Bethany Land Trust, Inc.

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:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/21/2026

Hidden Treasures of the Bethany Woods: Discovering Connecticut's Fascinating Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a common and fascinating part of the woodland ecosystem in Bethany, Connecticut, where they grow on the forest floor, fallen logs, and decaying trees throughout much of the year. Recent weather conditions such as rainfall, humidity, and warm temperatures have encouraged new mushrooms to appear in Land Trust preserves.

They play an important role in breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil, helping keep the forest healthy. The variety of mushrooms found in these woods includes many shapes, sizes, and colors, reflecting the rich diversity of local fungi. Because many mushrooms can look similar despite having very different properties, they should never be eaten unless they have been confidently identified by an experienced expert.

Searching for mushrooms in their natural habitat is another reason to take a summer walk in our many preserves, appreciating the biodiversity of Connecticut's forests.

https://bethanylandtrust.org/preserves-town-map/

07/21/2026

Hi Everyone,

Last week we worked at Carrington Lowell, clearing the trails and removing poison ivy and invasives and a tree across the trail.

The week we will be working at Simpson Preserve. There are 3 main projects:

1. Move a huge log at the Lebanon Rd trail entrance into a different position to better protect the preserve from off road vehicles. Useful tools will include rockbars.

2. Install trail signs. Useful tools will include a drill and screws.

3. Clear trails and removes invasives. Useful tools will include loppers, w**d whackers and root slayers.

Feel free to join in on any of the projects!

We will meet at the end of Lebanon Road at 9 AM on Wednesday. Rain cancels

07/15/2026

NOTE: DATE AND TIME HAVE CHANGED

07/11/2026

First International Member of Loop Trail Hall of Fame!!!

While visiting the United States, Su Zhao of Jinan, China became the first international member of the Land Trust’s Loop Trail Hall of Fame.

On June 29th and 30th, she and Paul Stabach of Woodbridge completed hiking the Southern Blue Loop and the Northern Green Loop Trails and submitted photos of their hikes to become eligible. For their efforts, Su and Paul each received a Land Trust tee shirt, a Hall of Fame ceramic pin, and will be added to Hall of Fame roster on the Land Trust website. They are the 5th and 6th hikers thus far to be enshrined.

Congratulations!

The Loop Trail Hall of fame was created in 2026 to recognize hikers who have hiked the two loop trails in Bethany, the Southern Blue Loop Trail and the Northern Green Loop Trail. The Land Trust invites hikers of all interests to enjoy our many trails but have decided to feature those who’ve completed two of our longer trails.

For full membership criteria, visit our website: https://bethanylandtrust.org/join-the-bethany-land-trust-loop-trail-hall-of-fame/

06/30/2026

Trail Crew Activities

Last week we worked at the 101 Russell Road parking area. In the few weeks since we dug it up by the roots, Japanese Knotw**d had sent up many new shoots, engulfing the landscape plants we installed. And a new pile of wood chips and 15 donated sedge plants were waiting for us to install. We dealt with the knotw**d, w**ded, planted the sedge and distributed the wood chips.

This week, we are going to work at Hall Preserve. The trail is completely overgrown with high w**ds. So we will clear the trail and push back against the Japanese Barberry and multiflora rose. Useful tools will include w**d whackers, loppers, and invasive removal tools.

We will meet at 152 Downs Road at 9 on Wednesday July 3
Hope to see you then!