Land Conservancy of Ridgefield

Land Conservancy of Ridgefield One of the oldest land trusts in Connecticut, the LCR was founded in 1967 to preserve open space.

This Great Blue watches over all of Ridgefield! #06877
06/22/2026

This Great Blue watches over all of Ridgefield! #06877

06/08/2026

A retired science teacher at Ridgefield High School, Pete Nichols has dedicated his retirement to giving back to the community he loves. He volunteers with more than a dozen organizations in Ridgefield, contributing hundreds of hours each year to conservation, public safety, housing, and community outreach.

Nichols is perhaps best known for his work in conservation and open space. He serves on the Ridgefield Conservation Commission, where he coordinates trail rangers who walk and monitor the town’s extensive trail network. He is also a board member of the Land Conservancy of Ridgefield and co-authored the Ridgefield Walk Book: A Guidebook to Selected Open Space Lands (2024 Edition), covering over 40 parks and nearly 60 miles of trails across 5,800+ acres of public open space.

Beyond conservation, Nichols volunteers with the Appalachia Service Project, a home repair ministry based at Jesse Lee Church, tackling roofing, drywall, siding, plumbing, and electrical work for families in need. He also volunteers with Ridgefield Spirit Builders, which has built over 25 wheelchair ramps in the past year alone for residents who need safe access to their homes.

As a driver for Meals on Wheels, Nichols delivers free meals to those in need. He is a member of the town’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), has helped with the Ridgefield Triathlon, and serves on the Ives Trail and Greenway Committee, helping steward a 19-mile regional trail connecting Ridgefield, Redding, Bethel, and Danbury.

Notable Contributions to Ridgefield

Conservation & Open Space
• Member, Ridgefield Conservation Commission
• Member, Land Conservancy of Ridgefield
• Co-author, Ridgefield Walk Book (2024 Edition), 40+ parks, 60 miles of trails across 5,800+ acres

Trails & Recreation
• Member, Ives Trail and Greenway Committee, a 19-mile regional trail across four Fairfield County towns
• Member, Ridgefield Parks and Recreation Commission
• Led public educational walks and talks, including presentations on McKeon Farm at the Ridgefield Library

Community Safety & Service
• Member, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Driver, Meals on Wheels
• Volunteer, Appalachia Service Project, home repair ministry
• Volunteer, Ridgefield Spirit Builders, 25+ wheelchair ramps built in the past year
• Member, Ridgefield Old Timers Association
• Volunteer, Ridgefield Triathlon

A huge thank you to the Ridgefield Thrift Shop for supporting the LCR through your generous grant program. We value your...
06/07/2026

A huge thank you to the Ridgefield Thrift Shop for supporting the LCR through your generous grant program. We value your continued support, as we continue to work towards protecting and preserving open space in Ridgefield.

Good morning Town of Ridgefield, CT! #06877
04/09/2026

Good morning Town of Ridgefield, CT!
#06877

Nothing says spring like skunk cabbage.
04/09/2026

Nothing says spring like skunk cabbage.

Looking forward to participating in the 2nd annual event!! See you there. 🌎🌻🌾🍁🌱
04/06/2026

Looking forward to participating in the 2nd annual event!! See you there. 🌎🌻🌾🍁🌱

04/04/2026

You see a dead branch on your oak. You want it trimmed. Here's who lives in it.

A Downy Woodpecker drilled a roosting cavity in that branch last October. She sleeps in it through winter and is raising chicks in it right now.

A Carolina Chickadee excavated a second hole three feet away. Dead wood is the only wood soft enough for her to drill — she can't excavate living timber.

A White-breasted Nuthatch wedged herself into a natural crack near the base of the dead section. She stores seeds there — hundreds of them pressed into bark crevices like a wall-mounted pantry.

A flying squirrel uses the Downy Woodpecker's old cavity from two years ago. Woodpeckers drill a new hole every year. Last year's becomes a flying squirrel apartment. The year before that becomes a screech owl roost.

One dead branch. Four species. Three of them wouldn't be on your property without it.

The living part of the tree is fine. The dead part is the part that's most alive.

🌿 A different way to see it:

- Leave dead branches that aren't directly over walkways or structures — they're the highest-density wildlife real estate on your property
- If a branch must be removed for safety, cut it to a six-foot stub rather than flush — stubs still function as habitat
- Dead wood on the ground works too — a fallen branch becomes beetle habitat within weeks

The branch you're about to call the arborist about may be the most productive part of your tree. 🌿

04/01/2026

🚯Take Pride – Town Wide! Rid Litter Days 🚯

Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19
If everyone helped for 15 minutes, what a difference it would make.

📍Pick Up Supplies at:
Ridgefield Bicycle Company, 88 Danbury Road
Ridgefield Parks & Rec Center, 195 Danbury Road
Town Hall Information Office, 400 Main Street
(Supplies; safety vests, trash bags, blue bags for recycling cans & plastic bottles)

📍Drop off points for filled refuse bags on April 18 & 19 only:
Branchville Elementary School, 40 Florida Road
East Ridge Middle School, 10 East Ridge
Farmingville Elementary, 324 Farmingville Road
Ridgebury Elementary, 112 Bennetts Farm Road
Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Road

📱For more information or questions, call/text Melene Rose 801-652-7384

Co-sponsored by the Caudatowa Garden Club and Town of Ridgefield with support from HRRA, Ridgefield Bicycle Co. and Ridgefield Hardware Store

https://www.ridgefieldct.gov/calendar.php?view=month&month=04&day=01&year=2026&event=1077

2 Great Ridgefield legends!Pete Nichols & James Tobin out on a Sunday for the Land Conservancy of Ridgefield . Almost ev...
03/30/2026

2 Great Ridgefield legends!

Pete Nichols & James Tobin out on a Sunday for the Land Conservancy of Ridgefield . Almost everyone on the board grew up in Ridgefield. 🧡

Like our page and follow along as we explore spring in Ridgefield 🌿🦆🐞

Address

P. O. Box 32
Ridgefield, CT
06877

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