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POMFRET CENTER — Local wildlife, including the Whippoorwill, a species of special concern in Connecticut, just got a boost thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut to the Wyndham Land Trust.
The Wyndham Land Trust will use the funding to add to the protected property on Bull Hill in Thompson ——part of a rare landscape of 3,000 acres of unbroken forest. The 975 acres on Bull Hill owned by the Wyndham Land Trust offers sweeping views of Woodstock from an overlook, which is accessible from a trail managed by the land trust.
The protected forested lands provide important wildlife habitat as well as play a central role in helping to reduce area flooding and enhance local water quality. Bull Hill contains the headwaters of the Little River that provides drinking water to the town of Putnam.
“The goal of this local land protection effort is to ensure this remarkable block of forest remains unscathed by haphazard, sprawling development and provides recreational access to the public for hiking, birdwatching, and educational programs,” said Andy Rzeznikiewicz, a board member of the Wyndham Land Trust and the land manager for the Connecticut Audubon Center in Pomfret. Carolyn Werge, Thompson's conservation officer, said: “It’s important that we provide recreational opportunities and conserve these critical lands for the long-term quality of life in our community, as well as balancing the tax base. To attract local businesses and maintain a strong tax base, research has shown that these types of projects are important to conserve our way of life and heritage.”
The Wyndham Land Trust has been working with local families who have donated land to help conserve their family history and the history of the town. Some landowners find they need to sell their lands and would rather sell it to a land trust for conservation than see it developed. The Trust relies on local donations and the generosity of businesses and grants to purchase lands, such as the $20,000 gift received from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.
Ron Tillen, a board member of the Wyndham Land Trust and long-time resident of Thompson, said: “We find people love being part of this conservation project, with many expressing appreciation for what it means to conserve our town’s history and landscapes.”
The foundation strives to preserve and protect environmentally significant land, waterways, and wildlife habitats for the benefit of the ecosystem and for the well-being, health, livelihood, and enjoyment of residents of Eastern Connecticut.
The Wyndham Land Trust was formed in 1975 and now protects over 4,300 acres in northeastern Connecticut. The work of the all-volunteer group is possible through the generosity and dedication of its volunteers, members, and donors and organizations like the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.
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