Darien Land Trust - Preserving and Protecting Land in Darien, Connecticut

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Darien Land Trust

Preserving and protecting open space in Darien, Connecticut — Forever

Our Mission

The Darien Land Trust preserves natural space, connects our community with nature and promotes conservation awareness to protect land now and forever.

We have permanently protected diverse natural environments such as wetlands along the Five Mile River, tidal salt marshes at Holly Pond and Scott’s Cove, upland forests in Dunlap Woods, and meadow habitats at Mather Meadows, Fox Run, and Brendan’s Meadow. The Land Trust now owns or has conservation easements totaling 230 acres in Darien.

Make a Difference

The Land Trust is a private 501(c)3 organization in Darien and not affiliated with the Town.

Your support as a volunteer steward or as a donor is what makes it possible for us to carry out our mission. Lands protected and preserved by the Land Trust are held in conservation FOREVER.

Cleanup_Group

Whether you want to become a volunteer or join other like-minded conservationists who financially support our stewardship and organizational needs, please email [email protected].

Land doesn’t protect itself. People do. Like YOU!

In the News

Happening Now

Moffly Media

Published November / December 2024

darienlandtrust

The DLT preserves natural space, connects our community with nature and promotes conservation awareness to to protect land now and forever.

🌳 TOMORROW: Annual Trail Fix Day! 🛠️ Sunda

🌳 TOMORROW: Annual Trail Fix Day! 🛠️
Sunday, April 27 | 11AM–1PM | Dunlap & Selleck’s Woods

Please join us on Sunday for our annual clean up. 🍃 Help repair trails and spread wood chips at two of Darien's most treasured natural spaces. 💪 Come enjoy the outdoors, meet fellow nature lovers, and make a real impact! 🙏

🔗 To register:
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/8pFByEzmUJ2VR-snuo-QLA

#DarienLandTrust
#darienparksandrec
#friendsofselleckswoods
#TrailFixDay
#VolunteerLocal
#EarthMonth
#DarienCT
#LoveYourLandTrust

🌳 Happy Arbor Day from the Darien Land Trust! 🌳

Did you know that Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1872 in Nebraska, where more than one million trees were planted in a single day? 😲 Today, it’s a nationwide celebration of trees and all they do for our planet—and our community. 🍃

Trees clean our air, cool our neighborhoods, support wildlife, and bring beauty to our trails and open spaces.🦉 From shade on a summer hike to vibrant fall colors, they make Darien a better place to live. 🍁

Whether you choose celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree, taking a walk in the woods, or simply pausing to appreciate the trees that surround us, we hope you enjoy this beautiful spring day. ☀️

📸 Thank you @elloyd12 for capturing this photo of Glen Alexander, preserved and protected since 2023.

#ArborDay
#DarienLandTrust
#PlantATree
#KeepDarienGreen

Celebrate Earth Day in Norwalk! 🌎 📅 Saturday

Celebrate Earth Day in Norwalk! 🌎
📅 Saturday, April 26 |⏰ 11 AM – 3 PM

Join our fellow conservationists at Norwalk Land Trust for a fun-filled Festival!

🎶 Live music | 🍔 Food trucks | 🎨 Face painting & Kids activities
🧘 Healing arts & Labyrinth | 🌳 Tree planting | 🍻 Beer garden | 🧺 Picnic Area

🎤 Special Guest: David Pogue of CBS kicks off the event at 11 AM with an inspirational talk, “10 Reasons for Climate Hope.” 💚

#NorwalkLandTrust
#EarthDay2025
#NorwalkCT
#SustainableLiving
#DavidPogue
#FamilyFun
#LoveYourPlanet
#GreenTogether
#CommunityRoots

🌳 Annual Trail Fix Day is Almost Here! 🛠️

🌳 Annual Trail Fix Day is Almost Here! 🛠️
Sunday, April 27 | 11AM–1PM | Dunlap & Selleck’s Woods

☀️ With sunny skies in the forecast, there’s no better way to celebrate spring and a belated Earth Day than giving back to the land we all love!

