Kestrel Land Trust

05/28/2026

Thank you to all the Florence Bank customers who voted for Kestrel to receive a Customer's Choice grant! And thank you to Florence Bank for hosting Katie, Ari, and Falco the kestrel puppet at the reception last week. We are honored to have received this grant and grateful to be part of this generous community!

On Tuesday, May 19, we held a reception for our 24th Annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants program at the Garden House at Look Memorial Park. A total of 40 local nonprofits were awarded a share of the $150,000 grant pool based on Florence Bank customer votes that were received in 2025.

Congratulations to this year’s winners for lifting spirits, raising awareness, and improving lives. Because when you vote, everyone wins.

Read More: bit.ly/4nLyLJc
2025 Grant Winners: bit.ly/4wWe69s

• Member FDIC | Member DIF

05/14/2026

What matters to you about our local waterways? Share your feedback with our partners at the Connecticut River Conservancy through their community survey: Only through the end of May, so don't wait!

Take the Watershed Community Survey to Help Inform Reporting! 💧

The Connecticut River Conservancy is seeking community input in a brief survey as part of the creation of a State of the Connecticut River Watershed Report. Anyone who lives, works, or has experience in the Connecticut River watershed (in NH, VT, MA, or CT) is encouraged to participate.

The survey asks about your experience with local waterways, priorities and concerns related to the environment, and the kind of reporting information that would be most valuable for you. Responses will be accepted through the end of May, 2026. Take the survey here 👉 https://qrto.org/VPrJc0

05/01/2026

If you live near Lake Warner in Hadley—or if you’ve never been there—here’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy this special little area! The Friends of Lake Warner & The Mill River are hosting local bird expert John Green for a morning birding walk at the pond on Sunday. Check it out!

We are so pleased, to once again, have one of the Valley's most well-known birders, John Green, join us this Sunday at the Lake Warner peninsula to welcome back the many birds that call Lake Warner their home.

John is a dedicated naturalist, birdwatcher, photographer, and naturalist. With over five decades of experience, John has been a prominent figure in environmental education, leading programs at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment and other organizations.
John's journey into birding began in Philadelphia, where he worked for the US Forest Service and later transferred to a field unit at UMass Amherst to conduct bird surveys1. His expertise in bird identification, calls, and migration patterns has made him a respected mentor in the birding community.

John is known for his gentle birding walks, where he shares his extensive knowledge with bird enthusiasts of all levels. He has a passion for making birding accessible and inclusive, often collaborating with groups like the Antiracist Collective of Avid Birders.

As we did last spring, we hope to create fond memories while connecting with the natural habitat of Lake Warner.

Date: May 3, 2026
Time: 8:00am
Location: Lake Warner Peninsula on Stockbridge Road, Hadley
Register: https://book.peek.com/s/35c5e121-138e-4b51-866e-ed771e1638ee/z79rw

We hope to see you there and appreciate your support.

04/26/2026

Looking forward to joining our friends to share stories of the river!

Walking Rivers is a global initiative inviting people to walk along their local rivers and celebrate their beauty and importance. We will be hosting a walk in North Amherst on May 16th along with our friends at Kestrel Land Trust and Connecticut River Conservancy - we hope to see you there!🚶🏼🚶🏾‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏻
Learn more and register here: https://forms.gle/qbqsPh7ZT8TU1iL19

04/22/2026

From April 24-27, people from 700+ cities are using to share observations of plants and animals and we want YOU to join! Support Kestrel’s conservation efforts by joining the world’s largest event and documenting the biodiversity of The Valley you love. Swipe to learn how to join ->

04/22/2026

🌎 As the sun sets on another Earth Day, just a reminder that tomorrow is still a day to love and care for our planet.

💚 Thanks to Steve Gingold for this image of the Mt. Holyoke Range from Mt. Pollux in Amherst.

04/22/2026

Do you love Nature? Want to help Kestrel and other organizations document the species that make our Valley so unique? Join the City Nature Challenge Western Mass Cohort and sign up for one of Kestrel’s free walks: 4/25 in Holyoke or 4/26 in Amherst! Each walk includes a comprehensive iNaturalist training and other fun family friendly activities. Register at https://www.kestreltrust.org/calendar/join-the-bioblitz-city-nature-challenge-in-the-valley/

04/21/2026

What an awesome evening! We had a full house for our spring Wild & Scenic Film Festival at Smith College in Northampton on Friday: it was so much fun to see so many friends old and new being inspired and feeling hopeful together. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and we hope to see you next year! (If you want to make sure you don't miss it, be sure to sign up to receive Kestrel's eNews.)

04/16/2026

🙏 The work we do is only possible with the support of our community, whether as individuals or businesses. We're grateful to Mark Lantz, owner of Cozy Home Performance, who has been a generous supporter of Kestrel's work for years. Mark cares deeply about our environment and creating a sustainable future, and we're thrilled for his ongoing commitment to conserving the land that will help sustain our planet.

Thank you, Mark and Cozy Home Performance, LLC team! Learn more at their page.

FYI: Tickets are ALMOST sold out for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, so if you want to join us, don't wait to reserve your seat! https://www.kestreltrust.org/connect/events/

04/15/2026

🙏 The work we do is only possible with the support of our community, whether as individuals or businesses. We're grateful to Craig Della Penna with the The Murphy's Realtors Trailside Team who has been a generous supporter of Kestrel's work for many years. Craig is passionate about trails, especially the Rail Trail, and we're thrilled for his ongoing commitment to the land for people and for nature. You can learn more about them here: https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/innovator. Thank you, Craig and team!

Tickets are ALMOST sold out for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, so if you want to join us, don't wait to reserve your seat! https://www.kestreltrust.org/connect/events/

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