The Westerly Land Trust

Living Labs SES Grades K-1 Trails & Treasure
2024-09-25 15:50 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Trails & Treasure: Calling all explorers! Get ready to hit the trails and discover hidden treasure amongst the forest and the art of map making.

This program is for Springbrook Elementary School students
NO COST thanks to generous community support
Transportation: All students are bussed to program after school. Students can be picked up by a guardian or take the bus home after program
Spots are limited, reserve yours today and get ready for an adventure

If you are interested in a WLT program outside of what is being offered HERE please contact Lauren at lbarber@westerlylandtrust.org

Living Labs SES Grades 2-4 Trails & Treasure
2024-09-24 15:50 - 17:30 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States

Fall Equinox Outdoor Yoga with BarreCoast
2024-09-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 117 Shore Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States, 117 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Celebrate the change of seasons with an outdoor yoga class at Winnapaug Farm Preserve, brought to you by BarreCoast.

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Advanced registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot. Westerly Land Trust members, contact Erika Lebling at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10.

Westerly Track & Athletic Club: Wahaneeta Trail Race
2024-09-14 08:00 - 11:00 | Wahaneeta Preserve, 118 Moorehouse Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Westerly Track & Athletic Club hosts an annual trail race at Wahaneeta Preserve in September. This is the first of four races in WTAC’s Fall Race Series. Runners and walkers are welcome. The terrain of the course is entirely dirt trails, with some technical single-track. In order to minimize bunching up at the race start, the course will first run across a short grass field before continuing on double-track for approximately one-half mile. Most of the rest of the course will be on single-track and include challenges such as stream crossings on narrow wooden bridges, hills, and rock gardens. During the course of the race, you will cross streams multiple times, with most but not all having bridge crossings. The course is very spectator friendly, as the start/finish is in the same area, and during the course of the race runners will pass through the start/finish area twice before finishing.
For more information and to register for this Westerly Track & Athletic Club event, please click here.

Echo Rock Flowers Date Night
2024-08-30 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-08-02 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-07-26 17:00 - 19:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Rd, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Bring your date to the flower farm and enjoy tasty treats while making your own bouquet.
This event is hosted by Echo Rock Flowers, one of the two farms situated at Barlow Nature Preserve. All registrations will go through ERF.
For more information and to register, please follow this link: https://www.echorockflowers.com/date-night-1/date-night

Mini Bioblitz
2024-08-22 16:00 - 20:00 | Avondale Farm Preserve, Quail Run, 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 first conserved property, the beautiful Avondale Farm Preserve.
This is a great opportunity to explore the sweeping wildflower meadows, tidal marsh, freshwater wetlands and coastal shrublands that make up this 50-acre property, as well as to meet fellow naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts.

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 begins at 4pm and we will romp, collect and explore until its too dark to see (around 8pm). You are welcome to join for as long or as short as you’d like!
Food and refreshments will be served at 6pm.
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!
The link to the official iNaturalist project will be coming soon.
Complete the form below to sign up and if you have any questions send ’em over to Marc (mdoherty@westerlylandtrust.org)
A thank you to the Rhode Island Foundation for helping make this event possible!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Attendee’s Phone *Your Address *Address Line 1CityStateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingStateZip CodeWould you like to register any additional attendees? *YesNoHow many? *12345678910Additional Attendee(s) Name(s) *First, Last What kind of living things are you most interested in discovering? Are there any fields you'd consider yourself an expert in? *Will you be joining us for dinner at 6pm? *YesNoMaybeAny dietary restrictions?LIABILITY WAIVER *I agree to the additional terms.In consideration of receiving permission to participate in (educational) (volunteer) (recreational) opportunities of the Westerly Land Trust (WLT), I (legal guardian if a minor):
1. Understand and acknowledge that I am proceeding at my own risk. I understand that WLT makes no warranties or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the condition or safety of the property itself or the activity to be done.
2. Agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify WLT (including its agents, employees and service volunteers) from any loss, liability or expense with respect to bodily injury (including death) or property damage which might result from or arise of my participation in these activities.PHOTO RELEASE *YesNoWLT and our partners may use photos/recordings to promote future programs. I (legal guardian if minor) grant WLT permission to use any and all photographs and/or recordings taken at this event for publicity and promotion.
Submit