🌿 Help repair trails and spread wood chips at two of Darien’s most treasured natural spaces. Come enjoy the outdoors, meet fellow nature lovers, and make a real impact! 💪🙏

🔗 To register:
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/8pFByEzmUJ2VR-snuo-QLA

#DarienLandTrust
#darienparksandrec
#friendsofselleckswoods
#TrailFixDay
#VolunteerLocal
#EarthMonth
#DarienCT
#LoveYourLandTrust

🌍 Happy Earth Day from the Darien Land Trust! 🌱

Today—and every day—we celebrate the land we love. 💚

Darien is home to some incredible natural spaces—meadows buzzing with pollinators, quiet forest trails, and wetlands teeming with wildlife. On this Earth Day, we invite you to pause, get outside, and reconnect with the land that makes our town so beautiful. 🌳🌸

📸 Thank you @reeree32074 for this stunning photo of Olson Woods!

#DarienLandTrust
#EarthDay
#EarthDay2025

🦉 TOMORROW! Finding Flaco: Meet the Authors Beh

🦉 TOMORROW! Finding Flaco: Meet the Authors Behind NYC’s Beloved Owl Story! 📖

Did you fall in love with Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo and captured the hearts of millions? ❤️

Join the Darien Land Trust, @darienlibrary and @dariennaturecenter on Thursday, April 17 at 7 PM for a special author event with wildlife photographers Jacqueline Emery and David Lei. 📸

Their new book, Finding Flaco: Our Year with New York City’s Beloved Owl, chronicles the incredible journey of Flaco — from his escape and first clumsy flights to becoming a symbol of resilience and wonder in the heart of Manhattan.🏙

Emery and Lei observed Flaco over 150 times, capturing intimate photos and stories that show how he learned to fly, hunt, and survive in the wild. 🌃

Flaco’s story is one of adaptation, freedom, and the magic of wildlife in unexpected places. Don’t miss this evening of beautiful photography, storytelling, and reflection on why one owl touched so many lives.✨

📅 Thursday, April 17 @ 7 PM
📍 Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd
🔗 https://www.darienlibrary.org/event/confirmed-finding-flaco-69672

#DarienLandTrust
#DarienLibrary
#DarienNatureCenter
#FindingFlaco
#FlacoTheOwl
#UrbanWildlife
#WildlifePhotography
#Conservation
#NYCWildlife

🌿 Exciting News for Olson Woods & Piacentini Pr

🌿 Exciting News for Olson Woods & Piacentini Preserve! 🌳

We’re thrilled to share that the Darien Land Trust has been awarded a Climate-Smart Stewardship Grant from the Connecticut Land Conservation Council! 🎉

With this $5,365 grant, we’ll be working with a forester and meadow specialist to develop a forest management plan for Olson Woods & Piacentini Preserve—focusing on climate resilience by:

🌱 Restoring the wetland buffer at Olson Pond to prevent erosion and support native habitat
🌳 Planting native understory trees to boost biodiversity and forest health
🌾 Rehabilitating a meadow overrun by invasives to restore its ecological value

We’re incredibly grateful to @ctconservation for supporting this important work! Thank you! 🙏

#DarienLandTrust
#LoveYourCTLandTrust
#ctlandconservationcouncil
#ClimateSmart
#CLCCGrant

🦉 Finding Flaco: Meet the Authors Behind NYC’

🦉 Finding Flaco: Meet the Authors Behind NYC’s Beloved Owl Story! 📖

Did you fall in love with Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo and captured the hearts of millions? ❤️

Join the Darien Land Trust, @darienlibrary and @dariennaturecenter on Thursday, April 17 at 7 PM for a special author event with wildlife photographers Jacqueline Emery and David Lei. 📸

Their new book, Finding Flaco: Our Year with New York City’s Beloved Owl, chronicles the incredible journey of Flaco — from his escape and first clumsy flights to becoming a symbol of resilience and wonder in the heart of Manhattan.🏙

Emery and Lei observed Flaco over 150 times, capturing intimate photos and stories that show how he learned to fly, hunt, and survive in the wild. 🌃

Flaco’s story is one of adaptation, freedom, and the magic of wildlife in unexpected places. Don’t miss this evening of beautiful photography, storytelling, and reflection on why one owl touched so many lives.✨

📅 Thursday, April 17 @ 7 PM
📍 Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd

#DarienLandTrust
#DarienLibrary
#DarienNatureCenter
#FindingFlaco
#FlacoTheOwl
#UrbanWildlife
#WildlifePhotography
#Conservation
#NYCWildlife

🌿 Inspiring Connections at the CT Land Conserva

🌿 Inspiring Connections at the CT Land Conservation Conference!

