Branford Land Trust

09/07/2026

CT DEEP Wildlife Survey 2026
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8937512/704b50883ab2

08/21/2026

Many thanks to Nate McKenzie and Ascent New Haven for the generous donation of retired climbing ropes! The ropes will be used for guide ropes along the accessible trail planned for Todds Hill Wet Meadow Preserve. Our accessibility consultant recommended climbing ropes because they are strong but don't cause rope burn. Ascent is such a cool climbing gym!

https://ascentclimbinggym.com

08/17/2026

Possum - Connecticut's only marsupial - caught on a trail camera in Sybil Creek marsh!
https://portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/fact-sheets/opossum?archived=true

https://ferncroftwildlife.com

08/16/2026

BLT directors and advisors came to the Land Trust House open house today to see the progress being made on the rehabilitation of our historic headquarters! The goals are structural integrity, historic preservation, energy efficiency and accessibility. Thanks to Bill C for chairing the buildings committee and to Kathryn H for providing refreshments.

08/13/2026

Learn about the Spotted Lantern Fly and how you can help control it by managing Tree of Heaven on your property.

The spotted lanternfly, a new invasive insect in the U.S., is about an inch long with tan wings marked by black spots and striking red-and-black hindwings. Active from July to November, these pests can crawl, jump, or fly short distances.

08/06/2026

BLT received a grant to hire a professional forester to create a detailed management plan for our Van Wie Woods preserve using climate smart practices. The Climate-Smart Land Stewardship Grant was awarded by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council! The plan will guide BLT's management activities on the property.

Van Wie Woods is one of BLT's oldest and largest preserves and it's the site of our long-running annual fall hike. We regularly have other hikes, work parties, Trail Crew workdays and Invasive Wrangler activities there. We also had our children's Fairy House program there. The preserve is named after the Van Wie family who donated the land.

This grant program, and CLCC's accompanying outreach and technical assistance, elevates the role of conserved lands in providing natural climate solutions. Funding for this grant program was paid for by the Climate-Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant. Funding is awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

Check out BLT on the grant's story map here! https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2e65e5fdc4a5492aa448daac4057ee5b

07/31/2026

Check out the BLT trails crew hard at work! Taking down a dead tree to make way for improvements on Todds Hill Wet Meadow Preserve. We are so lucky to have several Master Woodlands Managers on our all-volunteer crew. Also note the trails crew meeting later in the week...they exchanged chainsaws for phones :)

07/30/2026

Magical light on Hoadley Creek

07/27/2026

A chance meeting of butterfly lovers at the upper Medlyn field yesterday. It's the season for monarchs to lay eggs on milkweed plants!

07/26/2026

This morning BLT invited neighbors of Todds Hill Wet Meadow Preserve to walk the site's proposed accessible trail and provide community input. We spoke with 6 households this morning and also had a great walk (our young friend found a toad!). Check out the mock-up of trail and boardwalk surfaces along Todds Hill Road.