The Westerly Land Trust

Thursday Hike: Level Best Farm, Richmond
2023-05-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | RI
Join us for a walking tour around the private property at Level Best Farm, in Wood River Junction (town of Richmond). Ken will also give some brief history about the land and the surrounding area. Mostly flat terrain, on well kept trails, and an easy hike consisting of three loops (~ 1 mile each) that meet in the middle near the parking area. Enjoy various types of pine and deciduous forests, swamp views, meandering streams, meadows, and fields. There are also two milkweed meadows for the monarch butterflies. From the Westerly area, take route 91 east, towards Carolina. Drive through Bradford and continue past Alton Pond / Wood River and the Village of Alton. Turn left onto Homestead Road (located between the Alton Fire Station and the, “Food Truck on 91”). Meet at the end of the ~ ¼ mile dirt road. Address: 22 Homestead Rd, Wood River Junction, RI.
To sign up, contact Co-hike leaders: Ken and Rebecca Mitchell Call/text 269-808-5623 OR Email: rebecca.paperwork@gmail.com
Thursday hikes are FREE. Be sure to wear hiking boots or good walking shoes.
PLEASE NOTE:

Hikes leave promptly.
Ending times are estimated as it difficult to ascertain when it will finish due to number of people, how fast/slow the hikers walk, etc.
Please sign up with leader so that person will know how many are coming. If no one signs up the leader may not show up.
Inclement weather cancels and if in doubt, contact leader.
If you wish to bring a dog please contact the leader as some properties do not allow them. However, if a dog is present, they must be leashed at all times.

FLUORESCENT ORANGE REQUIREMENTS:
In State Management areas everyone is required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from last Thursday in April to the last day in May, annually.

Thursday Hike: Herman E. Sheets Family Preserve, North Stonington, CT
2023-06-01 10:00 - 12:00 | RI
This preserve offers an enchanting hike through a mixed forest and features vernal pools, active beaver dams, high views of the Green Fall River and various stone foundations of Laurel Glen one of North Stonington’s original villages. The hike is 2.5 – 3.0 miles on a variety of surfaces including packed dirt, grass, pine needles, small boardwalks, occasional rocks and roots, lots of short ups and downs and a switchback or two making it somewhere between easy and slightly moderate in difficulty. Trailhead and parking are located at the mailbox of 94 Puttker Rd, just off of Denison Hill Road. Parking is limited, if you are able, please carpool. Dogs on leash are permitted.
To sign up, contact hike leader: Deirdre O’Connor , 860-287-7281. Email: deirdreo@snet.net (email preferred).
Thursday hikes are FREE. Be sure to wear hiking boots or good walking shoes.
PLEASE NOTE:

Hikes leave promptly.
Ending times are estimated as it difficult to ascertain when it will finish due to number of people, how fast/slow the hikers walk, etc.
Please sign up with leader so that person will know how many are coming. If no one signs up the leader may not show up.
Inclement weather cancels and if in doubt, contact leader.
If you wish to bring a dog please contact the leader as some properties do not allow them. However, if a dog is present, they must be leashed at all times.

FLUORESCENT ORANGE REQUIREMENTS:
In State Management areas everyone is required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from last Thursday in April to the last day in May, annually.

Thursday Hike: Carter Preserve, Charlestown
2023-06-08 10:00 - 13:00 | RI
This 5-mile walk on Nature Conservancy property has trails through various terrain, including grassland and woods. Easy trails on rolling hills with beautiful scenery. Mountain laurel will hopefully be in bloom during our visit. Meet and park at 400 Old Mill Road. Follow short dirt road under power lines to parking area.
To sign up, contact hike leader: Jeff Walker # 401-447-1879. Email: Jeffrey.walker@cox.net
Thursday hikes are FREE. Be sure to wear hiking boots or good walking shoes.
PLEASE NOTE:

Hikes leave promptly.
Ending times are estimated as it difficult to ascertain when it will finish due to number of people, how fast/slow the hikers walk, etc.
Please sign up with leader so that person will know how many are coming. If no one signs up the leader may not show up.
Inclement weather cancels and if in doubt, contact leader.
If you wish to bring a dog please contact the leader as some properties do not allow them. However, if a dog is present, they must be leashed at all times.

FLUORESCENT ORANGE REQUIREMENTS:
In State Management areas everyone is required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from last Thursday in April to the last day in May, annually.