On Saturday, the DLT attended the 41st Connecticut Land Conservation Conference at Wesleyan University, where over 635 land conservation professionals gathered for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. 👩‍🏫

Over 40 incredible workshops were offered and covered topics like climate-smart solutions, forest management best practices, and building strategic communication.

Keynote speaker Dudley Edmondson, acclaimed wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and author, spoke of his efforts to increase opportunities for people of color to connect with, and enjoy nature.🌅

His words continue to resonate with us:
💬 “Nature is the source of life, not a resource.”

We must continuously support and protect nature—it should never be the other way around. According to Edmondson, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. We must work together to ensure the U.S. does not follow the same path.

Together with Cristen Cottrell from @nc_land_trust, and friends from UConn and across the land conservation community, Amy, Bob, Emma, and Elizabeth left feeling inspired and energized to continue our work to preserve and protect Darien's precious natural resources. 💚

#DarienLandTrust
#CTLandConservationCouncil
#ConnecticutLandConservationConference

🌱 🐝 "Start Thinking Like a Plant!" 🐞🌸

🌱 🐝 "Start Thinking Like a Plant!" 🐞🌸
- Pro tip from UCONN Master Gardener instructor Sarah Broady

Earlier this month, Executive Director Elizabeth Mathus, dove into Entomology - the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment, and other organisms - as part of her Master Gardener training, and came back buzzing with knowledge! 🧠✨

Did you know? Most insects in your garden aren’t pests - they’re helpers! 🌻🐜 Beneficial bugs pollinate over 75% of global crops and provide natural pest control valued at $577 billion per year. 🤯 In fact, in the U.S. alone, insects perform services valued in 2006 at an estimated $57 billion per year! 💰

🔎 One goal of Integrative Pest Management is to greatly minimize the use of chemicals to control pests by spotting early signs of trouble - like tiny egg masses or nymphs - before the full emergence of an infestation. 😬 Nature gives us clues (called phenology), and the more we observe, the more we can nurture healthy, balanced ecosystems. 🌎

📚 Curious to learn more? Check out Mac's Field Guide to Northeast GOOD & BAD Garden Bugs — it’s a fantastic tool!

#DarienLandTrust
#MasterGardener
#Pollinators
#BeneficialInsects
#GardenWisdom
#DarienCT

🔨 Building a Better Home for Bats! 🦇 Eagle

🔨 Building a Better Home for Bats! 🦇

Eagle Scout candidate Kate Johnson of Troop 219 is on a mission to support our local bat populations! 🌙 She recently met with Ring's End representative Adam Robelot, diving deep into construction techniques and problem-solving for her Eagle Scout Project with Darien Land Trust. 🪚

Kate’s passion for bat conservation is inspiring! Did you know a single bat can eat up to 8,000 insects per night—mainly mosquitoes? 🦟 Bats play a crucial role in keeping our environment balanced, and thanks to Kate’s dedication, more of these incredible creatures will have safe habitats this spring. 🌷

Stay tuned as Kate refines her bat house design and begins construction! 🛠️🏡 Thank you, Kate, for your hard work and commitment to local wildlife! 💚

#DarienLandTrust
#RingsEnd
#EagleScout
#BatConservation
#WildlifeHeroes
#BatsAreAwesome
#HabitatRestoration
#CommunityInAction

📅 This Sunday: Finding Hope in Nature with Auth

📅 This Sunday: Finding Hope in Nature with Author Pamela Lowell 📖

Join the Darien Land Trust, @dariennaturecenter and @darienlibrary this Sunday, March 16 at 2 PM for an inspiring talk with Pamela Lowell, trauma specialist, avid birder and author of My Summer With Ospreys. 🌊🐦

Lowell shares her transformative journey monitoring Osprey nests with Mass Audubon, weaving together nature, art, and healing in a powerful story of conservation and connection. 🌿💙

📅 Sunday, March 16 at 2 PM
📍 Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd
🔗 Register here: https://www.darienlibrary.org/event/tent-ospreys-pamela-lowell-64688

