Welcome Thank you for visiting our site! We appreciate your interest in open space preservation in Berlin, Connecticut and surrounding towns. For more information send an e-mail to info@berlinlandtrust.org or call 860-828-4393. NEXT BOARD MEETING:  Monday, June 3, 2013 Includes Annual Meeting and selction of Officers Volunteer today! The Berlin Land Trust is currently looking for volunteers who are passionate about land protection. Members or friends of the land trust can volunteer in a variety of areas, including Land Stewardship, Programs Planning & Publicity, and Membership Support.  Read more >>   TAX BREAKS FOR LAND DONATIONS!!!!!!!! BLT Proudly Co-Sponsoring June 1, 2013 CT Trails Day Hikes: Town Where Event Begins: Berlin Other Town(s) The Event Passes Through: None Event Type: Hike. Event Date: Saturday, June 1. Start Time: 9:00 am End Time: 12:00 am Time Comments/Notes: Trail (Event Location) Name: Blue Hills Conservation Area/Metacomet Trail/NET Event Description (briefly include points of interest, terrain highlights,   planned activities, other important details): Explore Berlin’s Blue Hills   Conservation Area on a 4 mile hike that will include a section of the   Metacomet Trail/NET. The hike will include some steep terrain, ridgeline   views, streams and areas crossed by utilities and will start with a   presentation on green roof systems by Sunny Border nursery. Total Distance This Event Will Travel: Meeting Place: Meet at Sunny Border parking lot on east side of Chamberlain   Hwy, 1000' north of Park Drive. Name of Sponsoring Organization: Berlin Conservation Commission Sponsoring Organization's Website: www.town.berlin.ct.us Rain Plan: Rain or shine. Rain Date/Time: Event Pre-registration: Pre-registration is RECOMMENDED. Difficulty: Challenging (Steep/choppy terrain with periodic obstacles) Specially Targeted For: Are leashed dogs permitted? Yes, Leashed Dogs Permitted Is this event/location wheelchair accessible? No, Not Wheelchair Accessible Does this event take place on a CFPA Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail? No, this event   does not take place on a BBHT Does this event follow along one of our National Trails? Yes, NET (New   England Trail - National Scenic Trail) Does this event take place on a trail that passes through a State Park or   Forest, or other state-owned land? No, this trail does not pass through state   land Leader's Name: Jim Mahoney, leader: Carl Lewis, co-leader Leader's Mailing Address: Town of Berlin, 240 Kensington Road Town: Berlin Zip Code: 06037 Leader's Phone Number: 860-250-0317 Leader's E-mail: jmahoney@town.berlin.ct.us Participants can contact leader with questions and/or to pre-register at (for   inclusion in the CT Trails Day Weekend Booklet): BOTH leader's email address   and phone number provided. Alternate email address and/or phone number (to be published): Does the leader need a T-shirt? Yes, MEDIUM     Town Where Event Begins: Berlin Other Town(s) The Event Passes Through: None Event Type: Nature Walk. Event Date: Saturday, June 1. Start Time: 1:30 pm End Time: 3:00 pm Time Comments/Notes: Trail (Event Location) Name: Berlin Pistol Creek Walk Event Description (briefly include points of interest, terrain highlights,   planned activities, other important details): Discover the paved walking   paths at Pistol Creek Park. This 2 mile walk will follow the cart paths of   the former Pistol Creek golf course. The property is interspersed with   wetlands and bordered by Spruce Brook and an historic factory site. Bring   your binoculars or tricycles or wagons for the kids. Total Distance This Event Will Travel: 2miles Meeting Place: Pistol Creek Clubhouse parking lot on Spruce Brook Road just   west of Savage Hill Road. Name of Sponsoring Organization: Town of Berlin Sponsoring Organization's Website: town.berlin.ct.us Rain Plan: Rain cancels. Rain Date/Time: Event Pre-registration: Pre-registration is RECOMMENDED. Difficulty: Easy (Mostly level/calm terrain with few, if any, obstacles) Specially Targeted For: Families Are leashed dogs permitted? Yes, Leashed Dogs Permitted Is this event/location wheelchair accessible? No, Not Wheelchair Accessible Does this event take place on a CFPA Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail? No, this event   does not take place on a BBHT Does this event follow along one of our National Trails? No, It does not   follow along a National Trail Does this event take place on a trail that passes through a State Park or   Forest, or