Echo Rock Flowers: A Night on the Farm
2024-08-17 16:00 - 19:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Rd, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Join Stephanie Bennett, owner and operator of Echo Rock Flowers, for a magical evening and floral workshop on the farm. Stephanie will take you on a walking tour of the property as you head to the flower field. You will then gather around the workshop table for the floral design portion of the evening. This year guests will learn the techniques for designing in a compote centerpiece. You’ll finish the evening with seasonal provisions & libations as we sit and break bread together in the magical hour of twilight. On this night, you’ll play with flowers, engage your creative side, and have fun with new and old friends.
This event is hosted by Echo Rock Flowers, one of the two farms situated at Barlow Nature Preserve. All registrations will go through ERF.
For more information and to register, please click here.

Outdoor Yin & Yoga Nidra with BarreCoast
2024-08-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 117 Shore Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States, 117 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join us for an outdoor hour of self-care with Krystal Rose of BarreCoast. This special workshop yin/yoga nidra class will include just over an hour of slow, restorative yin yoga. Practice will be followed by an extended yoga nidra or guided meditation in savasana.

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Advanced registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot. Westerly Land Trust members, contact Erika Lebling at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10.

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See below for a full list of this summer’s BarreCoast/WLT workshops:
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Weekend Stewardship Volunteer Day -- Invasive Plants at Avondale
2024-08-04 08:00 - 10:00 | Avondale Farm Preserve, Quail Run, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Avondale Farm Preserve is where it all began for the Westerly Land Trust — it is not only our first conserved property, but a special place for wildlife and community. Once known as Lotteryville, one of the earliest European settlements in Westerly, Avondale is a place where coastal wildflower meadows, hayfields, shrublands and salt marsh meet the open mouth of Little Narragansett Bay. Its trails, fields and shores provide a home for agriculture, native biodiversity, community and inspiration.
Plant management in coastal grasslands like Avondale is essential, as these “edge” habitats are prime locations for invasive plants to take over and outcompete native vegetation. WLT uses primarily mechanical efforts, such as mowing, lopping and pulling, to keep invasive plants like porcelain berry and honeysuckle under control. Timing of these management efforts with the cycles of nature is key to their success.
Native wildlfowers, like this narrow-leaved mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), are often smothered and starved of sunlight by invasive plants.
Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipeduculata), a member of the grape family native to northern China and Japan, was introduced to the United States in the 1870s. Its seeds are readily disbursed by mammals and birds.
So, on Sunday, August 4th from 8am to 10am, the WLT stewardship team needs your help! Join WLT’s Land Stewardship Manager in the meadows of Avondale Farm Preserve (Quail Run entrance) as we work to pull and control invasive plants before they go to seed. We will manually pull or lop invasive plants, remove the vegetation and romp through the blooming meadows.
Part work day, part plant ID walk, this Weekend Volunteer Stewardship Day will hopefully leave you feeling both accomplished and better informed!
If you are interested in available, we’d love your help! To sign-up please fill out the form below.
For more information, please email Marc at mdoherty@westerlylandtrust.org.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Attendee’s PhoneHow Many in Your Party? *12345Additional Attendee First and Last Names *LIABILITY WAIVER *I agree to the additional terms.In consideration of receiving permission to participate in (educational) (volunteer) (recreational) opportunities of the Westerly Land Trust (WLT), I (legal guardian if a minor):
1. Understand and acknowledge that I am proceeding at my own risk. I understand that WLT makes no warranties or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the condition or safety of the property itself or the activity to be done.
2. Agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify WLT (including its agents, employees and service volunteers) from any loss, liability or expense with respect to bodily injury (including death) or property damage which might result from or arise of my participation in these activities.PHOTO RELEASE *YesNoWLT and our partners may use photos/recordings to promote future programs. I (legal guardian if minor) grant WLT permission to use any and all photographs and/or recordings taken at this event for publicity and promotion.
Submit

