Barrington Land Trust

Town Resilience Garden Work Day
2026-09-15 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Barrington Town Hall, 283 County Road, Barrington, RI, 02806
This event is for volunteers who have registered to participate in the care of the Town’s Resilience Garden at Town Center. If you haven’t registered yet and would like to participate, you may register here and download the Town’s release of responsibility here.
On Tuesday, September 15, from 9-11 am, we’ll be doing general care and maintenance of the Resilience Garden at Town Center.
REGISTER FOR THE WORK DAY
Please dress for the weather. Bring work gloves and your favorite weeder (hori hori, trowel, scratcher, cobrahead, etc.). We recommend you bring a water bottle.
Barrington Town Center is located at 283 County Road. Please park in the main lot behind Town Hall (not in Tapin’s lot), and walk down to the garden area, which is next to the entrance to Town Center next to the pond.
The garden stewards will notify you within 48 hours of the event if it will be cancelled for any reason.

Learning Series: Forgotten Landscapes ~ How Natural Habitats Respond to Land Use
2026-09-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Travel through time with ecologist Kevin Ormerod as he shares historic photos and records that provide insight into today’s native plants and habitats. Kevin will help us deepen our conservation perspective and abilities on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 pm in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library.

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Learn how to decipher the events that shaped our landscapes and foresee the outcomes of current management methods. Kevin will explore the effect that centuries of settlement has had on both home gardens and habitat restoration.
By recognizing which species and habitats are foundational to Southern New England, we can make decisions that help us reclaim our personal property. We’ll also be better equipped to contribute valuable input toward public land management projects.
About Kevin Ormerod
Kevin Ormerod is the founder of Bluestem Meadows, a native habitat restoration and landscaping company. He has worked with several native plant garden design companies and nurseries and has collaborated with the Southern and Eastern Rhode Island Conservation Districts of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Kevin earned a Bachelor of Science in geological oceanography from the University of Rhode Island in 2017. He received Invasive Management Certification by the Coastal Resources Management Council and Wetland Field Indicator Certification from the New England Hydric Soil Technical Committee. Kevin also trained with the Xerces Society and Garden in the Woods, and he serves as a rare plant survey volunteer with the Native Plant Trust.

Thanks to our 2026 Learning Series Sponsors!

Charles E. Millard General Contractors, Inc.
Pods Swimming, East Providence
Jaffe Orthodontics, Barrington

Town Resilience Garden Work Day
2026-10-03 09:00 - 11:00 | Barrington Town Hall, 283 County Road, Barrington, RI, 02806
This event is for volunteers who have registered to participate in the care of the Town’s Resilience Garden at Town Center. If you haven’t registered yet and would like to participate, you may register here and download the Town’s release of responsibility here.
On Saturday, October 3, from 9-11 am, we’ll be doing general care and maintenance of the Resilience Garden at Town Center.
REGISTER FOR THE WORK DAY
Please dress for the weather. Bring work gloves and your favorite weeder (hori hori, trowel, scratcher, cobrahead, etc.). We recommend you bring a water bottle.
Barrington Town Center is located at 283 County Road. Please park in the main lot behind Town Hall (not in Tapin’s lot), and walk down to the garden area, which is next to the entrance to Town Center next to the pond.
The garden stewards will notify you within 48 hours of the event if it will be cancelled for any reason.

Town Resilience Garden Work Day
2026-10-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Barrington Town Hall, 283 County Road, Barrington, RI, 02806
This event is for volunteers who have registered to participate in the care of the Town’s Resilience Garden at Town Center. If you haven’t registered yet and would like to participate, you may register here and download the Town’s release of responsibility here.
On Tuesday, October 20, from 9-11 am, we’ll be doing general care and maintenance of the Resilience Garden at Town Center.
REGISTER FOR THE WORK DAY
Please dress for the weather. Bring work gloves and your favorite weeder (hori hori, trowel, scratcher, cobrahead, etc.). We recommend you bring a water bottle.
Barrington Town Center is located at 283 County Road. Please park in the main lot behind Town Hall (not in Tapin’s lot), and walk down to the garden area, which is next to the entrance to Town Center next to the pond.
The garden stewards will notify you within 48 hours of the event if it will be cancelled for any reason.

