The Westerly Land Trust

Thursday Hike: Level Best Farm, Richmond
2023-05-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
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.

River Rangers: State Street (Grades K - 2)
2023-05-24 15:45 - 17:15
Living Laboratories for State Street Elementary School Grades K-2

Join WLT educators to explore the plants and animals that call the river home. Use a dip net to trap and observe these animals in their natural habitat. Discover the important role rivers play on our Earth. Grade 3 – 4 will have the opportunity to perform a water salinity test using more advanced technology!
Program is FREE thanks to a partnership with WPS.
Bus transportation available to and from program.

Historic Cemetery Picnic Tour: Winnapaug Farm Preserve
2023-05-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 109-119 Rhode Island 1A, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join us for our last stop of our Spring Historic Cemetery Tours 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 and member of Rediscovering History, Inc. for our last stop on our Spring tour: Winnapaug Farm Preserve.
Pack your picnic baskets, beverages, and blankets or lawn chairs, and experience a fad of the past! Michael 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.

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.
Sign up for 1 or all 3 tours as each burial ground offers its own unique characteristics and experience.
Tours are FREE for WLT members and $10 for not-yet-members, which Larry has generously pledged to donate to WLT.

Not a WLT member yet, but would like to be? CLICK HERE. Joining us with a family member? Sign up for our family membership and get not only a discount on attending all three tours but also all our other monthly adventures!

World Meditation Day: BarreCoast Meditation/Slow Flow
2023-05-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 109-119 Rhode Island 1A, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
To honor the intersection of land conservation and mental and physical health, the Westerly Land Trust is thrilled to partner with BarreCoast for another season of outdoor yoga. This year, we added mediation and outdoor bootcamps!
To kick things off join Anja Mertl, at WLT Winnapaug Farm Preserve, for a guided meditation and slow yoga flow.
Bring your yoga mat, another mat or sheet/blanket to place underneath and a bottle of water.
HOW TO REGISTER
Enroll Online at barrecoast.com or contact the studio.
WLT MEMBER DISCOUNTS
WLT members please contact Erika Lebling at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10!
Not-yet a WLT member but would like to be?
To become a member today please CLICK HERE.

Frontier Farm Plant Sale
2023-05-21 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-05-20 09:00 - 17:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Rd, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Meet Cassidy and Jim, owners and farmers of Frontier Farm at the Barlow Nature Preserve and shop vegetable seedlings and annual and perennial herb seedlings at the farm’s annual plant sale. Event goes until 5 OR until sold out.

Garden Market Fair- Wilcox Park
2023-05-21 09:00 - 14:00
Come stop by our table at the Westerly Library and Wilcox Parks 39th Annual Garden Market Fair! For more information and a complete list of participating garden vendors, community organizations, and nonprofits CLICK HERE!!

Historic Cemetery Tour/Hike: Grills Preserve- CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
2023-05-20 10:00 - 12:30 | Grills Preserve, 198 Bowling Lane, Westerly, RI, 02808, United States
Join us for part 2 of 3 Spring Historic Cemetery Tours. This tour includes a bonus hike!

There are nearly 90 historic burial grounds in Westerly, five of which are on Westerly Land Trust properties. The WLT is hosting Larry Hunter, local commissioner of the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historic Cemeteries and member of Rediscovering History, Inc. and Michael Carroll, Executive Director of Rediscovering History, Inc. for our second stop on our Spring tour: Grills Preserve.
Larry will walk us through “Cemetery 101”, which explains orientation and types of headstones, the use of footstones and field stones, and the types of materials. We will also discuss the dos and don’ts of visiting cemeteries, cleaning, maintenance, and restoration of stones. This historic cemetery is nestled in the woods so be sure to bring your hiking boots/sturdy shoes.
Hike will be led by WLT, Land Stewardship Manager, Marc Doherty along the Grills Blue trail with a stop at the Polly Coon Bridge stretching over the Pawcatuck River. Bring along water and a little lunch or snack (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.
Sign up for 1 or all 3 tours as each burial ground offers its own unique characteristics and experience.
Tours are FREE for WLT members and $10 for not-yet-members, which Larry has generously pledged to donate to WLT.

Not a WLT member yet, but would like to be? CLICK HERE. Joining us with a family member? Sign up for our family membership and get not only a discount on attending all three tours but also all our other monthly adventures!

River Rangers: Dunn's Corners (Grades 3-4)
2023-05-18 14:30 - 16:00
Living Laboratories for Dunn’s Corners Elementary School Grades 3-4

Join WLT educators to explore the plants and animals that call the river home. Use a dip net to trap and observe these animals in their natural habitat. Discover the important role rivers play on our Earth. Grade 3 – 4 will have the opportunity to perform a water salinity test using more advanced technology!
Program is FREE thanks to a partnership with WPS.
Bus transportation available to and from program.

Thursday Hike: Sheep Farm, Groton, CT
2023-05-18 10:00 - 12:30
A former sheep farm, this hilly property is maintained by Groton Open Space Association (GOSA). The well marked trails travel over rocks and ledges along a stream with 2 waterfalls for about 31/5 miles. (Spoiler Alert: The waterfalls look much bigger in pictures.) This is an example of typical New England upland, mostly deciduous forest that was saved from development due to the high cost of building there. Directions: Take Route 95 South to CT exit 88. Turn left and take the first left onto Hazelnut Hill Rd. The parking area is up the hill on the right. There are some picnic tables if you want to bring a lunch.
To sign up, contact hike leader: Janice Fifer, 401-213-6479 Email: jhfifer@verizon.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.

River Rangers: Dunn's Corners (Grades K - 2)
2023-05-17 15:45 - 17:15
Living Laboratories for Dunn’s Corners Elementary School Grades K-2

Join WLT educators to explore the plants and animals that call the river home. Use a dip net to trap and observe these animals in their natural habitat. Discover the important role rivers play on our Earth. Grade 3 – 4 will have the opportunity to perform a water salinity test using more advanced technology!
Program is FREE thanks to a partnership with WPS.
Bus transportation available to and from program.

Historic Cemetery Tour: Quaker Burial Ground
2023-05-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Quaker Burial Ground, 108 Old Post Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Back by popular demand! Join us for part 1 of 3 historic cemetery tours offered this Spring.

There are nearly 90 historic burial grounds in Westerly, five of which are on Westerly Land Trust properties. The WLT is hosting Larry Hunter, local commissioner of the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historic Cemeteries and member of Rediscovering History, Inc. and Michael Carroll, Executive Director of Rediscovering History, Inc. for our first stop on our Spring tour: Quaker Burial Ground.
Larry will walk us through “Cemetery 101”, which explains orientation and types of headstones, the use of footstones and field stones, and the types of materials. We will also discuss the dos and don’ts of visiting cemeteries, cleaning, maintenance, and restoration of stones.

Tours are recommended for adults.
Please prepare for being out in the grass and woods, and bring bug repellant and water.
Sign up for 1 or all 3 tours as each burial ground offers its own unique characteristics and experience.
Tours are FREE for WLT members and $10 for not-yet-members, which Larry has generously pledged to donate to WLT.

Not a WLT member yet, but would like to be? CLICK HERE. Joining us with a family member? Sign up for our family membership and get not only a discount on attending all three tours but also all our other monthly adventures!