RIWPS First Thursday Botanizing Walk -- Grills Preserve (Rescheduled)
2024-07-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Grills Preserve, 198 Bowling Lane, Westerly, RI, 02808, United States
Join the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society for a Botanizing Walk at WLT’s Grill Preserve on Thursday, July 18th from 10am to 12pm.
To learn more or sign-up, visit the link to the RIWPS website below —
https://riwps.org/event/first-thursday-botanizing-walk-grills-preserve/

Outdoor Bootcamp with BarreCoast
2024-07-14 09:00 - 10:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 117 Shore Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States, 117 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join Sarah Rocketto of BarreCoast at the Winnapaug Farm Preserve for a one-hour, heart pumping, full body bootcamp workout. We will utilize bodyweight and resistance bands as you move, sweat and breathe in the outdoor summer air. A perfect summer workout and start to your Sunday!

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Advanced registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot. Westerly Land Trust members, contact Erika Lebling at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10. For a full list of Westerly Land Trust/BarreCoast partnerships, please click here.

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See below for a full list of this summer’s BarreCoast/WLT workshops:
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Pollinator Safari
2024-07-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Avondale Farm Preserve, Quail Run, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Get your bug nets ready and come explore the diverse population of pollinating insects right here in Westerly.

For this all-ages, family-friendly event, the Westerly Land Trust has assembled a top-notch team of pollinator experts from around the state:
Dr. Rachael Bonoan, head of the Providence College’s Pollinator Lab
Ren Johnson from URI’s Bee Lab
Toby Shaya, DEM’s Pollinator Atlas Entomologist
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 is 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!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Attendee’s PhoneAddress *Address Line 1CityStateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingStateZip CodeReservation Type *

Non Members

Members

Kids (12 and Under)
How Many Reservations For Non Members *Per Reservation - $10.0012345678910How Many Reservations For Members? *Per Reservation - $0.0012345678910How Many Reservations For Kids (12 and Under) *Per Reservation - $0.0012345678910Additional Attendee: First Name, Last NameLIABILITY WAIVER *I agree to the additional terms.In consideration of receiving permission to participate in (educational) (volunteer) (recreational) opportunities of the Westerly Land Trust (WLT), I (legal guardian if a minor):
1. Understand and acknowledge that I am proceeding at my own risk. I understand that WLT makes no warranties or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the condition or safety of the property itself or the activity to be done.
2. Agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify WLT (including its agents, employees and service volunteers) from any loss, liability or expense with respect to bodily injury (including death) or property damage which might result from or arise of my participation in these activities.PHOTO RELEASE *YesNoWLT and our partners may use photos/recordings to promote future programs. I (legal guardian if minor) grant WLT permission to use any and all photographs and/or recordings taken at this event for publicity and promotion.
Total$0.00Stripe Credit Card *Submit

Farm Squad: Soaring Hawks (Grade 2-4)
2024-07-09 12:00 - 2024-08-01 14:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Program is open to students going into grades 2-4 that attend WPS. The Soaring Hawk Farm Squad will explore more advance farming practices.

Grab your friends and join our Farm Squad! Get ready to get your hands dirty and discover what it takes to be a farmer. Each Tuesday and Thursday for 4 weeks this summer we will gather at Barlow Nature Preserve (home to Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers), to explore different entities of the farming world; planting, pollinators, water quality, soil health, biodiversity around the farm, harvesting, composting, and even raising caterpillars to butterflies!!
Tuesdays & Thursdays: July 9 – August 1 (8 total programs) 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Participants must attend a WPS Elementary School (SES, DCS, SSS)
Program is FREE thanks to a partnership with Westerly Public Schools.
Transportation to and from program is required.
Please use the student name when registering.
Spots are limited

Questions- please email Lauren Barber, lbarber@westerylandtrust.org or call 401-315-2610 x1.

Farm Squad: Flying Squirrels (Grade K-1)
2024-07-09 09:30 - 2024-08-01 11:30 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This program is open to students going into grades K – 1 that attend a Westerly Public Elementary School.