other state-owned land? No, this trail does not pass through state   land Leader's Name: Jim Mahoney Leader's Mailing Address: 240 Kensington Road Town: Berlin Zip Code: 06037 Leader's Phone Number: 860-250-0317 Leader's E-mail: jmahoney@town.berlin.ct.us Participants can contact leader with questions and/or to pre-register at (for   inclusion in the CT Trails Day Weekend Booklet): BOTH leader's email address   and phone number provided. Alternate email address and/or phone number (to be published): Does the leader need a T-shirt? No thank you, I have one from a previous year Does the co-leader need a T-shirt? This event does not have a co-leader Submitter's Name: Same as the Leader's Submitter's Mailing Address: Same as the Leader's Town: Same as the Leader's Zip Code: Same as the Leader's Submitter's Phone Number: Same as the Leader's Submitter's E-mail: jmahoney@town.berlin.ct.us     Town Where Event Begins: Berlin Other Town(s) The Event Passes Through: None Event Type: Hike. Event Date: Saturday, June 1. Start Time: 9:00 am End Time: 11:30 am Time Comments/Notes: Trail (Event Location) Name: Berlin Hatchery Brook Conservation Area Event Description (briefly include points of interest, terrain highlights,   planned activities, other important details): The 3 mile hike will explore   trails in Berlin's Hatchery Brook Conservation area. The hike will include   fields, streams, small ponds and open forest with some steep terrain.   Highlights will include the former Girl Scouts Camp Meribrite site and a   wetlands restoration area. Total Distance This Event Will Travel: 3miles Meeting Place: Hatchery Brook Conservation Area parking lot on Orchard Road,   1/4 mile east of Chamberlain Highway. Name of Sponsoring Organization: Town of Berlin Sponsoring Organization's Website: www.town.berlin.ct.us Rain Plan: Rain or shine. Rain Date/Time: Event Pre-registration: Pre-registration is RECOMMENDED. Difficulty: Moderate (Gently rising/temperate terrain with occasional   obstacles) Specially Targeted For: Are leashed dogs permitted? Yes, Leashed Dogs Permitted Is this event/location wheelchair accessible? No, Not Wheelchair Accessible Does this event take place on a CFPA Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail? No, this event   does not take place on a BBHT Does this event follow along one of our National Trails? No, It does not   follow along a National Trail Does this event take place on a trail that passes through a State Park or   Forest, or other state-owned land? No, this trail does not pass through state   land Leader's Name: Karl Lewis Leader's Mailing Address: 56 Hartland Terrace Town: Berlin Zip Code: 06037 Leader's Phone Number: 860-878-9300 Leader's E-mail: KingWhistle1967@gmail.com Participants can contact leader with questions and/or to pre-register at (for   inclusion in the CT Trails Day Weekend Booklet): BOTH leader's email address   and phone number provided. Alternate email address and/or phone number (to be published):   jmahoney@town.berlin.ct.us Does the leader need a T-shirt? Yes, LARGE Does the co-leader need a T-shirt? No thank you, they have one from a   previous year Submitter's Name: Jim Mahoney Submitter's Mailing Address: 240 Kensington Road Town: Berlin Zip Code: 06037 Submitter's Phone Number: 860-250-0317 Submitter's E-mail: jmahoney@town.berlin.ct.us Learn more! Recent news & activities... Native Plant Sale sponsored by Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District http://www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal/PlantSale/tabid/321/Default.aspx >>CELEBRATING OUR 23rd YEAR!  Learn who was elected to our 2012-2013 Board of Directors at our 22nd Annual Meeting held June 4, 2012 and also mark your calendar with 2012-2013 Board of Directors Meeting Dates.  Read About Us. >>Council Backs Panel's Plan For Walking Trails: Project Would Link Open Space Parcels. Read the Hartford Courant article, published 6-8-06 (PDF) >>"Celebrate Earth Day by Exploring Your Planet" on April 22nd a great success!   Lucky for us the rain held off on Earth Day and this program was a great success! The Berlin Land Trust and the Town of Berlin’s Conservation Commission co-hosted this free program on Saturday morning, April 22nd, attended by 32 people (see photo below), including students and teachers from the Science Clubs of Berlin, New Britain and Southington high schools. The program featured a slide presentation by Connecticut geologist Ralph Lewis, followed by an optional one-hour hike of the town’s latest open space property on Orchard Road. This program was developed by the Berlin Land Trust to help fulfill its community outreach and education objectives. As the pace of development in Connecticut increases, Berlin residents should understand the importance of open space preservation.   