Hilltown Land Trust

05/29/2026

Curious about salamanders? Two spots just opened up in our Salamander Biodiversity Monitoring workshop tomorrow! Register now for a fun, family-friendly Saturday afternoon of amphibian counting for science:

Biodiversity Monitoring Training: Red-Backed Salamanders May 30, 2026 Date/Time Date(s) - May 30th, 20261:30 pm - 4:30 pm Photo by Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. Contribute to community science and learn about ecology in a supportive environment at HLT’s new biodiversity monitoring program s...

05/14/2026

05/13/2026

Cummington has got it going on this spring! Check out these pollinator learning opportunities.

05/04/2026

Hilltown Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy teamed up earlier this spring to organize a potluck and walk for neighbors in Chesterfield and Worthington. Hilltown Land Trust conservation land landowners generously hosted the event and led a walk around their property showing off a recent forestry project in their woods. After the walk the group enjoyed a potluck and shared insights on stewardship and conservation.


Photo Descriptions:
1. A spread-out group walks away from the camera through a field.
2. A group walks away from the camera on a trail in the woods.

05/02/2026

Thanks to an intergenerational group of hard workers the trails at HLT’s Bradley Sanctuary are looking spiffy just in time for the warm weather! Volunteers completed the reroute of the eroding Nichols Brook trail and improved the existing trails to prevent further erosion. Enjoy the freshly blazed Nichols Brook ridge trail this spring!

Photo descriptions:
1: A group of volunteers poses for a group photo with their tools.
2: Two volunteers work on a freshly improved woods trail.
3: Two volunteers pose with their tools on a freshly improved woods trail.

05/01/2026

This Friday, May 1st, right in Ashfield! Check it out! 💗🔥

Experience the Indigenous practice of making a dugout canoe in Ashfield. Witness the mishoon burn led by No Loose Braids at Belding Memorial Park.

04/28/2026

Curious vernal pool explorers convened in Plainfield last week to learn the vernal pool data collection process from Hilltown Land Trust volunteer Nellie Wilson. Data on potential vernal pools is sent to the state’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program to be considered for certification. Certifying vernal pools helps ensure the permanent protection of these fragile habitats. After spending the day identifying amphibian egg masses and macroinvertebrates participants left feeling inspired to continue to explore and protect pools across the Hilltowns.

Photo descriptions:
1: A group of people smile for a group photo in front of pine trees and two small bodies of water.
2: Several people with their backs to the camera peer into a vernal pool.
3: A group clustered together smile as they peer into a tray of water.

04/07/2026

Today is Give Back to the Land Day 2026!

The crocus are peeking! The sun is shining!

Please support HLT’s goal of raising $20K to support conservation and care for wildlife habitat with a gift today: https://www.hilltownlandtrust.org/give-back-to-the-land-day-2

02/25/2026

We are lucky to have spotted a mink several times this fall at an HLT conservation property in the hilltowns. The quick movements captured on camera are key to the species’ survival. Minks are solitary creatures with an ambitious diet and aggressive hunting style. They eat a range of aquatic and terrestrial animals including small mammals, birds, frogs, insects, and fish. They are not afraid to prey on animals larger than themselves. They rely on their keen sense of smell to locate prey and capture them utilizing stealth, surprise and speed. It’s no wonder we only catch a glimpse of this sneaky creature in each of these clips!


Video Description: A compilation of four videos set on a beaver dam in the fall. In each video a mink appears on screen and then quickly slides into the water or darts across the dam.

02/19/2026

We love our friends at the Senior Snowshoes! All Out Adventures