Learning Series: Combining Art and Science to Save Species
2026-10-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Wildlife populations are declining around the world because of human impacts, and yet too few of us are part of the solution. In this presentation, Dr. Lucy Spelman, founder of the local organization Creature Conserve, offers a behind-the-scenes look at how combining art and science can bring us together to save species.
The event will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7 pm in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library, our partner in the Learning Series.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
“Dr. Lucy” believes that we need a more inviting and inclusive approach to wildlife conservation, one that open to diverse perspectives from the arts, humanities, sciences, traditional ecological knowledge and beyond.
Drawing from her years as a zoo and wildlife veterinarian, she describes some of her first experiences with art-sci collaboration. These stories are wild and wonderful, from glue-on shoes for a rhino to parading for pandas.
She’ll introduce us to the work of Creature Conserve, the non-profit she founded, and her newest book, Creature Needs, which will be available for sale. You’ll see examples of art informed and inspired by science that call attention to the loss of biodiversity and what we can do about it.

About Dr. Lucy Spelman
“Dr. Lucy” is a world-renowned zoo and wildlife veterinarian, writer, and educator. She has cared for animals in every imaginable setting, from our pets at home to those remaining in the vanishing wild. She also brings artists and scientists together to create new pathways for wildlife conservation, both as an educator at the Rhode Island School of Design and as the founder of Creature Conserve.
She has authored several books, including The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes, the National Geographic Kids Animal Encyclopedia, and Creature Needs: Writers Respond to the Science of Animal Conservation.

Thanks to our 2026 Learning Series Sponsors!

Charles E. Millard General Contractors, Inc.
Pods Swimming, East Providence
Jaffe Orthodontics, Barrington

Learning Series: The Little Things that Run the World (Documentary)
2026-11-10 18:30 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Join us for THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD, an award-winning 105-minute documentary that introduces viewers to a diverse group of scientists, nature lovers, gardeners, farmers and general bug enthusiasts in exploring the importance of flying insects amid rapid declines in their numbers.
The event will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 6:30 pm in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library, our partner in the Learning Series. A discussion will follow the film for those who are interested.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
View the trailer

This most numerous group of animals on the planet by far – three quarters of all species – have also been called the “glue of life” on Earth. They literally hold ecosystems together. Insects were the first animals to evolve flight more than 400 million years ago, and they survived all five of the known mass extinctions since then. But there is evidence that the pace of decline among insects in parts of the world today is fast approaching the levels of previous catastrophes.
What this means for the rest of life on Earth, including humans, is the focus of THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD. The film documents the mysteries of the declines along side creative and heroic human efforts to change the course of evolutionary history. What is causing this extinction crisis? What can be done to reverse the trend? THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD attempts to find answers to those questions and more.
Film Festivals and Experts Applaud the Film
“This year, we are incredibly excited to honor a film that championed a crucial environmental theme with artistic mastery, transforming what could be a purely academic subject into an accessible and deeply engaging cinematic experience. More importantly, it leaves us with a sense of wonder and a gentle, optimistic call to action, inspiring us to appreciate and protect the delicate balance of our natural world. It’s a mesmerizing exploration of the vital yet often overlooked role of insects in our global ecosystem. It is both scientifically rigorous and visually stunning, taking us on a journey into the intricate world of these tiny creatures, and reminding us how fundamental they are to life as we know it.” Lighthouse International Film Festival Jury
“THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD is a passionate and comprehensive deep dive into the ecological crisis facing flying insects and the ripple effects on global biodiversity.” Doc Screenings International Film Festival
“THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD is a visual treat! You’ll come for the incredible insect photography and stay for the important lessons on land use, habitat disruption, native plants, and avoiding monocultures. A visually entrancing film that reminds us of the perils of ignoring the needs of our invertebrate neighbors.” Chris Stelzig, Executive Director, Entomological Society of America
“What a terrific and timely summary of the global status of insects! E.O. Wilson and more than a dozen other world-renown scientists provide insightful critiques of the anthropogenic causes of insect declines and what we can do going forward to protect insect biodiversity. The stunning photography, sobering statistics, and insightful interviews make the film a valuable resource for students, educators, conservation biologists, policy makers, and environmentalists looking to build a more sustainable and just future for humanity and nature.” David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut.
Thanks to our 2026 Learning Series Sponsors!

Charles E. Millard General Contractors, Inc.
Pods Swimming, East Providence
Jaffe Orthodontics, Barrington
