177 Main Street
177 Main Street was the site of the WLT’s Community Garden until 2019 when the garden was relocated to 145 Main Street, a lot also owned by the Land Trust. In 2021, WLT partnered with Cinder Restaurant to create a permanent greenscape on the lot. The two entities determined that the best and highest use for their neighboring Main Street lots was a blend of commercial property and public urban greenway along the nationally designated Wild and Scenic Pawcatuck River. WLT was awarded a community development grant from the Rhode Island Foundation to support the transformation of 177 Main Street through landscaping, wayfinding signage, and public access walkways along the river.
The ultimate goal of the Urban Initiative is to transfer the improved properties to new operators, so in July 2023, 177 Main Street was sold to 169 Main St, LLC, which operates Cinder Restaurant. A conservation easement held by the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) ensures that the 177 Main St parcel will remain green open space, never to be developed.
More about WLT’s Urban Initiative
In 2004, the Board of Directors voted to expand the Westerly Land Trust’s mission to include an Urban Initiative, focused on redevelopment and enhancement of culturally significant commercial properties in areas of historic significance to the Town. The “smart growth” concept reflects the other side of the coin of land conservation. A vibrant downtown offering attractive options to live, dine, and shop reduces development pressure on precious open space.
Since establishing the Urban Initiative, the Westerly Land Trust has worked in partnership with the Royce Family Fund to purchase and adaptively re-use commercial properties of interest in downtown Westerly. The Westerly Land Trust holds three properties on Main Street along the Pawcatuck River as well as the historic Industrial Trust building on High Street and the United Theatre and Montgomery Ward building on Canal Street.
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Join @dpnaturectr and WLT to learn about local mushroom foraging. We will begin with an introduction to mushroom foraging, followed by a hike to identify local mushrooms on the trail. You’ll have the opportunity to explore both the Flora Whitely Preserve and the Cottrell Family Preserve during this program.
Wednesday, October 15th, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
This is a free event open to all ages!
Follow the link in our bio for more information and to sign up for the event! We hope to see you there!🍄
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #conneticut #mushrooms
Thanks to @jollygreensri for another great Microgreen Experience! From seed to plate, we got hands on with planting, learned how to grow year round, and tasted fresh, flavorful greens in a live recipe demo! 🌱🍽️
#microgreen #fresh #nutrition #recipe #growing
Fall is a great time to explore our local woods. It’s still warm now, but soon, the temperatures will dip, and you’ll hear that familiar sound of leaves crunching beneath your boots.🍂🍁
📓Nature Journaling Workshop 2
Saturday, October 4, 9:30-11:30am
Wahaneeta Preserve
🌱The Microgreen Experience
Sunday, October 5, 10am-12pm
Barlow Nature Preserve
🍄Fungal Foray w/ DPNC
Wednesday, October 15, 4:30-6pm
Flora Whiteley Preserve
🥾Thursday Hikes
If you are interested in becoming a hike leader, please contact Sally Hanson at sallyhanson242@gmail.com.
🧭Trail Blazing for Girl Scouts
Juniors, Daisies and Brownies
Sunday, October 19, 10am-12pm
Wahaneeta Preserve
🏃♀️WTAC Grills Trail Race 10M & 10K
Saturday, October 25, 9am
Grills Preserve
🌸Echo Rock Flower’s Dahlia Workshop
Saturday, October 25, 1-3pm
Barlow Nature Preserve
🎃It’s the time of year for our favorite color: orange! Pumpkins, leaves, CCC caps, and Rhode Island’s orange requirements: 200 inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange (500 square inches during shotgun deer season).
To learn more information and to register for each event, follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events!
Spent a beautiful day on the trails with a great group of Girl Scouts at Grills Preserve🥾🧭
They learned how to identify animal tracks, tell native from invasive plants, pack a first aid kit, stay safe on the trails, read maps and trail signs, and use a compass - then put it all into practice on a hike to the overlook. 🐿️🐝
The best part? They earned badges for all their hard work and new skills! 🍀
So proud of how much they learned and how confident they were out on the trails!
