The Land Trust received a donation of 47.4 acres of woodlands, streams and historic features that has become Whispering Pines from the late Irene Stahl that had been lovingly tended to by Irene and her late husband, Carlton. Carlton Stahl began acquiring the land in 1944 from Henry and Julia Russell and added parcels over the years. He gave Henry permission to continue grazing his dairy cows in the meadow and for Julia to pick apples from the orchard for her famous apple pies. After his discharge from the military in 1946, Carl planted 500 seedlings, constructed a bridge (replaced with one built by the Land Trust trail crew) and made gentle paths through the forest to easily reach the top of the cliff and pine tree areas. When Carl married Irene in 1959, he was called the tree man and she the flower woman.
Some of the natural features in Whispering Pines include wetlands and forested ridges while the upper portion of Bladen’s River drains most of the property. Whispering Pines provides habitat for a number of species and is part of a larger wildlife corridor in that part of Bethany. As this is in an area of rich history, both colonial and indigenous, it means that any historic features are now protected from development.
Trails:
Trails in Whispering Pines course through many of the natural features in the Preserve and connect with adjacent open space parcels that include the Land Trust’s Hidden Brook Preserve and Bethany Farms as well as the town of Bethany’s Carrington Preserve.
- The Whispering Pines Trail (0.83 miles; moderate) runs from the Village Lane cul-de-sac down to a bridge crossing Bladen’s River and passes nearby wetlands below a 50-foot cliff to a parking area on Briar Road.
- The Cowpath Trail (0.3 miles, moderate) leaves the Whispering Pines Trail passing through what was once the grazing area down a ridge to reconnect with the Whispering Pines Trail
- The Falling Water Trail (0.07 miles, moderate) climbs along the Bladen’s River into the Carrington Preserve, where a small waterfall can be seen near the trail.
- The Cliff Loop Trail (0.5 miles; difficult) climbs up a dirt road to highest point in the Preserve and then returns above the cliff back to the Whispering Pines Trails. A short connector spur leads into the Carrington Preserve.
- The Wopowog Trail (0.04 miles; moderate) climbs into the Carrington Preserve.
Address: 30 Briar Road, Bethany CT
Size: 47.4 acres
Parking: Roadside parking is available at the end of the Village Lane cul-de-sac as well as on Briar Road.
Trail Map
Gallery
