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Darien Land Trust

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Darien Land Trust

The Darien Land Trust preserves natural space, connects our community with nature and promotes conservation awareness to protect land now and forever.

Through the adoption of and adherence to The Land Trust Alliance’s Best Standards and Practices, our organization has reached a high level of professionalism. This is essential for the responsible operation of a Land Trust and ensures that a land trust operates legally, ethically and in the public interest. It also establishes a sound program of land transactions and stewardship.

06/16/2026

📆 THIS Thursday: Join Us for Something Extraordinary 🎥

Join us on June 18 at 7:00 PM at Darien Library for a fascinating look at the tiny creatures that power our ecosystems. 🐛

Through stunning close-up photography, The Extraordinary Caterpillar reveals the hidden world of caterpillars and their essential role in supporting birds, wildlife, and healthy habitats. You may never look at your backyard the same way again! 🐦

🌿 Discover why these small creatures have such a big impact and what we can do to help them thrive.

Register here ⬇
🔗 https://www.darienlibrary.org/event/the-extraordinary-caterpillar-98673

Many thanks to our partners 👏

06/11/2026

🌼 This spring, we've been listening.👂

In the survey, residents shared what they love most about Darien, its tree-lined streets, open meadows, woodlands, and coastal landscapes. 🌊 They also voiced concerns about flooding, loss of mature trees, invasive species, and the future of our natural spaces.🌳

We hear you.🗣

That's why the Darien Land Trust continues to protect open space, care for our preserves, advocate for thoughtful environmental policies, and promote conservation awareness through education and community partnerships. 🌿

But we can't do this work alone.

Your support makes our work possible. Every gift strengthens our ability to preserve the natural spaces that make Darien such a beautiful place to live. 🌻

As we approach the end of our fiscal year on June 30, we invite you to make a donation and invest in the future of Darien's open spaces. Together, we can ensure that these treasured landscapes remain healthy, accessible, and protected for generations to come. 🌅

Please Give Today 💚
🔗 https://darienlandtrust.org/

📸 Photos by and

06/09/2026

⛏️ Stewardship Saturday at McPherson Meadow! 💪

Last Saturday, volunteers spent the morning applying cardboard and wood chips in portions of the pollinator garden as we work to manage the spread of mugwort and give native plants a better opportunity to thrive. 🌱

Along the way, we discovered what appeared to be a colony of ground-nesting native bumble bees, prompting us to pause work in that area. 🐝

A special thank you to Amy Doering for surprising us with a flat of butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). 🦋 It was especially rewarding to add this beautiful native plant to the meadow. 🌾 Butterfly milkweed is a favorite of monarch butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, providing valuable habitat while bringing vibrant color (bright orange or sometimes yellow/red) to the landscape. It thrives in full sun 🌞 and well-drained soil, is deer resistant 🦌 and is a crucial host plant for monarch caterpillars 🐛 and has a clear, watery sap instead of the milky sap of other milkweeds.

Nature also treated us to an exciting wildlife sighting, a female snapping turtle, likely searching for a place to lay her eggs. 🐢

From caring for our gardens and trails to protecting wildlife, every Stewardship Saturday reminds us how much there is to discover and preserve. 🌿 Thank you to our volunteers for helping keep McPherson Meadow thriving! 💚

06/06/2026

🌿 Discovering a Hidden Gem 💎

We were delighted to host a group of seniors from for a guided walk at Olson Woods.🚶‍♀️Many of our guests have lived in town for 50 years or more, yet were visiting the preserve for the very first time. We lovingly refer to it as a "hidden gem" and for good reason!

Several participants left with plans to return soon with their grandchildren to share the experience.👶

Along the way, we discussed the Darien Land Trust's ongoing restoration efforts, including plans to address historical dumping, expand native plantings to help manage invasive species, and create a new parking area off Hoyt Street that we hope to complete this fall. 🍂🚧

Nature did not disappoint. The group spotted the lone swan that has recently returned to the preserve, along with mallards, Canada Geese, painted turtles, and a beautiful array of spring wildflowers. 🦆🐢 One guest brought a wealth of knowledge about native trees and plants, enriching the experience for everyone.🌳🌻

From the cottony fluff of Eastern Cottonwoods drifting across the forest floor like fresh snow to the peaceful views along the Noroton River and pond edge, it was a perfect morning to explore the woods, connect with nature, and make new friends.🌅

Thank you to our friends at At Home in Darien for joining us!

