Guilford Land Conservation Trust
a non-profit all volunteer organization
Guilford Community TV recently spotlighted the GLCT and in particular the Preserve the Heart of Westwoods Campaign. Land Trust President Sarah Williams and Land Acquisition Chair Red Erda talk to David Weinberg.
If you would like to support our campaign to Preserve the Heart of Westwoods, click here.
August 13, 2012
GUILFORD – The Guilford Land Conservation Trust has purchased 17 acres of woodlands in the geographic center of Westwoods from a private landowner, moving the group a step closer to fully protecting the land on which the public Westwoods trails run.
“This is a key property, and it has been a high priority of ours for many years,” said Sarah Williams, GLCT President. “It is, quite literally, at the center of Westwoods. Several trails cross over it, including the popular White Circle trail, and preserving it will ensure that the Westwoods forest will not be fragmented at its core.” [Read more...]
The Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT) is pleased to announce the purchase of 7 acres directly on West Lake for $225,000. The property off Gina Lane, is a subdivision off West Lake Avenue that contains woodlands and wetlands. The land also connects to another 7.5 acres, including a small pond, which the Trust received in the summer of 2011 as a part of the subdivision process. In addition, to the south and heading west across West Lake Avenue, it links to 59 acres from the Gina Lane and Chestnut Grove subdivisions and then into the 90-acre Kampmeyer Preserve. The Kampmeyer Preserve is named for Preston Kampmeyer who bequeathed his home to GLCT in 1991. GLCT used the revenue from the sale of the home to purchase the backbone of the preserve.
“This was an unexpected opportunity. We looked at the most recent open space set aside, including land around Little West Pond, and realized that by adding these two bank-owned lots, we could do even more to buffer West Lake,” said GLCT President, Sarah Williams. In addition to protecting the water quality in West Lake, the high scenic ridgeline will remain intact and now the corridor for walkers in the area will include a spectacular view of West Lake. “This is quite a beautiful area of Guilford, with ecological values that have been priorities since Guilford first started mapping areas for conservation. We hope to protect even more land in the area over time.”
The land trust plans to offer walks on this newest acquisition over the coming months. Williams explained, “This special opportunity came together in an unconventional way, so we are appealing to the community for donations to help pay for this significant acquisition after the closing.” Stay tuned for dates to come and see the property.
Donations can be made on-line via this web site.
The Guilford Land Conservation Trust has been honored by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council for its landmark protection of the Broomstick Ledges area.
At the council’s annual conference in April, the land trust received the Award for Outstanding Land Acquisition Effort. The land trust completed the acquisition of the 141-acre Broomstick Ledges property in 2008. The property is the largest single acquisition by the land trust since it was founded in 1965. The land offers exceptional recreational opportunities and is an important watershed and wildlife habitat. Its protection also preserved the scenic vista from Bluff Head and connected other valuable protected open space. [Read more...]
The Guilford Land Conservation Trust has completed the largest open space protection project in its history with the acquisition of the remaining 33 acres of the 141-acre Broomstick Ledges.
The spectacular property, which runs along the east side of a scenic section of Route 77 across from Bluff Head in North Guilford, had been a top conservation priority of the land trust for years due to its critical environmental and recreational importance. [Read more...]
