Brisk Winter Walks 2012

This is the schedule for the Great Meadows Conservation Trust winter walks for 2012, co-sponsored with the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury and the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center in Wethersfield.

Saturday, Jan 7, 10:00 am, Wethersfield. On a balmy morning, 100 walkers met Jim Woodworth at the Wolf Parcel and strolled through the floodplain behind Hartford Avenue, observed the tree markers placed by the Nature Conservancy flood plain forest study, and checked out the wood duck box along the shore of Folly Brook. The floodplain was a lot cleaner after 6 Wethersfield High School community service volunteers who scrounged among the poison ivy and mud to gather plastic and aluminum bottles swept off the streets of Wethersfield and Hartford and deposited along Folly Brook on the way to the Wethersfield Cove. The crew couldn't move the 12' section of PVC pipe. About half of the walkers continued out along the Hartford dike where "civilization" and nature meet: floodplain to the south, modern, improved sewage treatment plant and airport to the north. Beyond the airport, below the dike 33 walkers walked along the sewer outfall, to the river where an eagle soared above the sparkling river, white head and tail glimmering in the sun.

Sunday, Jan 15, 1:00 pm, Rocky Hill, about two hours. Forty hearty walkers met Larry Lunden at 78 Goff Brook La, off of Old Main St. and walked out into the meadows with a stop at GMCT's DiPaolo parcel to observe the newly planted disease resistant Elm plantation of 5 different Dutch Elm disease resitant cultivars provided by TNC forester Christian Marks. Still the second most common species in the forest, the hope is to restore the elm species to its former glory as the dominant species in the flood plain forest.. 

Saturday, Jan 21, 10:00 am, Wethersfield, about one and a half hours.  Meet Jim Woodworth at 160 Middletown Ave, south of Maple St.  Cross the new bridge and follow the trail along the marsh constructed by Eagle Scouts. Hike will continue along the edge of the farm fields and the marsh.  From I-91 south take exit 25 S to route 3 south, or from Glastonbury take route 3 south over the Putnam Bridge. At the second light turn left onto Middletown Ave. Make a U turn and park on the left side of Middletown Ave. From I-91 north take exit 24 to route 99 north. Take route 99 1.3 miles to a traffic light. Turn right onto route 3 north. At the first light turn right onto Middletown Ave. Make a U turn and park on the left side of Middletown Ave.

Sunday, Jan 29, 1:00 p.m., Glastonbury.  120 walkers met Jim Woodworth and Mark Packard, GMCT President, at Ferry Park, 263 Ferry Lane, walked upstream along the Connecticut River through farm fields to explore the Trust's easement on the late 19th Century coal dock.  From route 17 in South Glastonbury, take route 160 towards the ferry.  The park is on the left just before the ferry slip.

Saturday, Feb 4, 9:00 AM, Wethersfield, about two hours. Meet Jim Woodworth and Goodwin College's Bruce Morton, Program Director of Environmental Studies, at the Putnam Park parking lot, 100 Great Meadow Road, just north of the Putnam Bridge. We'll explore the 300+ acre Crow Point property owned by Goodwin College. We'll observe the process of nature reclaiming the land and waterways excavated for fill to build the highways across the ancient farmland and wetlands of the great meadows, and observe the “before” of the hoped for invasive species removal and forest planting from a pending DEP habitat improvement grant. We will have a van to shuttle the group from the parking lot along Great Meadow Road into the meadows. From I91 N, take exit 25/26 and bear right on Exit 26 to Wethersfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left under the Putnam Bridge to the parking lot. From I91 S, take exit 26, Marsh St. /Old Wethersfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left under the highway, and right at the T toward the Putnam Park lot. From Route 3N/ Maple Street, take the exit toward I91 north, but bear right Exit onto Great Meadow Road, and turn right toward the parking lot. From Route 3S, take the I91N exit at the end of bridge, but bear right Exit onto Great Meadow Road, and turn right toward the parking lot.

Saturday, Feb 11, 9:00 am, East Hartford, about one and a half hours.  Meet Jim Woodworth and Goodwin College's Bruce Morton, Program Director of Environmental Studies, at Hockanum Park, 324 High St.  Explore our Wilson-Carvalho and Hockanum Meadows parcels.  Goodwin College students will study environmental science here.  From route 2 west, take exit 5 A, Main St. At the second traffic light take a left, and then another left and under the highway onto High St. From route 2 east, take exit 5 A, High St. Once on High St, follow it south, past the elementary school, to the park on the left.