Ralph Lewis, geologist, led the program & hike on April 22nd   December 10, 2005:  Town of Berlin Hike of New Open Space Properties -  Scheer and Sierra Ranch -- Twenty-eight hikers enjoyed a guided tour of the Town of Berlin's newest open space parcels, led by Jim Mahoney of Berlin's Economic Development office. Trails through fields and woodlands will allow the public to enjoy passive recreation such as walking, nature watching and photography between Orchard and Kensington Roads near Hatchery Brook. Following the hike, participants enjoyed a reception sponsored by Achieve Financial Credit Union at the Community Room of the public library.  State of CT announcement of Nov. 2005 Open Space Grants, including $450,000 for these 86 acres in Berlin. Hikers approach upper field of Scheer property, one of Berlin's latest open space acquisitions, to which Berlin Land Trust contributed. The BLT has a 16.7% title interest in the Sierra Ranch property.   Sept 30 - Oct 1, 2005: We enjoyed great weather this year at our town's agricultural fair! Dozens of people visited the Berlin Land Trust information table at the Berlin Fair! We handed out lots of our BLT "turtle stickers," a very popular item among the younger fair-goers, as well as membership information! This annual event is a terrific venue that allows us to meet and talk with people interested in land conservation options and answer questions, as well as provide information about hiking in Berlin and surrounding towns. We also distributed many Mattabesset River Watershed Association (MRWA) brochures and river canoe guides. Congratulations to the four winners of the BLT's free drawing! Prizes included: a "Pond Watcher`s Guide to Ponds and Vernal Pools of Eastern Connecticut", a booklet "Native Shrubs for Landscaping", a Red-Tailed Hawk doll by Wild Republic® and a plus Spotted Salamander finger puppet. June 6, 2005: At our 17th Annual Meeting, several members and the board met in an informal "open house," followed by a business meeting. Elections of the 2005-2006 board of directors and officers were held. We reviewed the past year's accomplishments and celebrated our most recent land acquisitions. The evening featured light refreshments, door prizes and a slide show of our open space properties under management. June 4, 2005: The Berlin Land Trust celebrated National Trails Day, co-sponsored by CT Forest & Park Association, by conducting a 4-mile loop hike on Short Mountain via the trails from Timberlin Park to the Metacomet Trail and back. Ralph Lewis, retired state geologist, hiked with us and presented an excellent lesson on the geologic history of the area prior to the hike. As we hiked over the traprock ridge, Mr. Lewis pointed out examples of rock formations all along the way. The 22 participants not only enjoyed the beautiful weather and exercise, but also learned a lot, gaining an increased appreciation of our protected natural resources and the flora and fauna that depend on them!     Ralph Lewis (center), retired state geologist and the Berlin Land Trust's guest speaker and hike co-leader, center, points out geologic features to 22 hikers at the summit of Short Mountain on Trails Day 2005.   April 16, 2005: Our spring program, sponsored by the Berlin Land Trust and hosted at Hungerford Park, was a great success. For the hour during the program, admission to the park was free and we were overwhelmed to welcome over 50 adults and 40 children to enjoy a very educational and relevent program. We thank the New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park who have a wonderful facility, full of exhibits and hands-on activities at 191 Farmington Ave, Kensington, CT (860-827-9064). The program featured a female American kestrel falcon, a red-tail hawk, great-horned owl, bard owl and a box turtle. One of the main threats to wildlife in CT is loss of habitat. The presenters were Mary-Beth Kaeser and Alan Nordell, owners and directors of Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation in Ashford, CT. Great horned owl, Alan Nordell, Mary-Beth Kaeser of Horizon Wings. American kestrel falcon, a threatened species in CT.  Read more in our news archives. (Scroll to the end of our Accomplishments page.)