#DarienLandTrust
#DarienNatureCenter
#DarienLibrary
#OspreyJourney
#NatureHeals
#BirdingForGood
#ConservationMatters

🌿 Shaping the Future of Great Island 🌿 Can

🌿 Shaping the Future of Great Island 🌿

Can you believe it’s been nearly TWO YEARS since Darien acquired Great Island? How time flies! ⏰

The auditorium was packed for Great Island Public Workshop #3 on March 1st, where Reed Hilderbrand, Landscape Architect and Leader Planner, and his team, presented three thoughtful implementation scenarios—all prioritizing conservation. We were especially thrilled to see the focus on preserving the northeast lobe of the island, where it has been least developed and is home to nesting Bald Eagles. 🦅

The workshop included an interactive session where the community was encouraged to learn and interact. With the Vision Plan approved by the Board of Selectmen and the Master Plan phase underway, now is the perfect time to make your voice heard!🗣

📢 Take the public survey here: https://greatisland.darienct.gov/home
📅 Save the Date: Saturday, May 17 for the next public workshop!

We were thrilled to see Neil Desai of @hardestyhanover (H&H), our 2026 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) consultants, present to witness the energy and investment of our community. 🙌 Darien Land Trust is excited to contribute to the 2026 POCD alongside our green partners. Let’s keep this momentum going—together, we can protect Great Island’s natural treasures! 🌳

#DarienLandTrust
#GreatIsland
#DarienCT
#ConservationMatters
#ProtectOurLand

🌍✨ An Inspiring Evening at the Beyond Zero Sc

🌍✨ An Inspiring Evening at the Beyond Zero Screening! 🎬💡

A big thank you to everyone who joined us last night for the powerful documentary, Beyond Zero. We left feeling enlightened and empowered by Interface CEO Ray Anderson’s bold vision for a “CLEAN” industrial revolution—proving that businesses can strive for both profit and purpose.

👏 Special shoutout to First Selectman @jon.zagrodzky, who helped us give away impactful environmental books to our engaged audience. Thank you @DarienPollinatorPathway!

🌱 Inspired to learn more and join the conservation community? Connect with the local nonprofits that sponsored this event and explore more ideas at http://www.stakeholderbusiness.com

#BeyondZero
#DarienGreenWave
#DarienLandTrust
#DarienLibrary
#DarienNatureCenter
#DarienPollinatorPathway
#GardenClubofDarien
#Sustainability
#CommunityImpact
#GreenRevolution

🌿✨ Discovering Nature’s Wonders at Marsh Bo

🌿✨ Discovering Nature’s Wonders at Marsh Botanical Gardens! ✨🌳

As part of the Master Gardener program, we toured the beautiful Marsh Botanical Gardens located on eight acres in the heart of Yale University. Led by Master horticulturist Erik Larson, we explored magnificent native and exotic trees, including Towering Dawn Redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), imported from China, to native Eastern White Pines Pinus Strobus). 🌲🌱

We were fascinated by stories of the garden’s history, designed by the renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand in the 1920s, and inspired by the upcoming large-scale restoration! 🏛️✨

One of the highlights? A massive oak tree bearing a vertical scar—a powerful reminder of nature’s strength following a lightning strike! ⚡️🌳

The gardens are stunning year-round, but the spring show is a must-see. Plan your visit along the Yale Nature Walk and get inspired by the beauty of nature!

#DarienLandTrust
#YaleMBG
#MarshBotanicGardens
#MasterGardener
#NatureWalk
#ExploreYale
#BeatrixFarrand
#NatureInspires

🌍 Happy World Wildlife Day! 🦉 At Darien Lan

🌍 Happy World Wildlife Day! 🦉

At Darien Land Trust, we’re committed to protecting the diverse wildlife that calls our preserves home. From vibrant pollinators 🦋 to majestic birds 🦅 and quiet forest dwellers 🐿, every species plays a vital role in our ecosystem.

Please join us in celebrating and safeguarding our natural world! 🐇🐟🦌

❓Did you know❓ On December 20, 2013 at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), March 3 was declared United Nations World Wildlife Day. This day holds significance as the day that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973. The UNGA Resolution designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. UN World Wildlife Day has now become the global annual event dedicated to wildlife.