Sunday, Feb 12, 1:00 pm, Glastonbury.  Meet Larry Lunden at the end of Hollister Way North, off of Main St north of the end of the route 17 exit ramp.  Park at the end near the barn or next to the tennis courts.  A short hike to our Austin and Matava parcels in Glastonbury Meadows.

Walks will last 2 to 3 hours.  Dress for the Weather and ground conditions.  Many places will be muddy. Weather and water conditions may revise or cancel. Call the CT Audubon Society for the latest information, 860-633-8402.  Free.

GMCT Fall Events for 2011

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011—9:00am to noon, Join Jim Woodworth
Nature and historical bicycle ride Heritage Trail in Old Wethersfield , Connecticut River Floodplain, Nation's Oldest Ferry, South Glastonbury. Click here for trail map Sponsored by Great Meadows Conservation Trust and Wethersfield Nature Center . Join Jim Woodworth, GMCT Stewardship Chairman, for easy 15 mile bike ride following Wethersfield ’s Heritage Trail from the Cove toward the Rocky Hill Ferry Landing. Flat terrain, some village roads, some unpaved agricultural roads. Cycle paste historic Comstock, Ferre Seed Company and Anderson Farms in the village, through historic seed gardens, corn, bean, turf and vegetable fields, flood plain forest, and marsh habit along the CT River. Ride across the nation's oldest Ferry to Glastonbury ($2.00 round trip--if it's running!) up Ferry Lane, along Tryon Road to the Killam-Bassett Farm, Pease Lane, and back to the Wethersfield Cornfest for lunch on the green! Meet at Cove Park , 533 Main Street , Wethersfield . Leader: Jim Woodworth ( info@gmct.org ). For details and directions visit www.gmct.org.

GMCT Spring Events for 2011

Connecticut Trails Day Hikes, Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5
See All Hikes - CT Forest and Parks Association - CT Trails Day Brochure (coming soon)

Rocky Hill - Join Ken Etheridge - Saturday, June 4
Nature Walk. 9:00 am to about 12:00 pm. Connecticut River Floodplain, Great Meadows Conservation Area, sponsored by Connecticut Audubon Center Glastonbury and Great Meadows Conservation Trust. Easy 3.0-mile walk over flat terrain. Join Ken Etheridge, GMCT naturalist, for an exploration of the meadow, marsh, and wooded habitats of the floodplain where as many as 50 bird species can often be spotted. Meet 9:00 am next to ferry landing at Ferry Park on Route 160, Rocky Hill. Bring beverage, snack, and bug spray; dress for the weather and ground conditions (long sleeves, long pants recommended). Conditions may revise or cancel. Visit http://www.gmct.org or call CT Audubon Center, 860-633-8402, for up-to-date information. Leader Ken Etheridge, kee134@aol.com, 860-635-6751.

Wethersfield. Join Jim Woodworth and Bruce Morton - Sat., June 4
Click here for trail map. Nature walk. 9:00 am to noon. Connecticut River Floodplain, cosponsored by Great Meadows Conservation Trust and Goodwin College. Easy 3-mile walk over flat terrain. Join Jim Woodworth, GMCT stewardship chairman, and Bruce Morton, Goodwin College’s Program Director of Environmental Studies for an exploration of the 300+ acre Crow Point property, recently acquired by Goodwin College, along with the Trust’s Standish parcel, and Hale Easement. We’ll observe the process of nature reclaiming the land and waterways excavated for fill to build Route 3 and I91 across the ancient farmland and wetlands of the fertile flood plain of the Connecticut River. Meet at the Putnam Park parking lot, 100 Great Meadow
Road, just north of the Putnam Bridge in Wethersfield. Leaders: Jim Woodworth, (info@gmct.org); Bruce Morton. For details and directions visit www.gmct.org.