POP-UP: Bloomin' Brunch
2023-06-10 11:00 - 13:00 | Crandall Family Preserve, 79 Pound Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 10!! After keeping a watchful eye on the Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurel blooms we believe this will be the best time!

Join us for a guided hike through Crandall Family Preserve and walk through the forest of mountain laurel and rhododendrons. We will end the hike at the overlook where we will gather for a light brunch and mimosas. The trail we will be hiking is only accessible through special guided hikes such as this event. You won’t want to miss these plentiful blooms that line the trails in every direction. Hike is approximately 3.5 miles total.
This event is $5 for members, and $10 per person for not-yet members. Not a member, but would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration required, spots are limited.

POP-UP: Bloomin' Brunch
2023-06-10 11:00 - 13:00 | Crandall Family Preserve, 79 Pound Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 10!! After keeping a watchful eye on the Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurel blooms we believe this will be the best time!

Join us for a guided hike through Crandall Family Preserve and walk through the forest of mountain laurel and rhododendrons. We will end the hike at the overlook where we will gather for a light brunch and mimosas. The trail we will be hiking is only accessible through special guided hikes such as this event. You won’t want to miss these plentiful blooms that line the trails in every direction. Hike is approximately 3.5 miles total.
This event is $5 for members, and $15 per person for not-yet members. Not a member, but would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration required, spots are limited.

Thursday Hike: Flora Whiteley/Cottrell Preserve, Westerly– End of Season Get Together
2023-06-15 10:00 - 12:00 | RI
The WLT’s Flora Whitely Preserve abuts the Pawcatuck River upstream of the Potter Hill dam and features a boat portage at the bridge. The WLT Cottrell Preserve is 21 acres which is boarded on the north by the Pawcatuck River and on the south by the Westerly Town Forest. It will be a moderate woods walk. Parking is still a challenge so we will meet at Flora Whitely Preserve on Potter Hill Road. We will return to Flora Whitely to have a picnic. Bring your own lunch, beverage and lawn chair.
To sign up, contact hike leader: David Prigmore # (401) 348-2855. Email: d.bprigmore@gmail.com
Thursday hikes are FREE. Be sure to wear hiking boots or good walking shoes.
PLEASE NOTE:

Hikes leave promptly.
Ending times are estimated as it difficult to ascertain when it will finish due to number of people, how fast/slow the hikers walk, etc.
Please sign up with leader so that person will know how many are coming. If no one signs up the leader may not show up.
Inclement weather cancels and if in doubt, contact leader.
If you wish to bring a dog please contact the leader as some properties do not allow them. However, if a dog is present, they must be leashed at all times.

FLUORESCENT ORANGE REQUIREMENTS:
In State Management areas everyone is required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from last Thursday in April to the last day in May, annually.

Pollinator Safari
2023-06-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Avondale Farm Preserve, Quail Run, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Get your bug nets ready, it’s pollinator week! Come explore and discover the diverse pollinating insects in your backyard environment.

Join the Westerly Land Trust and the amazing Dr. Rachael Bonoan, head of the Providence College’s Pollinator Lab, for this all-ages, family-friendly event.
Dr. Bonoan will guide us through beautiful Avondale Farm Preserve where we will find, capture and identify the bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects doing the critical work of keeping our local ecosystems in balance. Get up close to these winged critters and learn how to use “bug vacuums”, nets, and field guides to catch, identify, and release some amazing pollinators. Learn from the experts how pollinators do their jobs, why they are important, and what we can do to help them!
Please prepare to romp out in the sun and tall grass; sturdy shoes, pants, sun/bug protection and water are recommended. There are no restroom facilities at Avondale, so plan accordingly.
Parking- Park at the Quail Run parking lot. Overflow parking will be available at Grassland Way. Please meet at Quail Run Parking lot at 10:00 AM.

Registration required.
Event is open to ALL ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Children under 12 are FREE.
Event is FREE for WLT members and $10 for not-yet-members.
CLICK HERE to become a member today!

To learn more about Rachael and her lab click here.

Kayak, Yoga, Float & Flow
2023-07-19 17:00 - 19:30 | 197 Potter Hill Rd, 197 Potter Hill Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Start your adventure with a guided yoga session at WLT’s Flora Whiteley Preserve to warm up for a beautiful paddle on the Pawcatuck River.

