The Westerly Land Trust Earns National Recognition with Renewed Accreditation
In 2022, the Westerly Land Trust renewed its accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, proving once again that, as a part of a network of more than 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, we are committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in conservation work. Through this process, we continue to demonstrate that we have sound finances, practice ethical conduct and responsible governance, and can ensure lasting stewardship.
In 2017, WLT underwent the voluntary, yet rigorous process to achieve accreditation for the first time. Accreditation is not a one-time action, but a tool to foster continuous improvement; therefore, participating land trusts repeat the process every five years to ensure growth and development of the organizations.
Accredited land trusts now steward almost 20 million acres- the size of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire combined.
We are humbled by the support of the Westerly community. You’ve signaled that care deeply about the protection and conservation of local open space. Thank you for your partnership!
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Scroll through the photos to see what’s happening at the Westerly Land Trust this November! 🍂🍁
🌳✨Forest Bathing
Saturday, November 7, 9:30-11:30am
📍Wahaneeta Preserve
Forest Bathing is the pleasant practice of spending time in nature to enhance health and happiness. Enjoy a slow walk as you’re offered a series of invitations to explore the landscape with all of your senses.
Follow the link in our bio to our calendar of events to learn more and sign up! 📆
✨🌈Wednesday Wonder Walk
Wednesday, November 11, 10-11am
📍Champlin Farm Preserve
Join @wildrootsplay.ri and the Westerly Land Trust once a month for Wonder Walks, a guided family hiking series designed to spark curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of nature.
This month, we will be letting the colors of the changing season guide our adventure!🍁🍂
Follow the link in our bio to our calendar of events to learn more and sign up! 📆
🌳The Westerly Tree Canopy Project has reached its next stage: time to plant trees!
In 2024, through a competitive application process, the Town of Westerly was recognized as a select RI municipality to participate in the RIDEM Division of Forest Environment (DFE) Urban Forests for Rhode Island Technical Assistance Program in partnership with the Green Infrastructure Center.
Phase One of this project prompted the formation of the Tree Canopy Advisory Committee, a group of conservation-minded residents and representatives from local nonprofits, including WLT, who would assess Westerly’s current tree canopy and formulate plans to improve it. This committee has recommended several planting sites, and work will begin Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21.
If you are interested in helping plant trees, please contact WLT’s Land Stewardship Manager Marc Doherty at mdoherty@westerlylandtrust.org.
🌲Flannel in the Forest
Sunday, November 22, 8:30-10:30am
Riverwood Preserve
Wear your favorite flannel shirt and join us for a cozy fall hike. If your closet is lacking flannel, check out @second.serve.resale 85% of your purchase can go straight to WLT’s conservation work!
Follow the link in our bio to our calendar of events to learn more and sign up! 📆
🦃Turkey Trot
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🔸Need more orange in your life?🔸
If your wardrobe is lacking daylight fluorescent orange, consider a Westerly Land Trust beanie- perfect for staying visible on the trails, keeping your ears warm, and signaling your support for local land conservation! Order yours through the link in our bio or website or swing by our office at Barlow Nature Preserve (449 Westerly Bradford Road).
Also check out @rhodeisland.dem for official orange requirements! 🧡🦌
October is here🥾🍂
🎃⏩Scroll through to see what’s happening at the Westerly Land Trust this month!
✨Wednesday Wonder Walk✨
Wednesday, October 7, 10-11am
📍Winnapaug Farm Preserve
Join @wildrootsplay.ri and the Westerly Land Trust once a month for Wonder Walks, a guided family hiking series designed to spark curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of nature.
This month we will be exploring wind at Winnapaug! 💨🌾
Wonder Walks are no cost to families but registration is required. An adult must accompany their child, this is a great opportunity to adventure together!
For more info and to sign up, follow the link in our bio to purchase Calendar of Events or copy and paste the following link into your browser:
https://westerlylandtrust.org/event/wonder-walk-at-winnapaug-farm-preserve/
🍄Fungal Foray🍄
Wednesday, October 7, 4:30-6pm
📍Dr. John Champlin Glacier Park
Join @dpnaturectr and Westerly Land Trust 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. 🥾🍄🟫
Registration is required for this program, it is no cost for WLT members and $10 for not-yet members. Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events to learn more and sign up or copy and paste the following link into your browser:
https://westerlylandtrust.org/event/fungal-foray/
Thursday Hikes on WLT Properties🥾
📍Crandall Family Preserve
October 8, 10-11:30am
📍Riverwood Preserve
October 22, 10-11:30am
This group visits WLT properties, plus preserves all over RI and SECT. To view the full Thursday Hike schedule follow the link in our bio to our Hikes, Paddles, and Wellness page or copy and paste the following link into your browser:
https://westerlylandtrust.org/connect-enjoy/hikes-paddles-wellness/
🦇The World of Bats🦇
Thursday, October 29, 5:30-7pm
📍Barlow Nature Preserve
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Just in time for Halloween! Discover the truth about one of nature’s most misunderstood mammals with bat expert, Julia Chase-Brand, a truly remarkable woman whose life has been defined by curiosity, perseverance, breaking barriers, and changing history.
