Friends of Topsmead State Forest

Friends of Topsmead State Forest The Friends of Topsmead State Forest (FTSF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) which promotes the legacy of Topsmead through programs and activities.
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The CT DEEP seasonal employees and volunteer docents from the Friends of Topsmead will again this year be offering tours...
06/11/2026

The CT DEEP seasonal employees and volunteer docents from the Friends of Topsmead will again this year be offering tours of the 1925 Cotswold style home of Edith Morton Chase on the second and fourth weekends of June, July, August, September concluding on October 10th & 11th.

This year the house will open one hour earlier at 11 o'clock and close one hour earlier at 4 p.m. to better accommodate when visitors desire tours. Guided tours are free, reservations are not required. Tour group size is limited to eight people. Meet your guide at the front door of the house on either the hour or half-hour.

If you find you need to wait for the next tour, please enjoy the gardens that were originally designed for Miss Chase by Ellen Shipman, one of this country's first female landscape designers. Her work includes the Sarah P. Duke gardens at Duke University and numerous private and public gardens throughout the United States.

Please note that the house is not wheelchair-accessible and the tour involves going up and down stairs.

The Friends of Topsmead Scholarship Committee along with our Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of ...
06/11/2026

The Friends of Topsmead Scholarship Committee along with our Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of our 2026 scholarship award winner. She is Haylen Sincovic of Torrington, Connecticut. Haylen will be studying both environmental science and illustration at the University of Hartford, combining her creativity with a scientific foundation. Her goal is to pursue a career advancing and advocating for ecological preservation. She exemplifies the type of student whom we hope will benefit from this scholarship.

Our objective with this program is to support students seeking future careers in environmental management, including preservation or conservation of our collective historic heritage. We intend to invest in the future of parks like Topsmead by investing in people with a passion for stewardship of our environment and sustainability of our natural and historic resources. As such, we are excited to make a contribution to future stewards of our natural world, such as Haylen.

Latest Musings from Top O' the Meadow with Margaret HuntThis month's May weather seemed to be working hard to settle dow...
06/10/2026

Latest Musings from Top O' the Meadow with Margaret Hunt
This month's May weather seemed to be working hard to settle down and truly be spring. The crabapple trees along the drive leading to Miss Edith Morton Chase's Topsmead cottage and the lilacs around the cottage were promising fragrant blossoms, but I couldn't resist comparing the inconsistent weather with the unsettled state of our nation and the world. Read more on the Friends of Topsmead website: https://www.friendsoftopsmead.org/musings

05/05/2026

Welcome to May at Topsmead where nature is in full bloom, the bluebirds are returning, and docents are preparing the Chase Cottage for tours to start in June. We look forward to seeing you at Topsmead. Of course, dogs are welcome, but they must be on a leash for the comfort and safety of all guests as well as all wildlife on the property.

EVENT REMINDER THIS WEEKEND
05/01/2026

EVENT REMINDER THIS WEEKEND

We have really great news! Friends of Topsmead State Forest has been selected again as a nonprofit partner in the Stop &...
04/30/2026

We have really great news! Friends of Topsmead State Forest has been selected again as a nonprofit partner in the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program.

This time, your organization will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Community Bag sold during the month of May 2026 at your designated Stop & Shop location(s):

55 Village Green Drive, Litchfield CT

From your Friends at Topsmead, thank you for your continued support!

We are excited to launch the Litchfield 250 Conservation Challenge—an initiative encouraging 250 acts of responsible con...
04/24/2026

We are excited to launch the Litchfield 250 Conservation Challenge—an initiative encouraging 250 acts of responsible conservation in honor of America’s 250th birthday! We invite community members, individuals, and groups to complete Acts of Conservation throughout Litchfield and share them with us. Our goal is to reach 250 different acts by July 4, 2026 (America’s official 250th birthday). Whether you complete an act on your own or participate in one of our upcoming conservation events (more details to come), every act contributes to the greater cause of protecting land, water, wildlife, and our shared natural spaces for the next 250 years!
For more information or to submit your Act of Conservation, visit: Litchfield 250 Conservation Challenge. Share your photos using the hashtag to inspire others to get involved! Each act, big or small, helps build a lasting legacy. Thank you!

Give Local 2026 is still happening! Please help us reach our $3,000 goal in support of our ongoing projects at Topsmead ...
04/22/2026

Give Local 2026 is still happening! Please help us reach our $3,000 goal in support of our ongoing projects at Topsmead including continuing the beautification of Topsmead gardens, providing for the restoration of the dolphin head fountain, and increasing the number of Friends of Topsmead Scholarship offerings.

https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/friends-of-topsmead-state-forest

Your friends at Topsmead invite you to take a hike today. Enjoy!
01/01/2026

Your friends at Topsmead invite you to take a hike today. Enjoy!

Address

29 Chase Road
Litchfield, CT
06759

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8am - 4:30pm
Sunday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12035840826

Website

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