Certified yoga teacher, Janice Fifer, will guide us through Sun Salutations with a focus in hip and shoulder openers to prepare for a paddle up the Pawcatuck River. We will stop along the way for more yoga, a short meditation and ride the rivers gentle current back to the put in point. The evening will end with relaxation and a closing circle. This is a moderate paddle for experienced kayakers, with the emphasis on relaxing and enjoying nature.
What to bring: BYO Kayak, Paddle, Life Jacket, Yoga Mat, Large Towel (to put under your yoga mat), Water, Bug Repellent. Be aware that your shoes will get wet and muddy.
Please note: Rhode Island State Regulations require that everyone, regardless of age, MUST wear a US Coast Guard approved life jacket, fastened in the manner the manufacturer intended.
This event is FREE for members, and $10 per person for not-yet members. Not a member and would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration required, spots are limited.

Mini BioBlitz
2023-08-05 16:00 - 20:00 | 13-29 Christian Hill Rd, 13-29 Christian Hill Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Calling all curious humans! Let’s get out there and find all the life that surrounds us, both small and large.

A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many living species as possible. From fungi to trees, mammals to insects and everything in between, we will try to catch ‘em all, this time at WLT’s newest property, the Cottrell Family Preserve. This is a great opportunity to explore a new property and help WLT build our baseline data for these 21 acres along the Pawcatuck River filled with mountain laurel, a small meadow, wetlands, exposed ledge and riparian habitat.
This is a FREE, all-ages, all-abilities and family-friendly event – it doesn’t matter if you are an expert naturalist or have never stepped into the woods before. The event will be from 4pm to 8pm, but participants can arrive or leave any time they would like to.
There will be snacks and refreshments and a whole bunch of adventure! And thanks to our friends at the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, we will have canoes and kayaks to explore the river on!
There are some great tools out there besides field guides and experts that can help you identify all kinds of different species of plants and animals out there. Be sure to download apps like iNaturalist or Seek from the App Store. Play around with them and be sure to show up with a full battery! Click here to join the Cottrell Mini Bioblitz iNaturalist Project.
Any questions? Email Marc Doherty at mdoherty@westerlylandtrust.org

Thursday Hike: Grills Preserve
2023-10-05 10:00 - 12:30 | Grills Preserve, 198 Bowling Lane, Westerly, RI, 02808, United States
This walk on WLT’s 500-acre preserve is over primarily flat terrain often along the Pawcatuck River on clear, wide trails. We will be able to see some newly discovered foundations. There
is a gorgeous scenic view from the top of aptly named, Big Hill, which requires a bit of steep climbing. Meet at the parking lot at the cul-de-sac end off Bowling Lane in Bradford Village.
To sign up, contact the hike leader: David Prigmore, # (401)348-2855, and email:
d.bprigmore@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE:
o Ending times are estimated as it difficult to ascertain when it will finish due to number of people, how fast/slow the hikers walk, etc.
o Please sign up with leader so that person will know how many are coming. If no one signs up the leader may not show up.
o If you would like to lead a hike for November through December just let Sally know the date and give her a blurb if she doesn’t have it.
o Inclement weather cancels and if in doubt, contact leader.
o If you wish to bring a dog please contact the leader as some properties do not allow them. However, if a dog is present they must be leashed at all times.
FLUORESCENT ORANGE REQUIREMENTS:
In State Management areas everyone is required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from the second Saturday in September to the last day of February and the third Saturday in April to the last day in May, annually.

Fungal Foray w/ RI Mycological Society
2023-10-07 11:00 - 14:00 | Wahaneeta Preserve, 118 Moorehouse Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Explore the rich, mesic forest of Wahaneeta with WLT and the RI Mycological Society and discover the fungal biodiversity in our woods.

Fungal Foray w/ RI Mycological Society
Join us for a fascinating Fungal Foray with the RI Mycological Society! This event will take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM (EDT). We will gather at Wahaneeta Preserve (118 Moorhouse Road, Westerly, RI 02891), where we’ll hit the woods and uncover the local fungal biodiversity.
Come and learn from experienced mycologists, meet fellow fungal freaks or spark new curiosity as we learn about different species, their ecological roles and significance. After we’ve spent some time exploring the woods, an expert from the RI Mycological Society will lead us through a table talk, sharing some of the discoveries and sharing some fungal knowledge.
This event is sure to bring in a great tribe of people, so be sure to join us! Come prepared to walk in the woods. Carpool if you can and be sure to bring your reuseable water bottle. There are outhouses, so no worries there!
See you there!

Click here to register!
