Vermont Land Trust

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Vermont Land Trust

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Vermont Land Trust unites land and lives for the enduring benefit of people and the place we share.

Rooted in Vermont since 1977, we unite land and lives for the enduring benefit of people and the place we share. We have conserved farms, forests, trails, and natural areas covering over 11% of the state—land that contributes to our abundance of food and forest products, tourism and recreation, and community vitality. Partnering with landowners, communities, and all Vermonters, we work for a future where land and lives, in all of their diversity, can thrive.

10/29/2026

👋 If they're not overwintering, they're probably leaving for warmer climes by now! The later birds leave, the farther north they overwinter. Birds who leave in October and November tend to winter in the mid-Atlantic or southeastern U.S, rather than flying all the way to South or Central America.

Can you name these four travelers? And have you spotted any of them recently? Let us know in the comments 👇

(Careful, spoilers below!)

📸 Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Red-winged Blackbird, and Song Sparrow by Patrick LaClair, taken in Vermont.

10/28/2026

🍂🍄 Fall colors aren't limited to the leaves. From vibrant purple coral fungi to iconic red-and-white fly agarics, Vermont's forests are full of surprising mushrooms in autumn.

Mushrooms are a fascinating part of our ecosystem, often helping recycle nutrients back into the forest. Did you know? Oyster mushrooms are carnivorous, preying on microscopic worms to produce nitrogen.

🔗 Explore our field guide before your next walk: https://vlt.org/2022/08/11/forest-mushrooms-in-vermont/

10/27/2026

Thank you, Ann Sage and Victor Peters — for making sure the Brousseau Mountain Trail in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom will stay open.

For decades, Ann and Victor welcomed hikers, camps, and outdoor programs to enjoy the trail across their property in Norton. The beautiful trail is known for its sweeping views of Little Averill Lake and the surrounding forests.

Earlier this year, Ann and Victor sold their land to the Town of Norton, which then conserved it. The couple helped ensure this beloved trail will always be open to the community.

Gratitude also to the Town of Norton, the Norton community, and the NorthWoods Stewardship Center that has maintained and cared for this trail for years, and will continue to do so.

Learn more: https://vtdigger.org/2026/10/16/popular-brousseau-mountain-trail-in-essex-county-conserved-for-peregrine-falcons-and-future-generations

10/26/2026

When we remove a major dam, what happens after the earth-moving is just as important as the excavation itself.

Ahead of construction at the dam removal site in , VLT ecologist Allaire Diamond is harvesting native plants and seeds from the site. They'll be replanted along newly restored stream channels and riverbanks, helping prevent erosion and giving wetland plants a head start as the ecosystem re-establishes itself.

🌿 Plants like speckled alder, boneset, water bur-reed, sallow sedge, and blue vervain, and nodding beggars-ticks, and rattlesnake mannagrass will all help restore this natural wetland.

📸: (1) Speckled alder, (2) Boneset, (3) A bouquet including water bur-reed, sallow sedge, blue vervain, nodding beggars-ticks, and rattlesnake mannagrass.

10/23/2026

What can birds teach us about finding community and caring for the places we call home?

Join Vermont Land Trust, along with Audubon Vermont and The Mad Birders for a Conservation Reading Circle at Pratt Refuge in Duxbury on November 4 to discuss "Birding to Change the World" by Trish O’Kane.

O’Kane never expected to become a birder. But after Hurricane Katrina, watching birds helped her find a new path, eventually leading her to environmental studies, teaching, and a community campaign to protect a beloved park. Her story is part memoir, part natural history, and part exploration of how paying attention to the natural world can inspire us to act.

We’ll gather at Pratt Refuge, a place with its own special connection to bird conservation, for an optional short hike followed by conversation and refreshments in the refuge’s rustic cabin.

You don’t need to be an experienced birder or conservationist. Just bring your curiosity and come ready to share, listen, and find your flock.

Register here, today: https://vlt.org/events/conservation-reading-circle-birding-to-change-the-world/

10/22/2026

This October, we're honored to be part of a special tribute to Polly Bosworth Whitcomb McEwing (pictured), whose vision and leadership helped conserve the Whitcomb family farmland.

Polly championed Vermont's working lands, serving on the Essex Junction Conservation Commission and as the first Agricultural Director of the Vermont Land Trust. In her memory, the Whitcomb family is dedicating their Pumpkin Weekend, October 24-25, to supporting VLT's conservation work.

When you visit the farm for pumpkins and the corn maze that weekend, 5% of proceeds will be donated to VLT. We're deeply grateful to the Whitcomb family for honoring Polly's legacy in this meaningful way.

Come celebrate the season, support local conservation, and help protect the Vermont we all love for generations to come. 🎃🍁

Mark your calendars: https://www.whitcombslandofpumpkins.com/event-details/vermont-land-trust-fundraiser-weekend

10/21/2026

Join us to restore the health of Barre Town Forest by removing introduced species. VLT and Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation foresters will provide an overview of introduced species and their identification before we begin. Lunch will be provided!

📆: October 27, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
🌳: Barre Town Forest
❓: RSVP & more details by emailing Guy Norwood at gnorwood at barretown dot org

10/21/2026

We have loved getting to know so many birders who are visiting the new accessible birding trail at the Pratt Refuge in . One of those birders is Nick Parker (pictured), who gifted us a carved Black-capped chickadee by artist Kat Lundberg, a summer intern at the Birds of Vermont Museum. Visitors who are blind or visually impaired can touch the chickadee to get a sense of its size and shape.

It’s a way more people can experience the joys of birding. Thank you, Nick!!

Nick is a Birdability Captain. Birdability Week celebrates birders with disabilities while sharing resources and ideas to make the birding community more accessible.

Join us at the North Branch Nature Center for their Birdability event this Saturday from 1-4. Register here: https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/event/birdability-event-2026

10/20/2026

🌰👏 Big congratulations to Woodstock Union HS Agriculture/CRAFT students, who were recognized by the American Chestnut Foundation for planting chestnut seedlings cultivated in their school greenhouse at VLT's King Farm!

Once a towering tree across eastern forests, the American chestnut was nearly wiped out by blight. Growing and planting the next generation helps support ongoing efforts to bring this iconic species back to the landscape.

📸 Photos courtesy of the CRAFT program.

10/19/2026

2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer and we’re celebrating the women who are growing food, stewarding land, building farm businesses, and shaping the future of Vermont’s agricultural communities.

Join Vermont Land Trust and Vermont Commission on Women for "Rooted & Resilient: Women, Land, and Legacy" on October 29 at Green Mountain Girls Farm in Northfield. Hear from Vermont women farmers, financial planning experts, and agricultural leaders about building resilient businesses, planning for the future, and creating a lasting legacy rooted in what matters most.

Whether you’re a farmer, a landowner, or simply interested in supporting the next generation of women in agriculture, there’s something for you.

Register here: https://vlt.org/events/rooted-resilient-women-land-and-legacy/

Address

8 Bailey Avenue
Montpelier, VT
05602

Telephone

+18022235234

Website

http://www.vlt.org/

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