Will Wholean recently completed his second summer internship with the Westerly Land Trust. In 2024, he served as the Conservation Programs Intern, and in 2025, he returned as the Land Stewardship Intern. As part of his most recent role, Will was tasked with developing and leading a stewardship project. With guidance from Land Stewardship Manager Marc Doherty, Will conducted a trail camera wildlife survey at the newly protected Champlin Farm Preserve.
The goal of the project was to gather baseline data on the local wildlife population to help inform WLT’s ongoing stewardship efforts. Over a 43-day period, Will installed and monitored five trail cameras strategically placed across the preserve. His survey captured images of five animal species, with white-tailed deer being the most frequently observed.
To read Will’s full report, including methodology and findings, follow the link in our bio.
Will has now returned to Clark University in Worcester, MA, where he is pursuing a degree in biology. The WLT team thanks him for his dedication, curiosity, and commitment to land stewardship!
In July, siblings Ellen, Sarah, and Bob Madison met with the Westerly Land Trust to propose relocating their aunt Eloise Saunders’ memorial stone from Burlingame State Park to the Sunnyacres Preserve on South Woody Hill Road — land their family has cherished for generations.
In 2016, Ellen Madison partnered with WLT to permanently protect 18.5 acres of the historic Saunders Farm, which had been in the family since 1857. That act of conservation established the Sunnyacres Preserve, which has since expanded to 35.5 acres.
Eloise Saunders was originally memorialized by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island in June 1989 with a large stone birdbath and plaque placed at Burlingame State Park, honoring her support of the Kimball Wildlife Refuge within. However, the Madison family felt that the Sunnyacres Preserve — where Eloise had been the last resident — was a more fitting and personal location.
WLT quickly took action, beginning with a review by the Stewardship Committee and securing permission from RIDEM, which manages Burlingame. From there, a section of WLT’s CCC (Coffee and Clearing Club) led by Dave Prigmore got to work and made the relocation happen.
Today, Eloise’s memorial rests on her family’s beloved land at Sunnyacres Preserve. “I appreciate everyone who made this run so smoothly,” Ellen Madison said. “We are all so grateful.”
🌱Welcome to Westerly, Green Legacy Salon! Owned and operated by Conner Pierce (Chariho grad!), this new salon at 106 Cross St is dedicated to using green practices and sustainable products. They have partnered with @greencirclesalons who will collect and recycle all their beauty waste— can you believe the waste baskets featured in the second image here are made out of recycled hair clippings?!! 💇♀️
You’re invited to the Green Legacy Salon’s open house on Sunday, September 21st, 12-3pm. In addition to refreshments and salon tours, Conner is hosting a basket raffle to benefit the Westerly Land Trust! We are honored to be a part of the salon’s grand opening. Keep up the good work, Conner!!
#westerly #greenlegacysalon #greencirclesalons #sustainablehaircare #landtrust #conservation #environment #sustainablity
The Westerly Land Trust’s Farm Dinner is a celebration of the land’s bounty and the people who grow and produce our food. We were so fortunate to connect with Julian Elfedayni-Connell and his team from @thetinpeddler and @barbarycoastct . Julian enthusiastically took on the whole menu—and what a treat it was! His business partner Mariah Pfiffner curated the wine list, and his sous chef Tabitha Soto was responsible for the grand finale, the native corn tiramisu. Julian led a group of veteran chefs who volunteered their time and services: Chris Champagne, Tom Champagne, Jennifer Gibson, Allyson Mansfield, David Miguel, and Andrew Nathan. At the dinner, Chef Julian mentioned that the Connecticut Restaurant Association is currently accepting nominations for their “CRAzies Awards”. If you are moved to do so, please follow the link in our bio to nominate Julian, his team, and his restaurants by Sunday, September 21st at midnight.
We can’t thank our partner farms and producers enough—not only for supporting the Farm Dinner, but also for feeding our community. If you’re searching for fresh local food and flowers, please visit these places: Adam’s Garden of Eden, @baffonispoultryfarm @carpentersfarmstand, Dunns Corners Market, @echo_rock_flowers @frontierfarmri , Hillandale Farm, @greysail & @southcountydistillers @simplicityfarmsri @vestabakery @watchhilloysters @wehpittituckfarm @westerbeeri and @westfarmorganics
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #landtrust #nature #hike #conservation #outside #summer #stoningtonct #farmdinner #localproduce #farmtotable #community
