Northern Connecticut Land Trust - NCLT

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Northern Connecticut Land Trust - NCLT

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The land trust’s mission is to preserve northern Connecticut’s natural resources.

The Northern Connecticut Land Trust (NCLT) is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting natural land and open space in north-central Connecticut.

10/28/2026

Still time to see the leaves! Head to a Northern Connecticut Land Trust trail near you before this gorgeous foliage departs us for the winter 🍁🍂

10/10/2026

INVASIVE SPECIES ALERT: SPOT, SQUISH, AND REPORT!

Hey, Northern Connecticut! We need your help protecting our local forests, farms, and trails from a beautiful but highly destructive invader: the Spotted Lanternfly.

🌳 Why are they a problem?
While they don’t bite or sting humans, the Spotted Lanternfly is a massive threat to Connecticut’s native trees and agricultural crops. They suck the sap out of grapevines, maples, black walnuts, and other vital plants, leaving behind a sticky "honeydew" that promotes a black sooty mold and severely damages the plant.

🌳 What to look for right now (October):
Right now, adults are still active: about 1 inch long with distinctive grayish-brown front wings covered in black spots, and bright red underwings. More importantly, they are laying egg masses to survive the winter. These look like smears of gray mud or putty on tree trunks, rocks, outdoor furniture, and even cars.

🌳 What should you do?
1. SQUISH IT! If you see an adult, stomp it out. If you see an egg mass, scrape it off into a bag with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to destroy it. No mercy!
2 CHECK YOUR CAR. The Spotted Lanternfly is an expert hitchhiker. Before leaving a trailhead or parking lot, do a quick check of your vehicle so you don't accidentally spread them to new areas.
3. REPORT IT. The CT Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) needs to track them. Snap a clear photo and submit a sighting report here: https://portal.ct.gov/caes/knowledge-base/articles/how-to-report-a-spotted-lanternfly-sighting-in-ct](https://portal.ct.gov/caes/knowledge-base/articles/how-to-report-a-spotted-lanternfly-sighting-in-ct)

Our land trust properties are only as healthy as the community that cares for them. Let’s work together to keep the Spotted Lanternfly from taking over our beloved woods and local farms! 🌳💚

09/17/2026

Check the news: 2026 Autumn Landmark
https://northernctlandtrust.org/news/

“Honored 2026, Jim Gage: Advocate of open space and land conservation, Preserver of Ellington’s agricultural character
Instrumental in safeguarding our fields and forests.”

09/09/2026

🌳 Congratulations to Ellington Wall of Honor Inductee Jim Gage! 🌳

We're proud to celebrate our own Northern Connecticut Land Trust member, Jim Gage, as he's inducted into the Ellington Wall of Honor this Saturday!

A 60+ year resident of Ellington, Jim has spent decades as a quiet but powerful force for land conservation in our community. As one of the original members of the Ellington Conservation Commission, he's worked tirelessly to protect the town's farmland and open spaces. He was also instrumental in establishing the Ellington Farmland Preservation Program, which has helped protect hundreds of acres of farmland for future generations.

Beyond his work with NCLT, Jim also volunteers with the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation and serves on the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership Steering Committee. As one colleague put it, he's "quiet, smart, competent, hard-working, respectful and humble... incredibly productive... the ultimate team member."

Jim has a gift for connecting people and organizations to get real conservation work done, and our region's landscapes are better for it. 💚

Join us in celebrating Jim this Saturday! The public induction ceremony takes place at 4:00 PM at the Wall of Honor site in Arbor Park (off Main Street), Ellington. All are welcome to attend.

Thank you, Jim, for six decades of dedication to preserving the land we all love. 🌾🌲

08/31/2026

Summer might be almost over, but there's still plenty of time to enjoy a walk out in nature!

📍 Whitaker Woods

06/06/2026

Had an amazing time on our hike through Whitaker Woods! 🌲🥾 Along with 10 hikers and 3 dogs, we explored the natural and land-use history of the landscape, learned about the local wildlife that calls these woods home, and enjoyed beautiful scenery, bridge crossings, and wonderfully preserved stone walls. A fantastic day on the trails and a great way to celebrate the outdoors!

Thanks again to the Connecticut Forest & Park Association for sponsoring the event!

06/05/2026

Nature provides many friends.

05/27/2026

Our Mother’s Day Hike at McCann Family Farm! We celebrated incredible moms, wandered through beautiful flora and fauna, and soaked in all the signs of spring 🌿 🌸

05/11/2026

Our wonderful volunteers have been hard at work repairing damage from this winter's storms so that our community can enjoy the beautiful spring weather on all our trails and properties!

Here’s some recent progress:
• Culver Pond — approximately 30-40 fallen trees were cleared from the trail after winter storms
• Swann Farm — after being knocked over this winter, the sign has been repaired and freshly repainted

Thank you to everyone who continues to give their time and energy to help keep these special places beautiful and accessible for the community!

Address

Main Street
Somers, CT
06071

Website

http://www.northernctlandtrust.org/

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