Stout Family Fields is one of our most visited preserves; if you haven’t been yet, spring is a great time to check it out. Over the past three years, TRLC volunteers spent more than 100 hours clearing invasives from around the wetland copse (The Island) in the southern field. In 2024, we planted native species there and in 2025, we hired a contractor to remove invasives from the banks of the brook between the two fields. Last year, we also planted sycamore seedlings from the Pinchot Sycamore on The Island.
Today we will be clearing multiflora rose and common buckthorn from within the wetland copse in the southern field.
A small chain saw will help; otherwise, bring loppers and/or clippers. Bring water and dress for the woods with long pants, long sleeves, boots and work gloves.
RSVP to conservation@trlandconservancy.org if you are interested in helping so that you can be contacted in case of changes or cancellations.
Join us at this invasive plant workshop to get hands-on experience clearing invasive plants.
Today we will be working on cutting bittersweet vines out of trees on this 9-acre preserve which boasts a seasonal waterfall.
Bring loppers and water, and dress for the woods with long pants, long sleeves, boots and work gloves.
Park at the lot at 180 Life Church across the street at 180 Still Road.
RSVP to conservation@trlandconservancy.org if you are interested in helping so that you can be contacted in case of changes or cancellations.
Please join us for this hike through Ethel Walker Woods, led by Traprock Ridge member, Susan Klotz, along with TRLC volunteer Dave Mogul. The planned hike is a loop of about 2½ miles, and it’s expected to take 1.5–2 hours, depending on our group’s pace.
We will hike along mostly easy bridle paths with some hills and more moderate ups and downs. Some trails can be quite wet so wear appropriate footwear. There are many options if you want a shorter hike. Please bring snacks and water. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
We’ll depart at 10:00 a.m. from the parking lot in Town Forest Park.
Alternate date of May 20 if we need to reschedule. Contact Dave Mogul at hikes@trlandconservancy.org with any questions.
Co-sponsored by Simsbury Land Trust.
The Marvel of Seeds Film Screening
Old Forest or Young Meadow – The Marvel of Seeds A New England Forests film, directed by naturalist, local nature documentary filmmaker, Ray Asselin.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Ray Asselin and Trinity College Professor and Hartford County’s Old Growth Forest Network Coordinator, Susan A. Masino.
Have you ever thought about how, almost magically, a brown, bulldozed piece of land turns green with plants again? How do all those plants get there so quickly? Where did they come from? It’s amazing that nature has developed this process of having new plants always ready to go, in tiny embryonic packages.
Seeds allow us to readily raise crops. They replenish the forests we take down. They make burned habitat or lava-covered ground productive again.
Plants, like all life forms, do not live forever, so they must reproduce. They cast themselves into the future via the seeds they produce, which can wait out poor or impossible growth conditions until such time as conditions become favorable. That could be days, weeks, years, even millennia.
Since the parent plant can’t move around to place seeds here and there, it has to have some other way to get the seeds dispersed. And that’s the subject of the new film, Old Forest or Young Meadow – the Marvel of Seeds.
Plants have evolved over many millions of years. In that time, nature has devised some fascinating methods for them to colonize new sites. Some are rather mundane, but others are intriguing; some are surprising and quite entertaining.
This film describes the evolution of plants on Earth, and features many of the fascinating ways seeds are dispersed. Some are curious, some are downright delightful. Some, we guarantee, you have never witnessed.
Co-sponsored by: Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy, the Sustainable West Hartford Commission and the New England Seed Company.
This family-friendly hike, led by Larry Zemel and Gisele Nee, will loop through Auer Farm and MDC property for 3 miles. We will do tree and plant identification, and several mindfulness activities along the way (hence the term “forest bathing”).
There is a short rocky scramble so sturdy shoes are advised. This will be deer tick season; spray lower legs with DEET-containing spray.
Children have the option of visiting farm animals at the hike’s conclusion.
Park at the end of the cul-de-sac, or along Cary Lane.
There are 15 spots available. Register Here
Please join us in exploring the Mill Brook Open Space, a 95-acre parcel in Windsor that is part of the Mill Brook Greenway. This hike, led by master naturalist Brad Robinson, will follow the woods, meadows, and trails. Stops will be made to note native species and invasives. Many areas are being ‘rewilded’ allowing plants and wildlife to flourish. Birds are abundant.
Moderate terrain with some rolling hills. It is easy to break off at any point and return to the starting point. Leashed dogs permitted. No rain date.
We will meet in the parking lot at 2:00 pm.
Please join us for this Traprock Ridge Hiking Club hike with TRLC volunteer Dave Mogul. The planned hike is mostly a loop of 2 to 3 miles using trails in the park and on the Metacomet trail. The hike is expected to take 2-3 hours, depending on our group’s pace.
This is a moderately easy hike, with few inclines and fairly stable footing. Several spots on the ridgeline allow for views of the surrounding area as well as potentially some larger birds gliding on the wind currents.
Be aware that mosquitoes and other bugs are likely to be joining us, and that there are several areas that are exposed to the sun, so please prepare accordingly.
We’ll depart at 9:00 am from the parking area for the northern end of the Metacomet Trail in Penwood State Park which is at the end of the cul-de-sac on Mountain Road in Tariffville off of Elm Street. Parking is along the road shoulders.
Alternate date of June 17 if we need to reschedule. Contact Dave Mogul at hikes@trlandconservancy.org with any questions.
Co-sponsored by Simsbury Land Trust.