Mary Beth Lawlor, Author at Litchfield Magazine

Harwinton Land Trust

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

The mission of the Harwinton Land Trust is to acquire and conserve important parcels of natural open space for the benefit of Harwinton and its residents. The Harwinton Land Trust owns over 170 acres of open space, and another 90 acres held in conservation easement. The public is most welcome to visit the properties that they directly own, and to enjoy the trails and wildlife observation areas.

Help preserve Harwinton’s aesthetic rural qualities and protect its important natural areas by becoming a volunteer of the Land Trust.

Harwinton Land Trust
P.O. Box 113, Harwinton
860-485-1347

Goshen Land Trust

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

The Goshen Land Trust, Inc. is a non-profit organization of volunteers, founded in 1980, for the purposes of improving the quality of life for current and future generations of Goshen, Connecticut area residents, through the preservation and protection of natural and open lands. Over the years, the Land Trust has secured ownership of 510.1 acres of land and conservation easements on an additional 183 acres. Much of this land is along stream corridors with wild beauty and historic mill sites. The Goshen Land Trust’s intent is to protect such land in perpetuity for the purpose of habitat preservation and enhancement, water quality protection, agricultural productivity, education, passive recreation, and scenic and historic preservation.

They are interested in volunteers to help with invasive species removal, inspection of conserved properties, office work, fund raising, trail maintenance.

Goshen Land Trust
16 Mill St., Goshen
860-491-5263

Housatonic Valley Association

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

Housatonic Valley Association, a tri-state nonprofit citizen’s environmental group, works to conserve the natural character, environmental health, and the economies of our region by protecting and restoring its land and water. They protect the natural character and environmental health of the entire Housatonic Watershed for this and future generations. They monitor water quality, add sections to the Housatonic RiverBelt Greenway (linking preserved space along the Housatonic River with hiking and biking trails), and use computer mapping to help towns measure the impact and benefits of land use and development.

Volunteers are always needed at the Housatonic Valley Association.

Housatonic Vallery Association
P.O. Box 28, 150 Kent Rd., Cornwall Bridge
860-672-6678

Warren Land Trust

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

The Warren Land Trust is dedicated to the preservation of the rural character of Warren. They work to preserve farmland, open space, natural and endangered resources such as wetlands, forests and wildlife habitats, by encouraging the gifting of land and the use of conservation easements to permanently preserve open space. To date, they have over 793 acres under their protection, 11 fee properties and 15 conservation easements. Land under the protection of the Warren Land Trust is preserved and protected from development forever.

Volunteers are very important to the Warren Land Trust, and they have a listing of opportunities on their website.

Warren Land Trust
50 Cemetery Rd, Warren

Cornwall Conservation Trust

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

The Cornwall Conservation Trust is a local non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of our town’s natural assets. It is organized to provide broad public participation in its activities, and membership is open to everyone. Their mission is to conserve open space lands in Cornwall and adjacent towns and to manage those lands to promote wildlife habitat, forest improvement, water quality, farming and public recreation.

Volunteers are always needed to help their preservation efforts.

Cornwall Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 74, West Cornwall
860-248-3255

Aton Forest

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

Aton Forest, Inc. was formed to preserve the lands assembled by Dr. Frank E. Egler as a Research Natural Area and to continue the low impact, long-term ecological research that he pioneered. The organization also maintains an archive of Dr. Egler ’s written material and library, and curates a portion of his house and furnishings as an informal museum. The aim is to preserve and continue the physical and intellectual legacy of our founder.

They are always interested in volunteers to lend a hand. Volunteer activities include: trail work, gardening, naturalistic landscaping, archival work, outreach, graphic design, fundraising, and a number of research projects

Aton Forest
P.O. Box 509, Norfolk
917-679-1426

Colebrook Land Conservancy

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

Organized in 1986, The Colebrook Land Conservancy, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Colebrook’s rural character through the conservation of its natural resources. The Conservancy protects 1,306 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and scenic roadsides, as well as the historic Hale Farm. An important part of the Conservancy’s mission is fostering an appreciation of the environment. To that end, they sponsor a variety of educational and recreational activities throughout the year.

Colebrook Land Conservancy
P.O. Box 90, Colebrook
860-379-1679

Bridgewater Land Trust

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

The Bridgewater Land Trust was founded in 1987. A non-profit organization administered by town residents, the Land Trust supports a variety of conservation and education activities aimed at protecting Bridgewater’s natural resources, including land acquisition and donation, conservation easements, support of local farms, and sponsorship of educational and other programs. Their mission is “Preserve. Protect. Care.”

Becoming a Bridgewater Land Trust volunteer is a wonderful way to connect with like-minded others as well as a chance to get to know the people who steer and support the organization. Volunteered time, energy, and talents are invested locally, in the community, and all efforts translate into visible, living, lasting results.

Bridgewater Land Trust
P.O. Box 8, Bridgewater
860-355-8233

Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy is the land trust resulting from the merger of Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust and Naromi Land Trust. As a guardian of natural and working lands, public recreation areas, and drinking water resources, they permanently protect over 12,000 acres of vast, connected natural areas, including 23 public preserves with hiking trails and more than 30 working farms.

Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
P.O. Box 821, Kent
860-927-1927

Watertown Land Trust

June 12, 2020 Mary Beth Lawlor

The Watertown Land Trust is a non-profit organization chartered in 1974 for the purpose of preserving open space in Watertown. Since that time, they have acquired over 242 acres of open land which is available for public use for passive recreation and education.

The Watertown Land Trust is always looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers!

Watertown Land Trust
P.O. Box 382, Watertown
860-274-0831

Living Well in Litchfield County, Connecticut

Mary Beth Lawlor