Road Trip: Explore protected farmland in Southbury and hike along the banks of the Pomperaug River
The Southbury Land Trust has preserved more than 2,000 acres land. Explore the protected farmland at Platt Farm Preserve and hike along the banks of the Pomperaug River
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Land trusts across the United States have helped conserve more than 61 million acres of land.
Here in Connecticut, the Southbury Land Trust has preserved over 2,000 acres — protecting open space while creating places people can enjoy.
The Platt Farm Preserve in Southbury is one of these. "This was our first large agricultural preserve," Joe Ruggiero, president of the Southbury Land Trust, explains. "It was protected in 2001 after being purchased from the Platt family. They wanted this farm to stay exactly the way it was."
Patrick Monahan, stewardship director at the Southbury Land Trust, adds, "That kind of long-term protection is critical. These properties are protected in perpetuity, and we take that very seriously."
"About 5,000 acres of land are developed every day in the United States," naturalist Mark Fowler explains. "But land trusts are also saving about 5,000 acres a day — and that's the good news."
At the Platt Farm Preserve, conservation goes hand in hand with public access. The trail there is an easy, accessible path along the Pomperaug River.
"It's peaceful. It's really a snapshot in time, a bit of a throwback to the 1700s." Carol Haskins is the executive director of the Pomperaug Watershed Coalition.
Haskins says the land also plays a vital role in protecting the river itself, draining through the land before reaching the river and naturally filtering it. The preserve also offers fishing, wide-open fields, hiking trails, and beautiful hilltop views.
"Having outdoor recreation right in your own community is so important," Olivia DiPalermo, watershed programs manager for the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition, says. She adds that conservation partnerships are vital. "When people feel connected to the places they explore and the wildlife they see, they're more invested in protecting them."
The Southbury Land Trust has seven beautiful preserves to explore.
Next door in Woodbury, they will celebrate their 32nd Earth Day on April 25. https://www.woodburyearthday.com/