Grab your friends and join our Farm Squad! Get ready to get your hands dirty and discover what it takes to be a farmer. Each Tuesday and Thursday for 4 weeks this summer, we will gather at Barlow Nature Preserve (home to Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers), to explore different entities of the farming world; planting, pollinators, water quality, soil health, biodiversity around the farm, harvesting, composting, and even raising caterpillars to butterflies!!
Tuesdays & Thursdays: July 9 – August 1 (8 total programs) 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Participants must attend a WPS Elementary School (SES, DCS, SSS)
Program is FREE thanks to a partnership with Westerly Public Schools.
Transportation to and from program is required.
Please use the student name when registering.
Spots are limited

Questions- please email Lauren Barber, lbarber@westerylandtrust.org or call 401-315-2610 x1.

Westerly Library and Wilcox Park: Lunch & Learn
2024-07-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, Terrace Room, 44 Broad Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This 6-week series hosted by Westerly Library and Wilcox Park focuses on conservation and the environment. On Monday, July 1st, WLT’s Conservation Programs Manager Lauren Barber has been invited to lead a discussion on the Land Trust’s conservation efforts. Following the lunch, the group will venture outdoors to Wilcox Park’s pollinator garden to catch, ID and release pollinators.
For more information and to register, please follow this link:
https://www.westerlylibrary.org/event/lunch-learn-westerly-land-trust?recur_number=0&_wrapper_format=html

Summer Solstice Yoga with BarreCoast
2024-06-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 117 Shore Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States, 117 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Come to Winnapaug Farm Preserve to celebrate the summer solstice and the longest day of the year with a special outdoor Somatic Yoga Class ending with Yoga Nidra led by Amanda Gray of BarreCoast.
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Advanced registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot. Westerly Land Trust members, contact Erika Lebling at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10. For a full list of Westerly Land Trust/BarreCoast partnerships, please click here.
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Bring your yoga mat, another mat or sheet/blanket to place underneath and a bottle of water. The Winnapaug Farm Preserve is at 117 Shore Road Westerly, RI off of Winnapaug Road. From Winnapaug Road take a left onto Shore Road and go to the second red gate, approximately 1/8 a mile down on the right hand side where you will park and walk 20 steps to where you will practice.
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Kayak, Yoga, Float & Flow
2024-06-19 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, focusing on 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 then ride the river’s 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. If you’d like to become a member, please click here.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Attendee’s PhoneAddress *Address Line 1CityStateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingStateZip CodeMake Your Reservation *

Non Members

Members
How Many Reservations For Non Members? *Per Ticket - $10.0012345678910How Many Reservations For Members? *Per Ticket - $0.0012345678910LIABILITY WAIVER *I agree to the additional terms.In consideration of receiving permission to participate in (educational) (volunteer) (recreational) opportunities of the Westerly Land Trust (WLT), I (legal guardian if a minor):
1. Understand and acknowledge that I am proceeding at my own risk. I understand that WLT makes no warranties or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the condition or safety of the property itself or the activity to be done.
2. Agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify WLT (including its agents, employees and service volunteers) from any loss, liability or expense with respect to bodily injury (including death) or property damage which might result from or arise of my participation in these activities.PHOTO RELEASE *YesNoWLT and our partners may use photos/recordings to promote future programs. I (legal guardian if minor) grant WLT permission to use any and all photographs and/or recordings taken at this event for publicity and promotion.
Additional Attendee: First Name, Last NameTotal$0.00Stripe Credit Card *Submit

POP UP HIKE: Awesome Blossom
2024-06-17 18:00 - 19:30
We’re headed out to Crandall Family Preserve to try to spot the blooming mountain laurel. Come along with us! Then stick around afterwards for snacks in the woods with your fellow hikers.
Registration is required for this event. It is free for WLT members and $10 for not-yet-members. Would you like to join the Westerly Land Trust’s conservation efforts? Click here.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Attendee’s PhoneAddress *Address Line 1CityStateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingStateZip CodeReservation Type *

