The winter forest has different shapes and shadows than other seasons, the echo of animals rustling the leaves foraging for food, and the crisp air adds an enjoyable sting to the lungs.

January can be a tough month here in New England, but it is a spectacular time to explore the forest with a quiet walk on a cold day and to dream of the year ahead.

New Public Access Property

This winter at WLCT we will begin the effort to create a new public property for future exploration at the recently acquired Snell Creek landscape off of Main Road. We are focused on not only creating a place for the public to enjoy, but diligently planning out the perennial crop plantings to eventually be harvested by the Westport Food Pantry. In the Spring, keep an eye out for a program series on establishing perennial fruit crops as we begin to plant.

New Trails at Westport Woods

The winter is also a great time to tackle trail projects, including the completion of the new Westport Woods northern corridor of trails. Our stewardship staff will lead the effort to create these trails being mindful of the rich natural habitat. We hope to have these trails ready for public enjoyment by early summer.

Public Programs: Old Favorites and New Discoveries

In addition to several great stewardship and land preservation projects, we are really excited to continue to offer public programs for YOU to connect with the land. Each month our team has dreamed up offerings for the public to enjoy including families, all across Town. Many of our programs are hosted at Westport Woods, and one of our favorites is the new Nature’s Stage summer concert series in the Discovery Garden. We are looking forward to continuing this new initiative this year with all your feedback from the inaugural year. If you have a program idea- send it our way!

Connecting Us All to Our Shared Landscapes

The beginning of the year offers time for reflection, planning, and using the stillness of the month to rest, but we are hard at work facilitating the community’s connection to the land. 2025 was a great year for conservation and preservation in Westport, but 2026 holds even greater promise. I hope you’ll join us in the coming months for a program, stop by the office or the learning center for conversation (maybe a cup of tea?), and share your enthusiasm for our community’s natural resources. Our favorite part of this work is connecting with YOU, the people who make it happen, our members, the farmers, family explorers, and everyone else enjoying the outdoors in Town!