This inspiring program celebrates a lifetime of exp
What. A. Night! All the stars aligned and Saturday night was pure magic. Thank you for joining us at the table for the Farm Dinner at Barlow Nature Preserve. ✨🍽️
One of our favorite recollections of the evening was walking along the table and seeing people of all ages and backgrounds sharing a meal and conversation. This event is all about community, and our community truly shined. The farmers shared their stories, and we could taste their respect and connection to both land and sea in every bite. 🥬🥩
We were honored to partner with Chef Johan Jensen and his wife Abbey Hemmann of @whitecresteatery and @backdoorkitchen in Stonington, CT. Not only did their culinary creativity astound us, but they exuded positive energy and good vibes. Cheers to Abbey and Johan for welcoming their third baby just a week prior to the event. We are so happy for their beautiful, growing family. 💚
Thank you for supporting our conservation work through this special event. Your presence directly impacts our mission to protect local habitats, sustain community agriculture, and preserve open space for generations to come. If you enjoyed the fresh local ingredients highlighted during dinner, we encourage you to continue supporting our regional farm partners who made the evening possible. Buying local helps sustain our agricultural economy while keeping active farmland protected. 🚜🧑🌾
@beriahlewisfarm
@brightside_seafood
@carpentersfarmstand
@everbreezefarm
@richeeses
@smithsacres
@watchhilloysters
@wehpittituckfarm
@westfarmorganics
📸 Thank you to @metalcamera.events for capturing the beautiful night!
What’s your favorite color to notice in nature? 🌈🌿
We spent this morning exploring the trails at Flora Whiteley Preserve with local families. To slow down our adventure and really notice our surroundings we used paint chips to match against the beautiful natural colors of the changing seasons. 🍁🍄🌸
✨Join us for our next Wonder Walk on October 7th at Winnapaug Farm Preserve starting at 10 am. ✨
Wonder Walks is a guided family hiking series hosted by @westerlylandtrust and @wildrootsplay.ri designed to spark curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of nature. All walks are offered at no cost to you and your family but registration is required. An adult must accompany their child(ren) during program. This is a great opportunity to adventure together!
Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events or type the following link into your browser to learn more and sign up!
https://westerlylandtrust.org/events-calendar/
Welcome September! Save this post for later and scroll through to see what’s happening in September at the Westerly Land Trust! 🥾🌳
Thursday Hikes & Paddles🚣🥾
The Thursday Hiking Group’s last paddle of the summer will take place on September 3 and depart from the Mystic YMCA. Hikes resume for the fall (and winter and spring!) on Thursday, September 10.
These paddles and hikes are volunteer-led and free for the public. The groups visit WLT properties along with other preserves in RI and CT.
To view the full Thursday Paddle and Hike schedules, go to the Hikes, Paddles & Wellness tab on our website (westerlylandtrust.org).
Wednesday Wonder Walk✨
Wednesday, September 9, 10-11am
📍Flora Whiteley Preserve
Join @wildrootsplay.ri and the Westerly Land Trust once a month for Wonder Walks, a guided family hiking series designed to spark curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of nature.
Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events on our website or head to westerlylandtrust.org.
☕️School is back in session this month, and so is WLT’s Coffee and Clearing Club, “CCC”. If you’re interested clearing trails and wielding weed wackers, not to mention joining one of the best volunteer groups in Westerly, please join us at 8:30am on Tuesday, September 15th, at Barlow Nature Preserve. We’ll start with coffee as usual and go from there! 🪚🌲
Voices of the Land Presentations🏞️
🪨Rhode Island Stone Walls🪨
Thursday, September 17, 5:30-6:30pm
📍Barlow Nature Preserve
In this presentation, Elliot Vosburgh, founder of the Rhode Island Stone Wall Mapping Project, will lead an exploration of how thousands of miles of historic stone walls reveal the intersection of RI’s geology, history, and ecology.
🪶Hawk Migration 🪶
Thursday, September 24, 5:30-7pm
📍Barlow Nature Preserve
Joseph Zbyrowski is a raptor specialist with more than 30 years of experience working with hawks and owls. In this lecture, Joseph will present the findings from a multi-year survey of hawk migration at Napatree Point.
Trails to Treasure Girl Scout Adventure 🧭🗺️
Saturday, September 19, 10am-12pm
📍Barlow Nature Preserve
This Girl Scout program is for levels Juniors, Volunteers, and Browni
Did you miss the goats while they were at Avondale Farm Preserve? Here’s what they were up to.🐐
Our mowing crew had some stiff competition recently. In partnership with @romlandlivestock the herd of Kiko goats was back again hard at work removing invasive species. It’s a win win for everyone. The goats love porcelain berry and their efforts help to remove unwanted plants, provide nutrients to the soil and minimize our carbon footprint. 🚜🌾
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #landconservation #landtrust
Stop scrolling and appreciate the bees. They’re working hard!🐝🌼
