Granby Land Trust

Coming land trust events

By |
Print More

Eastern bluebirds building their nest in one of the Granby Land Trust’s nesting boxes at Stevenson Field in the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. These beautiful birds are a sure sign of spring—and a reminder of how important protected spaces are for local wildlife. GLT Member Martha Kane manages a nesting box program on the Dismal Brook and Seth and Lucy Holcombe preserves and the Mary Edwards Mountain Property. Photo by Merle Yoder

Dam It: Partnering With Beavers To Save The Planet

May 7 at 6:30 p.m. in Community Room at the Granby Senior Center

Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, will join us via Zoom to share information on these fascinating animals and discuss the ways we can partner with beavers to heal the planet.

Goldfarb argues that the consequences of losing beavers have been profound: streams eroded, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Learn how beavers, a keystone species, can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, extinction, and climate change—and how we can learn to coexist with our fellow travelers on this planet.

This program is sponsored by the Granby Land Trust, with support from the Granby Public Library and the McLean Game Refuge. Go to Granbylandtrust.org/events to register.

Spring Migration Bird Walks

May 9 and May 10, 7 a.m. at GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, 253 Loomis Street, North Granby

An annual tradition, the GLT’s Mother’s Day weekend spring migration bird walks led by expert birders John Weeks and Christine Chinni is a special morning in the woods.

Space is limited and priority will go to GLT members. Children old enough to handle binoculars are welcome to participate. Please leave your dogs at home. Register via email to John Weeks at aerie.john@cox.net (or call 959-222-9978). Please specify which day you prefer—May 9 or May 10. If there is enough interest, we will add weekday walks as well.

Eastern bluebirds building their nest in one of the Granby Land Trust’s nesting boxes at Stevenson Field in the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. These beautiful birds are a sure sign of spring—and a reminder of how important protected spaces are for local wildlife. GLT Member Martha Kane manages a nesting box program on the Dismal Brook and Seth and Lucy Holcombe preserves and the Mary Edwards Mountain Property. Photo by Merle Yoder
One of the earliest returning songbirds each spring, pine warblers often stay high in pine trees, filling the air with their musical trill. Their subtle yellow-green plumage blends beautifully with the needles, making them a rewarding find for patient birders scanning the treetops. Photo by Merle Yoder

Preserve Our Properties Day

May 31, 12–2 p.m. at Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve, Silver Street, North Granby

Lend a hand at a volunteer work party on the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve. We will meet at the trailhead on Silver Street. Please bring shovels, rakes, loppers, clippers and weed whackers, and wear long-sleeved shirts and gloves. Let us know if you’ll be able to help by emailing info@granbylandtrust.org We hope you can join us!

More than 20 hard working members showed up for the Granby Land Trust’s most recent Preserve Our Properties Day on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. They cleared the trails of fallen leaves, cleared the Creamer Pond spillway of beaver debris, refurbished water crossings and more. The GLT thanks these hardy volunteers for their enthusiastic support. Photos by Rick Orluk and Shirley Murtha

CT Trails Day–Crag Mountain Ridgeline Hike

June 7, 1–3 p.m. at Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve, Silver Street, North Granby

Enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly nature hike guided by GLT Board Member Jennifer Plourde, an experienced science teacher who brings the outdoors to life in fun and engaging ways. This easy-paced walk is perfect for kids and adults alike, with plenty of stops to explore plants, observe wildlife and learn how local ecosystems work. You’ll discover fascinating facts about trees, insects and birds, and learn how to notice the small details that make nature so interesting.

We’ll start on the GLT’s Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve in North Granby, then proceed up Crag Mountain on the GLT’s Emery Family Preserve and Hart Family Preserve. At the top, we will take time to enjoy the views to the east and the west before descending back to the parking lot. Learn more at Granbylandtrust.org/events Register via email at info@granbylandtrust.org