Non Members

Members
How Many Reservations For Non Members? *Per Reservation - $10.0012345678910How Many Reservations For Members? *Per Reservation - $0.0012345678910Additional Attendee: First Name, Last NameLIABILITY WAIVER *I agree to the additional terms.In consideration of receiving permission to participate in (educational) (volunteer) (recreational) opportunities of the Westerly Land Trust (WLT), I (legal guardian if a minor):
1. Understand and acknowledge that I am proceeding at my own risk. I understand that WLT makes no warranties or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the condition or safety of the property itself or the activity to be done.
2. Agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify WLT (including its agents, employees and service volunteers) from any loss, liability or expense with respect to bodily injury (including death) or property damage which might result from or arise of my participation in these activities.PHOTO RELEASE *YesNoWLT and our partners may use photos/recordings to promote future programs. I (legal guardian if minor) grant WLT permission to use any and all photographs and/or recordings taken at this event for publicity and promotion.
Total$0.00Stripe Credit Card *Submit

Spring Sip & Shop
2024-06-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Rd, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
The Westerly Land Trust is partnering with Second Serve Resale again, this time to refresh your closet just in time for summer. Are you in need of a new-to-you summer dress? Sandals? Shorts and tanks? Join us at Barlow Nature Preserve to sip and snack, learn a bit about Second Serve and the Westerly Land Trust, and shop racks of clothing and accessories– some designer, some brand new with tags, and all with great background stories.
Second Serve curates donated clothing collections to lower consumption of new clothing and promote the benefits of resale. 85% of your shopping proceeds will benefit the Westerly Land Trust’s conservation efforts.
At this time, Second Serve Resale is only curating collections of women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.
To reserve your spot, please click here.

NEW DATE! Historic Cemetery Picnic: Winnapaug Farm Preserve
2024-06-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 109-119 Rhode Island 1A, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
PLEASE NOTE: Due to weather, the new date will be Wednesday, June 12.

Join us for a Historic Cemetery Tour and discover the history of cemetery picnics.

There are nearly 90 historic burial grounds in Westerly, five of which are on Westerly Land Trust properties. The WLT is hosting Michael Carroll, Executive Director of Rediscovering History, Inc. and Larry Hunter, local commissioner of the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historic Cemeteries for a Spring tour and Old Fashion Picnic in a cemetery at Barber Lot WY07 located in Winnapaug Farm Preserve (across from 110 Shore Rd).
Pack your picnic baskets, beverages, and lawn chairs/tables and experience a fad of the past! Michael Carroll will take us back in time to the 19th and early 20th century when picnics in cemeteries were a fashionable and respectful way to stay connected to both the living and the dead. Larry will lead us through a history lesson and Cemetery 101 introduction. Stay afterwards and enjoy the sunset.

Carry in/ Carry out
Tours are recommended for adults.
Please prepare for being out in the grass and woods, and bring bug repellant and water.
Tours are FREE for WLT members and $10 for not-yet-members, Larry has generously pledged to donate all proceeds to WLT

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
Not a WLT member yet, but would like to be? CLICK HERE.

Weekend Stewardship Volunteer Day
2024-06-09 08:30 - 11:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 109-119 Rhode Island 1A, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
South County’s salt ponds are one of our most precious resources — they are not only a unique ecosystem and a fun place to recreate, but also a haven for breeding wildlife and a hotspot for sustainable aquaculture.
But the health of our salt ponds is threatened by rising sea levels, warming waters, encroaching development, increased nutrient loads and invasive species.

