Bethany Land Trust, Inc.

10/31/2026

All invited to our Fall Program

10/06/2026

HIKE POSTPONED
Looks like rain for Sunday afternoon October 11th, so the hike will be postponed until Sunday December 13th, 1 - 3 PM, meeting at 101 Russell Road in Bethany. Hope you can make it then.

October Hike This Sunday- Native American Ceremonial Stone Structures
Sunday, October 11th, 1-3pm;
Hidden Brook Preserve, 101 Russell Rd Bethany
Off-road parking on site

We have a small portal into the world of indigenous peoples who lived here for thousands of years in the ceremonial stone structures that still exist and have been identified in Bethany.

Similar stone groupings are found throughout New England and are thought to be hundreds or even thousands of years old. Join us for a walk in Whispering Pines to learn more about these historical structures with our guide, Carol Lambiase, Bethany Land Trust President.

All are welcome but please leave your pets at home.
Inclement weather will cancel.

TO REGISTER:
Contact Bob Harrison by Friday, October 9th
via cell at 203-506-5888 or [email protected]

10/01/2026

From land trust folks in Prospect

The Prospect Land Trust in Prospect, CT, conserves a total of 143 acres. This includes various parcels of land that are preserved for their scenic, natural, and historical value as well as parcels that offer hiking trails, providing educational and recreational benefits for the community.  Followin...

09/27/2026

Mary Oliver, an American poet, Featured on PBS American Masters

When you walk through Mendells Folly, you may come across trailside kiosks like the one pictured that are part of the Land Trust’s Poetry in the Woods Poetry Trail. At one of these kiosks, you can use your phone to listen to the Mary Oliver’s poem, “Wild Geese” recited by the author herself.

Mary Oliver, known for her insightful writing on nature, beauty and love, inspired many creative minds with more than 30 collections of poems and essays. Follow her life and career in American Masters – Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/mary-oliver-documentary/37967/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23925531005&gbraid=0AAAABD5nLkWbwhhHH0UfQ_tAU5DMlWm6u&gclid=CjwKCAjw_eLVBhBEEiwAeaYZfJkn6Z1Qf-HEVJg51XJ9JSB8Nr4Md8gofdyaIeTxYBPj77ziaSLoRhoCy6AQAvD_BwE

The Bethany Land Trust’s Poetry in the Woods Poetry Trail is the first of its kind in the state of Connecticut. The Land Trust partnered with the Connecticut Poetry Society to create this initiative. For more info, visit our website: https://bethanylandtrust.org/poetry-in-the-woods-cts-first-poetry-trail/

09/07/2026

9/20 ANOTHER RAINOUT- TODAY'S HIKE CANCELLED
We plan to include this hike in our 2027 series of hikes -stay tuned!!

RAINOUT - HIKE POSTPONED UNTIL SUNDAY 9/20 FROM 1 - 3 PM SAME LOCATION

SCAVENGER HUNT MONTHLY HIKE - Sunday, Sept 13th, 1-3 PM - a fantastic way to turn a walk in the woods into an engaging adventure for adults and kids.

Join us for this hike of less than a mile along the trails of the Van Epps Preserve, a 20-acre parcel with diverse natural features and an abundance of plants and animals. Participants will receive a checklist of items (similar to the one in the photo) to discover during the walk. We are hoping to encourage observation and sensory exploration of the natural world.

When: Sunday September 13th, 1 – 3 PM
Where: Van Epps Preserve, 390 Beacon Road (Route 42) Bethany
Parking: Off road parking available; look for the green Land Trust banner

To register: Contact Bob Harrison by Friday, September 11th via cell at 203-506-5888 or [email protected]

All are welcome but please leave your pets at home. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and snacks. Inclement weather will cancel. Space limited to 25 registered hikers.

08/25/2026

Hi Everyone,

Last week, we worked at the Car Park at 101 Russell Road. We removed the Japanese Knotw**d that was smothering the recent plantings and emerging in the parking lot; cleared the entrance area; and spread the remaining wood chips along the stone wall at the entrance.

This week, we will work at Woodward Preserve. There are 2 main projects. One is walking the trail to clear it of w**ds and invasives. Loppers, pruners, root slayers, and w**d whackers will be useful. The other project is blocking the entrance used by quads and dirt bikes, which continue to scour the trails at Woodward, Simpson, and Veterans Park. For this, heavy implements will be needed to dislodge and roll large boulders onto the trail.

We will meet at the Woodward Preserve at 46 Mesa Drive at 9 AM on Wednesday.

Hope to see you then!

08/18/2026

Trail Crew Activities

Hi Everyone,

Last week we cleared trails and pulled invasives at Simpson and at Veterans Park in preparation for the haunting Bethany Bog hike which took place Sunday.

This week, we are returning to the Car Park at 101 Russell Road. The knotw**d has reemerged in force, we need to do some w**ding, spread the remaining wood chips and hang two trail signs. Useful tools include loppers, pruners, root slayers, and wheelbarrows and pitchforks for spreading the wood chips, and a drill and nails for the signs.

Meet at the Car Park, 101 Russell Road Bethany at 9 AM on Wednesday.

Hope you can make it!

08/17/2026

Hike up to the Bethany Bog - Yesterday, close to 40 of us hiked the trails in Veterans Memorial Park up to the Bethany Bog, located above the lake to the northeast. The Bethany Bog, formerly known as Lebanon Swamp, is the source of Hockanum Brook, which flows west from the bog through Veterans Park, Simpson Preserve and Mendell’s Folly emptying into the Naugatuck River in Beacon Falls.

Along the way, Peter Rzasa told us that the area's charcoal industry once provided fuel in the 18th and early 19th centuries for the Naugatuck Valley brass industry. Carol Lambiase described some of history of Native American ceremonial stone structures in the area. Looking out over the bog, Beth Evans detailed some of the ecological characteristics that classify a wetland as a bog and how recent beaver activity has changed its conditions.

Photos provided by Patty Wey, Carol Lambiase and Becki Kula-Hildrew

08/11/2026

A Visit to the Bethany Bog - Sunday August 16th, 1 - 3 PM

This coming Sunday, August 16th, from 1 – 3 PM, we’ll be hitting the trails behind the lake in Veterans Memorial Park hiking up to the Bethany Bog, a peat bog with several historical connections to Bethany.

Looking at the bog today, it’s hard to imagine that at one time, a small sailboat plied its waters. There’s some beaver activity in the area and what we think may be two Native American ceremonial stone structures.

The hike is about 2.5 miles long; bring snacks, fluids and bug repellent. Meet in the Veterans Memorial Park parking area, 265 Beacon Road, at 1PM.

To register: contact Bob Harrison via cell at 203-506-5888 or [email protected]

07/29/2026

Video of June 14th History Hike in Three Sisters Preserve

As part of Bethany Celebrates America weekend in June, the Land Trust and the Bethany Historical Society co-sponsored a history hike on Sunday June 14th in the Three Sisters Preserve.

Here's a video that provides highlights of the hike:

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