TLGV invites you to join us for Spring Outdoors, happening throughout April and May!  Spring Outdoors is a brand new program that will connect you to conservation lands and trails in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, including some properties not normally accessible to the public.

Enjoy interesting features, stories, and management strategies on land trust and conservation commission properties, and learn how you, too, can help conserve open space in The Last Green Valley.

Joshua’s Trust kicks off Spring Outdoors on Saturday, April 2nd at 8 a.m., with a “Spring Bird Walk” on the Allanach-Wolf Woodlands, 165 Back Rd., Windham, CT. Walkers will enjoy a moderately difficult hike to view the birds on the beautiful Allanach-Wolf Woodlands preserve.  Pre-registration is required – please contact David Parry at dfparry01@gmail.com or 860-617-8270 to register.

Enjoy the fresh air with a second walk on April 2nd at 10:30 a.m. at the nearby Cloutier property, 336 Ballamahack Rd., Windham, CT.  The Eastern CT Forest Landowners Association/Wolf Den Land Trust (ECFLA) has teamed up with Joshua’s Trust to present a forestry tour on their abutting conservation properties. Pre-registration for this walk is also required by emailing Bill Reid at wbr655@yahoo.com or calling 774-262-3284.

ECFLA’s consulting forester, Mike Bartlett of Hull Forest Products, will explain an active shelter wood first treatment on approximately 10 acres of the Cloutier property, as well as treatment of another 40 acres to remove poor quality trees and enhance the health and vigor of residual trees. The goal is to retain large white pines, (a favorite of the property donor George Cloutier) as well as to retain den and nest trees for wildlife. Touring this active harvest, Mike will explain the decision-making process in selecting and marking trees for removal.

ECFLA and Joshua’s Trust will also describe a new trail system that connects the Cloutier property to Joshua’s Trust Allanach-Wolf Woodlands, which share a common boundary. Each property totals just over 100 acres and the new trail system will connect more than 200 acres of permanently protected woodlands that include diverse habitat for plants and animals. Expect to walk approximately two miles on woods trails with some hills. Appropriate footwear is recommended for walking in the woods.

Each week in April and May delivers more Spring Outdoors adventures! TLGV has developed a web-based brochure (that can be downloaded and printed) listing all of the walks. Spring Outdoors events are listed on TLGV’s Facebook page and on our website’s event calendar, too. Walks are still being added, so be sure to check in often!