WLT, Save the Bay and the Audubon Society of RI have teamed up to do our part to preserve the Winnapaug Pond marshlands by installing a system of runnels to help drain impounded water from the marsh platform. This impounded water can kill native marsh grasses, promote invasive grasses, lower the marsh platform and provide breeding grounds for excessive algae and mosquitoes.
Since installing the runnels in 2019-2020, we have observed a decrease in invasive grasses and seen areas of the marsh platform restored to native marsh grasses! But the work is not done as the runnels require annual maintenance, so we need your help to keep the runnels flowing.
Join WLT and Save the Bay staff on Sunday, June 9th from 8:30am to 11:00am as we unclog the wintertime’s wrack and help the runnels flow free. You will also get to learn more about the salt marsh ecosystem and maybe catch a glimpse of a salt marsh sparrow or tiny baby eels, among other cool creatures.
Work on the marsh requires muck/knee boots and a willingness to get a bit dirty! We will provide the shovels and rakes, but have a limited number/size selection of extra muck boots, so please bring your own if available. If you’d like to join but don’t have the boots, let us know your size and we will see what we can do.
If you are interested in available, we’d love your help! To sign-up please fill out the form below. For more information, please email Marc at mdoherty@westerlylandtrust.org.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmailAttendee’s PhoneHow Many Reservations Would You Like? *Per Ticket - $0.0012345678910LIABILITY WAIVER *I agree to the additional terms.In consideration of receiving permission to participate in (educational) (volunteer) (recreational) opportunities of the Westerly Land Trust (WLT), I (legal guardian if a minor):
1. Understand and acknowledge that I am proceeding at my own risk. I understand that WLT makes no warranties or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the condition or safety of the property itself or the activity to be done.
2. Agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify WLT (including its agents, employees and service volunteers) from any loss, liability or expense with respect to bodily injury (including death) or property damage which might result from or arise of my participation in these activities.PHOTO RELEASE *YesNoWLT and our partners may use photos/recordings to promote future programs. I (legal guardian if minor) grant WLT permission to use any and all photographs and/or recordings taken at this event for publicity and promotion.
Additional Attendee First Name, Last NameSubmit

Forest Bathing
2024-06-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Wahaneeta Preserve, 118 Moorehouse Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join Deirdre O’Connor for a slow and easy walk in Wahaneeta Preserve. Forest Bathing is the pleasant practice of spending time in nature for the purpose of enhancing health and happiness. Evidenced based research confirms that time in nature has profound healing benefits for physical and emotional well – being. The term Forest Bathing comes from the Japanese tradition of “shin-rin yoku” literally translated to “bathing in the atmosphere of the forest”. On this walk you will experience and learn about how the regular practice of Forest Bathing can restore health and vitality by strengthening immune function, lowering stress hormones, improving mood and sleep, and stimulating creativity. Forest Bathing also offers us the opportunity to deepen our relationship with the natural world.
You will be walking slowly for about one mile on mostly flat but uneven forest trails as you are offered a series of invitations to explore the landscape with your senses and connect with the natural world. We will be walking and sitting for 2 hours and will finish our walk by sharing tea together. This experience is open to ages 15 and up.

Registration is required. Spots are limited.

Each walk is $30 per person which Deirdre has generously pledged to donate to WLT.

Parking is limited please carpool if possible

Deirdre O’Connor is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Deirdre is delighted to share the Healing power of Nature through Forest Bathing where Nature and our true natures come to know one another. She resides in Westerly, enjoying birding, botany, bicycling and exploring the next cool place to share Forest Bathing.
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.

World Meditation Day with BarreCoast
2024-05-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Avondale Farm Preserve, Quail Run, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Connect with nature and your breath in this special outdoor slow flow with meditation led by Anja Mertl. Bring your yoga mat, another mat or sheet/blanket to place underneath, and a bottle of water.
Advanced registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot.
Enroll online using your existing class package or purchase a single drop in! Westerly Land Trust members, contact Erika at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10.
Avondale Farm Preserve is located off Quail Run in Westerly, RI which is off of Watch Hill Road. Once on Quail run you will look for Grassland Way, off Avondale Road and Quail Run. On Grassland Way, you will see a WLT kiosk and grass parking lot.
For a full list of Westerly Land Trust/BarreCoast partnerships, please click here.

Wellness for Everybody
2024-05-18 10:30 - 14:30 | Avondale Farm Preserve- Grassland Way
Bring the whole family or simply treat yourself to a FREE day of wellness brought to you by Westerly Land Trust and Westerly Hospital. No registration required; simply show up and enjoy!
Follow this link for more information, including a list of wellness partners.

