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• Board of Directors Meetings
Click the icon at left for the monthly Board of Directors meeting schedule.
• Kids and books -- story trail walk
Come visit the Story Trail any time!
Kids, families, and adults are invited to our outdoor story trail. Park at the Land Trust’s cider barn, 330 Bush Hill Road, Manchester, and walk along the dirt road to the pavilion, to walk, read, and explore along the storybook trail. In cooperation with the Manchester Public Library, we periodically install a new book. The half-mile trail curls its way through a former apple orchard. Read more about the story trail here: story trail on our website.
• Risley dam work party - many volunteers needed
Saturday, March 1, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 
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447 Lake St, Bolton. Volunteers needed to clear vegetation – small trees, brush, vines – within 25 feet of the dam, and move the brush to large piles near the road. The dam is located across from the intersection of Lydall and Lake Streets on the Bolton/Vernon town line. Join us anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Land Trust will provide hand tools and work gloves to volunteers, but please bring your own tools and protective wear. We’ll provide pizza at 12 noon. Questions – Jeff Sullivan, Chief Steward, 860-578-0692.
• Giant Fundraising Tag Sale - Special One-Day Opening
Saturday, April 12, from 10:00 to 3:00 
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Featuring holiday items with an Easter flair -- décor, entertaining needs such as tablecloths and stemware. At the former cider barn, 330 Bush Hill Road, Manchester (between Keeney Street and Hillstown Road), the Land Trust's farm property. The tag sale raises funds
to benefit the Trust and its land-preservation work. There are always loads of books, tools, golf clubs, dishes, artwork and frames, curiosities, furniture, machinery, household and sports items, near-antiques, glassware, toys, small appliances, music CDs, DVDs, holiday decor, and items both useful and decorative. Questions: Terry at 860-643-1823. You can
• Highland Park history hike and climb
Saturday, April 12 at 1:00 p.m.
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Meet at the Land Trust boulder at the small parking lot on Spring Street near the bridge and waterfall, not far from the intersection of Spring Street and Glen Road, Manchester. The Land Trust owns a few properties in the Case Mountain area, including this .55-acre parcel. We'll start with commentary on the Case Brothers National Historic District and then visit the paper mill and mansion areas. Those who want a short walk with history may end their walk at the dam at Case Pond near Spring Street. For those who want a more strenuous event, we will continue uphill to the summit of Case Mountain. Steep, bumpy, and rocky terrain, but worth the effort, espcially on a clear day, when the Heublein Tower is visible to the west. FREE. Please wear sturdy sneakers or hiking boots, and bring water. No dogs, please. Extreme weather cancels. Please check the street signs carefully before parking. For vintage pictures and a story about the Highland Park section of Manchester, visit Case Brothers National Historic District.
• Connecticut Trails Days
Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, each at 1:00 p.m., rain or shine, no dogs please, PLUS hikes and events across the whole state organized by CT Forest & Park Association. Kids, families, and adults are invited to our free events:
○ Saturday, June 7, at 1:00 p.m.
• Cheney Railroad history walk
Saturday, August 16 at 1:00 p.m.]
at Center Springs Park, Manchester; meet at 39 Lodge Drive for a 1.25-mile moderately paced urban walk around the pond. Fairly flat, paved terrain. Excellent for beginners and for those without a lot of time during this busy weekend. The walk takes about 75 minutes and includes historic and botanical commentary. The 55-acre park was donated to the Town of Manchester in the 1920s, when the pond was built. The Town has installed fountains and other welcoming features. Led by the Town Historian.
○ Sunday, June 8 at 1:00 p.m., at Salter's Pond,
Moderately paced one-mile scenic walk on the loop trail at Salter's Pond, starting at the parking lot of Salter's pool, Lydall St. (across from intersection of Lydall St. and Coleman Road; GPS 123 Lydall St.), Manchester -- plenty of parking. Salter's Pond got its name from Lorenzo T. Salter who, in partnership with Mr. Strong, founded the Salter and Strong paper mill, which became Lydall paper mill. Many North End residents learned to swim at Salter's Pond before the town swimming pool was built. Our walk will include some historic and botanical commentary. The path may be wet depending on the weather, and hikers should wear sturdy footwear. The route is not mountainous, but does have stairs, hills, and bumpy spots, where roots stick out, so participants need to be agile. Takes about 1 hour. The pond and adjacent land is owned by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust.
North to South, meeting north of the tracks that intersect Main Street near North Main Street (details below). Hikers will have an easy, fairly flat, walk along the former railroad, built in 1869 to connect the Cheney silk mills to the
main rail line in the North End. At 2.5 miles, it was the shortest freight-and-passenger railroad in the United
States. We will hike at a moderate pace along the one-mile portion owned by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust and then on to the bridge overlooking Center Springs Park and Bigelow Brook, about three miles round trip. Participants will hear about the history
of the railroad. Meet at the north
end of Main Street in Manchester, in the parking lot of the strip mall on the north side of the tracks, across the tracks from the former Farr's Sporting Goods, 2 Main Street, Manchester,
CT 06042. Park at the southeast end of the strip mall, intersection of Main and North Main Streets, or at the former Eighth Utilities District office building, 18 Main Street. A special favor will be given to children who attend the hike. We will hike if light snow or rain -- bring an
umbrella -- but extreme weather cancels. No dogs, please. Free.
To enjoy
the trail on your own, print a copy of this