Sunday, June 5, 2011—10:00am to noon, Join Jim Woodworth
Nature and historical bicycle ride Heritage Trail in Old Wethersfield and Connecticut River Floodplain. Click here for trail map. Sponsored by Great Meadows Conservation Trust and Wethersfield Nature Center. Join Jim Woodworth, GMCT Stewardship Chairman, for easy 12 mile bike ride following Wethersfield’s Heritage Trail from the Cove toward the Rocky Hill Ferry Landing. Flat terrain, some village roads, some unpaved agricultural roads. Cycle paste historic Comstock, Ferre Seed Company and Anderson Farms in the village, through historic seed gardens, corn, bean and vegetable fields, flood plain forest, and marsh habit along CT River to Nation’s oldest Ferry. Return to village or extend ride (unguided) across the Ferry to Glastonbury. Meet at Cove Park, 533 Main Street, Wethersfield. Leader: Jim Woodworth (info@gmct.org). For details and directions visit www.gmct.org.

Great Meadows Conservation Trust
Brisk Winter Walks 2011

This is the schedule for the Great Meadows Conservation Trust winter walks for 2011, co-sponsored with the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury and the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center in Wethersfield.

Sunday, Jan 9, 1:00 pm, Rocky Hill. Seventy-five hikers met Larry Lunden at Ferry Park, 313 Meadow Rd, on route 160. A short hike to our Methodist Church parcel in the Rocky Hill Meadows. From I-91, take exit 24, route 99, Silas Deane Hwy. Take the Silas Deane south 1.4 miles to a traffic light. Turn left onto route 160, Glastonbury Ave. It is the right most street of the three that you see when you turn left. Proceed past the ferry landing to the gravel parking lot on the right.

Saturday, Jan 22, 10:00 am, Wethersfield. About one and a half hours. Meet Jim Woodworth at 160 Middletown Ave, south of Maple St. Cross the new bridge and follow the trail along the marsh constructed by Eagle Scouts. Hike will continue along the edge of the farm fields and the marsh. Click here to view the (flash video) slide show of photos by Jenny Smith and Duffy Schade. Or here for the mp4 version.

Saturday, Jan 29, 10:00 am, Wethersfield. Meet Jim Woodworth at 412 Hartford Ave, corner of Jordan La, for a short walk to our Wolf parcel and DeMille easement. See habitat improvements made with the help of a WHIP grant and volunteer work. Stay for a longer walk up Hartford Ave. and out along the Hartford dyke that divides the Folly Brook Nature area from the South Meadows Industrial Park.

Sunday, Feb 6, 1:00 pm, Glastonbury. Meet Jim Woodworth behind Glastonbury Town Hall, 2143 Main St. A short hike to our Preissner parcel. Continue on to explore the Glastonbury Meadows. View the parcel owned by First Church of Glastonbury for hundreds of years.

Saturday, Feb 12, 10:00 AM, Wethersfield. About two hours. Meet Jim Woodworth and Goodwin College's Bruce Morton, Program Director of Environmental Studies, at the Putnam Park parking lot, 100 Great Meadow Road, just north of the Putnam Bridge. We'll explore the 300+ acre Crow Point property owned by Goodwin College. We'll observe the process of nature reclaiming the land and waterways excavated for fill to build the highways across the ancient farmland and wetlands of the great meadows, and observe the “before” of the hoped for invasive species removal and forest planting from a pending DEP habitat improvement grant. We will have a van to shuttle the group from the parking lot along Great Meadow Road into the meadows. From I91 N, take exit 25/26 and bear right on Exit 26 to Wethersfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left under the Putnam Bridge to the parking lot. From I91 S, take exit 26, Marsh St. /Old Wethersfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left under the highway, and right at the T toward the Putnam Park lot. From Route 3N/ Maple Street, take the exit toward I91 north, but bear right Exit onto Great Meadow Road, and turn right toward the parking lot. From Route 3S, take the I91N exit at the end of bridge, but bear right Exit onto Great Meadow Road, and turn right toward the parking lot.

Saturday, Feb 26, 10:00 am, East Hartford. About one and a half hours. Meet Jim Woodworth and Goodwin College's Bruce Morton, Program Director of Environmental Studies, at Hockanum Park, 324 High St. Explore our Wilson-Carvalho and Hockanum Meadows parcels. Goodwin College students will study environmental science here. From route 2 west, take exit 5 A, Main St. At the second traffic light take a left, and then another left and under the highway onto High St. From route 2 east, take exit 5 A, High St. Once on High St, follow it south, past the elementary school, to the park on the left.

Walks will last 2 to 3 hours. Dress for the Weather and ground conditions. Many places will be muddy. Weather and water conditions may revise or cancel. Call the CT Audubon Society for the latest information, 860-633-8402. Free.

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