World Migratory Bird Day: Guided Bird Count
2024-05-11 07:30 - 10:30 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with the WLT and expert birder Maggie Jones by getting outside and experiencing the spring migration.

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. It has a global outreach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. https://www.migratorybirdday.org/
Join us as we welcome back the neo-tropical migrants as they return to their summer territories — from thrushes to warblers, bluebirds to tanagers and beyond. This years WMBD theme is insects and their importance to migratory birds.
Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! We will meet at Barlow Nature Preserve. Groups will head out to different WLT properties and gather back at Barlow to share our counts, stories and coffee and snacks.

Registration required, spots are limited.
FREE for members, $10 for not-yet-members.
Not a member and would like to be? CLICK HERE!

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F rom World Migratory Bird Day 2024
INSECTS
Insects and their importance to migratory birds is the focus of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day, a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.
Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations.Along their migration routes, birds actively seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers. The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys.
The loss and disturbance of insect populations at breeding sites and along avian migration routes threaten bird survival and well-being. Natural spaces like forests and grasslands that have been transformed or endangered by intensive agriculture and urban development and its effects such as light pollution can result in a decline in insect populations. Pesticides and herbicides designed to protect crops harm insects that birds rely on for food. A scarcity of energy- and protein-rich insects can hinder bird migration and breeding, leading to weakened immune systems, reduced reproductive success, and increased mortality rates for both adult birds and their offspring.
Birds play crucial roles in pollination and pest control, and a lack of insects disrupts these ecosystem functions. Overpopulation of certain insects, without natural predators from birds, can also cause outbreaks that damage plant health and agriculture.
The World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will stress the need for proactive conservation measures. This includes reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and where possible, switching to organic farming. Other measures include maintaining and connecting areas of natural vegetation which provide food and shelter for birds and other species, in agricultural landscapes.
In 2024, World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated on two days, 11 May and 12 October, aligning with the cyclic nature of bird migration in different hemispheres.
The campaign is a joint effort of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), Environment for the Americas and the EAAFP. The addition of the EAAFP to this Partnership will strengthen engagement and awareness for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Contact us at info@environmentamericas.org with any questions.

Plant & Seed Swap/ Community Garden Kick-off
2024-05-01 16:00 - 18:00 | 145 Main St, 145 Main St, Westerly, 02891
To kick off this gardening season we will be gathering at the garden where we will be tiding up the pollinator gardens. At this this time there will also be a plant & seed swap. Bring any plants and/or seeds that you have divided or any extra plants/seeds you may have and trade them at this laid back community event. We hope to see you there!
Location: 145 Main St, Westerly RI

Interesting Insects: SES (Grades K-1)
2024-04-24 15:45 - 17:15 | Grills Preserve, 198 Bowling Lane, Westerly, RI, 02808, United States
Living Laboratories for Springbrook Elementary School Grades K-1

Insects are essential to keep our ecosystems running smoothly, even the creepy crawling ones. Dive into the world of entomology as you observe insect habitats. Use technology to trap, identify, and release critters. Grade 2-4 will have the opportunity to explore using more advanced technology.
The program is FREE thanks to a partnership with WPS.
A healthy snack is provided at the start of the program.
Bus transportation is available to and from the program.

Walden Book Club
2024-04-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Wahaneeta Preserve, 118 Moorehouse Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
In partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, and as part of the Westerly Land Trust’s celebration of Earth Day, we invite you to join our Walden Book Club. In Henry David Thoreau short life, he was a poet, philosopher, naturalist, farmer, writer, hiker, surveyor, abolitionist, Transcendentalist, friend, and more. Whether Thoreau has been a source of inspiration for you for years, or you’re interested in reading Walden for the first time, we hope you’ll meet us at the Wahaneeta cabin on April 24th for a discussion of the book followed by a hike through the woods, Thoreau style.
If you don’t have a copy of Walden, head to Westerly Library and Wilcox Park to pick one up (2nd floor, Reference Department). They have generously donated a number of copies for program participants, but supplies are limited.
This event is free, but registration is required and spots are limited. Fill in the form below to add your name to the list.
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