Irene Stahl
The Bethany Land Trust is sad to learn of the passing of Irene Stahl of Bethany, pictured left with Land Trust Past President, Linda Francois. In late 2022, Irene generously donated Whispering Pines to the Bethany Land Trust. This 47.3-acre preserve consists of woodlands, streams, and historic features. It adjoins two other Land Trust parcels along Briar Road and the town’s Carrington Preserve. For her years of caring for the land and for her generous gift to the people of Bethany, she was presented in 2023 with the Bethany Conservationist of the Year and the Bethany Citizen of the Year awards.
Her donation ensures that the land will be free of development and that the existing wildlife corridor and natural habitat of many species will be protected in perpetuity. Irene had declined to have the land named after her. As she explained it, “People don’t own the land. I want this to be called Whispering Pines.”
We are forever grateful to Ms. Stahl for this gift and for her lifelong dedication to conservation and reverence for the land.
Monthly Land Trust Trail Hikes
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir
If you’ve ever wanted to walk some hiking trails in Bethany and are not too sure where to start, the Bethany Land Trust is thrilled to invite you to join us for a series of monthly, guided hikes through some of our properties. Starting in April, these guided hikes have a theme and is designed to both introduce you to some of our preserves and to identify unique features that make those preserves very special places in town.
Below is the list of monthly hikes that will occur on the first Sunday of the month from 1 – 3 PM, except as noted. All are welcome and we look forward to having you join us.
April 7 – Signs of Spring Hike – Woodward Nature Preserve – Guide: Ali-Beres Nork (see more details below)
May 5 – Kids & Family BioBlitz Hike – Whispering Pines – Guides: Ali-Beres Nork and Grace Kenney
June 2 – National Trails Day Loop Hike, co-sponsored with Bethany Conservation Commission – Bethany Farms & Whispering Pines – Guide: Bob Harrison
July 7 – Tree Identification Hike – Van Epps Preserve – Guide: Dan Van Epps
August 4 – Bethany History Hike in collaboration with the Bethany Historical Society – Three Sisters Preserve – Guide: Will Brinton
September 1 – Early Morning Birding Adventure – Mendell’s Folly – Guide: Christin Arnini (time will be 8 – 9 AM)
October 6 – Bethany Airport Trails Hikes at the Bethany Harvest Festival – Guides: Bethany Land Trust Board Members
November 3 – Beaver Habitat Hike – Mendell’s Folly – Guide: Ali-Beres Nork
All are welcome but space for each hike will be limited to 25 registered participants. No dogs will be allowed and inclement weather will cancel. Details about each preserve, theme and guide will be given at the beginning of each month here in the Bethany Bulletin, our Facebook page and website. Details for registration, directions and parking will also be provided on our website, https://bethanylandtrust.org/. .
Here are the details of our first hike in this series:
Sunday, April 7, 1 – 3 PM: Signs of Spring Hike – Location: Woodward Nature Preserve
Join us in exploring the wonders of early spring and understanding the importance of preserving our natural landscapes for future generations. We’ll look for spring ephemerals, native wildflowers that emerge and flower in early spring and complete their life cycle before the forest canopy shades them out. Despite their short lives, ephemerals such as trout lily, wood anemone and hepatica play a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing food for pollinators like bumblebees and butterflies. We’ll also learn to recognize and address the presence of invasive plants that threaten this delicate ecosystem balance.
Guide: Ali Beres-Nork is an Environmental Science teacher at Amity High School holding an MS in Environmental Science from Montana State University and is a certified Connecticut Master Naturalist.
To register: contact Bob Harrison by April 5 via cell at 203-506-5888 or bjh51box@gmail.com
Parking at the end of Northrup Road