📸 @reeree32074

#WorldWildlifeDay
#Conservation
#DarienLandTrust
#ProtectOurPlanet

Don’t Miss This Eye-Opening Documentary on Busin

Don’t Miss This Eye-Opening Documentary on Business and Sustainability! 🎬

Please join us on Tuesday, March 4th at 7 PM at Darien Library for a powerful screening of Beyond Zero. 🌍

This must-see documentary follows @interface CEO Ray Anderson as he takes a bold leap to transform his billion-dollar carpet company from an environmental offender into a global leader in sustainability. 👊

This inspiring film will leave you rethinking the future of business, industry and our planet! Many thanks to our partners for making the evening possible - Darien Green Wave, @darienlibrary, @dariennaturecenter, @darienpollinatorpathway and @gardenclubofdarien. 🌳

📅 Tuesday, March 4th at 7 PM
📍 Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd
🎥 Run time 70 minutes
🍷 Reception to follow
🔗 Register here: https://www.darienlibrary.org/event/tentbeyond-zero-screening-dpp-green-wave-70540

#BeyondZero
#DarienLandTrust
#DarienGreenwave
#DarienLibrary
#DarienNatureCenter
#DarienPollinatorPathway
#GardenClubofDarien
#SustainabilityMatters
#GreenBusiness
#ClimateAction
#EcoInnovation
#DarienCT

🌿 Save Our Trees: Cut Those Vines! 🌳✂️

🌿 Save Our Trees: Cut Those Vines! 🌳✂️

Winter is the perfect time to spot and remove invasive vines that are strangling our trees! Some vines we've seen are as thick as your arm! 😲 These invaders block sunlight, trap moisture, and can eventually kill the trees they climb.

🔥 Take action! Cutting an 8-10” section of vine near the base now will hasten its decline before it can form leaves in spring. Be sure to identify poison ivy before cutting—its “hairy” vine can cause a rash!

🛠 Common vine culprits in our area:
🍂 Bittersweet
🍇 Grapevine
🌿 English Ivy
🌱 Poison Ivy
💎 Porcelainberry

💡 Stewardship Advisor Juliet Cain reminds us that vines steal sunlight, restrict oxygen flow, and even strangle trees—so cutting them now is a huge help!

📸 Show us your vine-cutting efforts! Drop your photos in the comments!

#DarienLandTrust
#ProtectOurTrees
#CutTheVines
#InvasiveSpecies
#WinterStewardship
#ConservationMatters
#SaveOurForest

🌲 Planning for a Healthy Forest Future! ✨ E

🌲 Planning for a Healthy Forest Future! ✨

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of walking Olson Woods & Piacentini Preserve with Ian Branson, CT Certified Forester, as he begins updating our Forest Management Plan (FMP). 📝🌳

Ian first prepared a FMP for Olson Woods in 2012, but with changing floodplain conditions and the donation of Piacentini Preserve to the DLT in 2017, it’s time for an update! This plan will guide our stewardship efforts for the next decade—helping us preserve tree diversity, selectively thin where needed, and remove invasives to support long-term forest health. 💪

🌍 With Ash trees falling to the Emerald Ash Borer insect and Beech trees struggling against disease, thoughtful planning is more critical than ever. Succession is natural, but preparing for this degree of tree loss is essential for forest health for generations to come.

🙏 Thank you, Ian, for your expertise! We hope to work with you to create an updated FMP for the decade ahead.

#DarienLandTrust
#ForestStewardship
#HealthyForests
#ConservationMatters
#ProtectOurLand
#SustainableFuture

💚 Happy Valentine’s Day! 💚 ❤️ Tell u

💚 Happy Valentine’s Day! 💚

❤️ Tell us—what do you love most about the Darien Land Trust? Is it…

🥾 Exploring our beautiful walking trails?
🌅 Taking in the scenic vistas?
🦋 Seeing pollinators thrive in our meadows?
🌳 Knowing protected open spaces will be here for generations?

Drop your favorite thing about the DLT in the comments below! ⬇️ 💕

#DarienLandTrust
#LoveYourLandTrust
#ValentinesDay

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Contact

[email protected]
203-655-4148
P.O. Box 1074, Darien CT 06820

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