06/05/2026

📆 Film Screening on 6/18: The Extraordinary Caterpillar 🎥

In The Extraordinary Caterpillar, renowned ecologist Dr. Doug Tallamy, co-founder of reveals the vital role caterpillars play in supporting biodiversity. 🐛 These tiny creatures are the engine of food webs—feeding birds, supporting pollinators, and helping ecosystems thrive. 🐦

Featuring stunning photography by naturalist Sam Jaffe of , this fascinating presentation offers an up-close look at one of nature's most important and often overlooked superheroes. 🦸‍♂️

📅 Thursday, June 18 | 7-8 pm
📍 Darien Library, 1441 Post Road
🔗 Register here ➡ https://www.darienlibrary.org/event/the-extraordinary-caterpillar-98673

Many thanks to our co-hosts for making this event possible! 🙏

06/01/2026

📆 Join us for Stewardship Saturday on 6/6! 🌿

This coming Saturday, we'll be rolling up our sleeves at McPherson Meadow to help care for some of Darien's treasured open spaces. Projects include restoring a forest trail, managing invasive species in the pollinator garden, and clearing trees at nearby Mather Meadow West.🌳

Please bring work gloves and, if you have them, a shovel, rake and wheelbarrow.

🙏 Let us know if you're coming! Register here ⬇
🔗 https://darienlandtrust.org/news/

05/30/2026

🌿 Welcome Tommy & Shawn! 🌿

We’re excited to welcome our new Darien High School interns to the Darien Land Trust! Every day is different at the land trust, and Tommy and Shawn are ready to pitch in and help wherever needed, from planting native trees and removing invasive plants to digitizing land records and assisting with our spring appeal.🌳📬

We are so grateful for their help! 💚

05/28/2026

🇺🇸 Memorial Day Parade! The weather wasn't pretty but it was a party! Thank you for the enthusiasm Darien! ❤️🤍💙

05/20/2026

🐝 Happy World Bee Day 🐝

Why all the buzz about bees? Because our food supply, and healthy ecosystems, depend on them!

🌼 Bees pollinate about 75% of the world’s leading crops
🍎 Approximately one-third of the food we eat relies on pollination
🌳 By pollinating wild plants, bees help forests, meadows, and other natural habitats thrive, providing food and shelter for countless species

At the Darien Land Trust, we’re proud to host 21 bee hives across 9 properties, cared for by longtime apiarist Peet Foster. 🍯

Bees, like land, need protecting. 💛 Their population is threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change and disease.

Bring back bees! Plant native flowers especially those with blue, yellow and purple blooms. 🌻

📸

05/16/2026

🔍 Spotted! Ethan Tapper, Our Annual Meeting Speaker 🌱

We’re excited to announce that Ethan Tapper will be our featured speaker at our Annual Meeting in November. 📆

Recently, our Executive Director Elizabeth Mathus had the opportunity to hear Ethan speak in Bedford, NY and left inspired by his thoughtful, honest approach to forests, conservation, and stewardship. 🌳

A forest ecologist, best-selling author, digital storyteller, and nationally recognized voice on rethinking our relationship with nature, Ethan is the author of , an internationally acclaimed book that blends science, history, and personal experience to challenge conventional ideas about “good” and “bad” nature, invasive species, and what it truly means to care for our forests. 💚

📖 Add How to Love a Forest to your summer reading list, and save the date for what promises to be an inspiring evening.

📅 Thursday, November 12 | 6:30 pm
📍 Darien Library

Address

P. O. Box 1074
Darien, CT
06820

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12036554148

Website

http://www.darienlandtrust.org/

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