Events

All are welcome to Land Trust events - fun, informative, and congenial hikes and walks on
our conservation lands in the Greater Manchester area and an annual dinner meeting.


• 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.


• Earth Day cleanup party    Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 9:00 to 1:00
Volunteers welcome to clean up at the Cheney rail trail and Center Springs Park. Meet at 39 Lodge Drive, Manchester. A collaboration of the Manchester Land Conservation Trust, Town of Manchester Sustainability Commission, the Youth Commission, the Conservation Commission, and the Manchester High School Environmental Club. Supplies will be provided: gloves, trash bags, etc. Come when you can, you are not required to stay the whole time. Dress for the weather; event will be held rain or shine. Bring what you’ll need, such as a water bottle, sunscreen, sweatshirt, etc. Pizza will be provided at the end of the event to volunteers.

• Birdwatchers walk    Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.
All are invited to attend this free birdwatching event at our 177.5-acre property in southeastern Manchester. Newcomers, experts, young, old, families, and singles are welcome. NO DOGS, due to the nature of this event. We'll view and hear birds with bird experts Paul DesJardins and David Funke, members of the Hartford Audubon Society. The month of May is a good time to see migrating birds. Park near the cider barn at 330 Bush Hill Road, Manchester. We'll walk on fairly flat terrain on a farm road through former orchards, taking about an hour. Or explore four+ miles of trails at the property on your own with this self-guiding trail map. Rain date, Sunday, May 5.


• Giant Fundraising Tag Sale    Friday, May 17 through Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 10:00 to 3:00 PosterIconMay2024.JPGeach day.
Peview sale/early shopping on Thursday, May 16, from 5:00 to 9:00 for a $5 donation. Includes refreshments. Other times, free admission. 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. We will be selling loads of books, tools, golf clubs, dishes, artwork and frames, curiosities, furniture, machinery, household and sports items, near-antiques, glassware, toys, tablecloths, music CDs, DVDs, holiday decor, and items both useful and decorative. Proceeds from the tag sale help fund the Land Trust and its mission of preservation of open spaces for the public to enjoy. Questions: Terry at 860-643-1823. You can print a tag sale poster here. Shoppers are invited to make an offer on items, especially in quantity. The Land Trust appreciates the work of Terry and all the tag sale volunteers. Before or after shopping, check out the story trail and 4+ miles of hiking trails.

• Annual meeting and dinner    Friday, May 24, 2024 5:30 p.m. at Georgina's Restaurant, 275 Boston Turnpike, Bolton
All welcome to an evening of conviviality and good food. $45 for members, $48 for non-members, $27.00 for children age 12 and under. Social time and cash bar at 5:30, buffet dinner at 6:00, followed by a brief annual meeting and election of board members, then an illustrated program by Jack Swatt, President of the Connecticut Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation: The American Chestnut and Chestnut Bark Disease (a.k.a. “The Blight”). Jack works with our volunteers establishing experimental Chestnut plantations at Bush Hill. wildlife biologist Jane Seymour, who manages the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon. The dinner is always a highlight of the Land Trust year. The restaurant requires a final number of guests a couple weeks before the date, so we're asking for RSVPs by May 7 -- we need to receive your form and payment by then. We can't offer tickets "at the door," so to speak. Details and the signup form: dinner invitation

• Connecticut Trails Days    Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, each at 1:00 p.m. PLUS an E.H. collaboration, Sunday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Kids, families, and adults are invited to our Trails Days events:

• Saturday, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. at Center Springs Park, Manchester; meet at 39 Lodge Drive, for a 1.25-mile urban walk around the pond.
• Sunday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m., we'll collaborate with the Town of East Hartford on a 2.5-mile East Hartford Nature Trail walk that includes a view of our M.J. Williams park near the E.H. property; meet at 350-R Long Hill Street, East Hartford; led by Town of East Hartford staffer Sean Dwyer.
• Sunday, June 2 at 1:00 p.m. a 2.5-mile Risley ramble; meet at 366 Lake Street, Vernon. Hilly and bumpy terrain, with some wet spots.

These hikes are free. New hikers are especially encouraged to attend. Hike leaders will show the blazes on the trail that mark the way. Rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels. No dogs, please.


Join us for free hikes, scheduled throughout the year. All welcome.

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