New Year Message from our President

Dear James,

2022 is drawing to a close and we have a lot to be proud of and thankful for.

Our Green Corridor Capital Campaign raised $5.6 million in our largest fundraising effort since Trout Brook Valley. Over the past two years we conserved more than 155 acres of open space and added over 34,000 native plants to properties across the region through our popular native plant sales. The funds raised through the capital campaign helped us conserve these properties:

- 34-acre Gilbertie’s Farm in Easton, $2 million

- 85-acres in Weston and Wilton which will be named the Daniel E. Offutt Gateway to the Weston Wilton Forest Reserve, $1.2 million

- 10-acre Montanaro property in Wilton acquired to prevent a development in the Forest Reserve, $612,000

- 18-acre South Park property in Easton on the Mill River, $470,000

- 8-acres in Monroe which connects to 120 acres of contiguous wildlife habitat, $20,000

We could not be prouder of our accomplishments and with your support, the momentum continues. We have more acquisitions planned.  It’s what we do thanks to you!

Our Building Bridges initiative led by new Conservation Outreach Manager Reggy Saint Fortcolin who is linking underserved neighboring communities to nature. Reggy has facilitated group hikes, nature experiences and workshops for many Bridgeport Organizations including Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, Green Village Initiative, 100 Girls Leading, Pivot Ministries and All Our Kin.  Recently, he has started working with 4 Bridgeport schools to supplement “book learning” which will include hands on school -site projects as well as off -site experiences on our preserves and trails.

Mary Ellen Lemay continues to inspire and engage the community in stewarding the land and restoring biodiversity to improve native habitat and sustainability. This year she hosted 18 of her popular "Lunch and Learn" webinars with over 2,100 participants from across the country. And we sold $115,000 of hard-to-find native plants during our Spring and Fall Native Plant Sales adding 34,000 native plant to yards across the region.

Our efforts to create healthier habitats in our yards is bearing fruit as 1,500 people have taken the Green Corridor Pledge.  This adds up to more biodiversity and wildlife habitat across our region.

All of this would not be possible without the generous donations of time and money from all of you.  We thank you for thousands of hours of effort on our behalf, and we invite everyone to join us and financially support us at this time of year.

And this year we have a generous match of $50,000 for every dollar raised between now and the end of the year so your gift will go twice as far. See directions for giving by clicking on this link. As you can see, we put all of your gifts to very good use!  

With that, on behalf of the Aspetuck Land Trust Board of Directors, I want to wish Happy New Year to all and my best wishes for a great 2023!

Bill Kraekel
President
Aspetuck Land Trust