV and dirt bike use: The rerouted trails,… Read more: Rerouting Damaged Hiking Trails in the New Simpson Preserve

In May, the Town of Bethany purchased 50.88 acres of undeveloped land from the Simpson family using monies from two grants written by the Land Trust: 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.

Come join us on our Complete the Northwest Loop Hike on the newly created Bethany Northwest Loop Trail. We will be hiking through four Bethany Land Trust preserves, two Town of Bethany recreational parcels, and the Naugatuck State Forest. This hike will be a rigorous 4 miles.   CT Trails Day, held on the first full weekend in June every year, is the largest celebration of trails in the nation. Coordinated by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, CT Trails Day features over 200 free events throughout the state. Co-sponsored by the Bethany Conservation Commission and the Bethany Land Trust, the… Read more: Sunday, June 8, 1 – 4 PM:  CT Trails Day Complete the Loop Hike

https://mailchi.mp/d149876db38e/bethany-land-trust-newsletter-may25?e=5d887fdd71

The Bethany Land Trust celebrated National Poetry Month in April with a hike, where we unveiled a new kind of adventure – Poetry in the Woods. You’ve probably heard of wine trails, and maybe even chocolate trails, but a poetry trail? The Bethany Land Trust’s Poetry in the Woods Poetry Trail is the first of its kind in the state of Connecticut.  The Land Trust partnered with the Connecticut Poetry Society to create this initiative.  At distinctive locations throughout three of the Land Trust’s preserves, Mendell’s Folly, Vane Epps Preserve, and Whispering Pines, a total of nine plaques have been installed on 4-foot posts.… Read more: Poetry in the Woods: CT’s First Poetry Trail 

Monthly Newslettershttps://mailchi.mp/62623ec56e7a/new-bethany-land-trust-monthly-newsletter-23

Join us with your binoculars and spotting scopes for a morning walk in Mendell’s Folly with guide, Christin Arnini, as we welcome back species returning from migration.  We will meet at the roadside parking area at the Van Epps Preserve at 390 Beacon Road (Route 42) in Bethany at 8 AM. Look for the green Land Trust banner. Off-road parking is also available.  All are welcome but space for the hike will be limited to 10 registered participants. Please leave your pets at home and inclement weather will cancel. To register: contact Bob Harrison by Friday, May 2 via cell at 203-506-5888 or bjh51box@gmail.com

“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien The Bethany Land Trust is thrilled to invite you to join us for a series of monthly guided hikes in 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to walk some hiking trails in Bethany and are not too sure where to start or if you enjoy sharing your favorite trails in town, these hikes are for you.

Sunday April 27th, 2025 – 1:00 PM

On April 13th, some 30 hikers joined the poetry hike in Mendell’s Folly, where we heard seven poems read by Jeanne LeVasseur, Pat Motolla, and Ginny Connors from the Connecticut Poetry Society in celebration of National Poetry Month.  According to hiker Amy Rushlow, “The Bethany Land Trust Poetry in the Woods hike was a magical experience allowing all my senses to be engaged and nourished.”  Those who joined us also participated in the launch of our new poetry trail initiative, Poetry in the Woods, the first of its kind in Connecticut!  Three kiosks with plaques can be found in various spots in Mendell’s Folly… Read more: April Hike: Walking the Poetry in the Woods Trail

The Bethany Land Trust series of hikes for 2025 got off to a rousing start with close to 40 hikers joining us for our First Day Hike on New Year’s Day 2025. On an overcast afternoon, we hiked 2.5 miles through Whispering Pines and the Carrington Preserve to reach the Land Trust’s newest addition, the Hidden Brook Preserve. Upon our return, we snacked on homemade treats, cider, and chocolate-covered Oreos, departing for home just before the late afternoon showers began. Great way to start the New Year! The following is the preliminary list of planned hikes for 2025; most of… Read more: BETHANY LAND TRUST HIKES FOR 2025 

New Year’s First Day Hike – Wednesday, January 1, 2025 1:00 – 3:00 PM The Land Trust will kick off our planned series of hikes for 2025 with a New Year’s Day afternoon hike through the Hidden Brook Preserve, the most recent Land Trust acquisition.  The hike will be about 2.5 miles through Whispering Pines and the Carrington Preserve as well as Hidden Brook. Join us and start your new year with a walk in the woods. We will meet at the end of Village Lane in Bethany at 1:00 PM. Ample street parking is available. Look for the green Land… Read more: January Hike

New Year’s First Day Hike – Wednesday, January 1, 2025 1:00 – 3:00 PM Kicking off our planned series of hikes for 2025 will be a New Year Day afternoon hike through the Hidden Brook Preserve, the most recent Land Trust acquisition.  Details to be posted soon on our website, Facebook page and in next month’s Bethany Bulletin.

Come learn about the positive effect of beavers upon the environment. Ali Beres-Nork, an Environmental Science teacher at Amity High School and Bethany Land Trust board member, will serve as our guide as we hike through the very active beaver habitat in Mendell’s Folly.