Barrington Land Trust

Art in Nature Series: Poetry in the Wild
2024-08-16 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge, 111 George St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Poets and aspiring writers are invited to participate in this free poetry workshop at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge on Friday, Aug. 16, from 10 am to noon.
The workshop will be led by published poet Cindy Elder. We’ll begin with a walk through the Refuge, and then we’ll find a comfortable place to sit and write, drawing on our observations, sensations and reflections on the wilderness around us. Those who are comfortable may share their work.
REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP
This workshop is recommended for adults and students ages 12 and up who have an interest in writing. All forms of poetry are welcome. Bring a folding chair or a blanket to sit on, a water bottle, and any writing supplies you need. We recommend you wear shoes and socks, lightweight long pants and shirt, and a hat to protect from sun and insects. Mosquito and tick spray will be provided on site if you need it.
The Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge is an 82-acre town-owned preserve along Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington. The terrain is gentle but may be wet or uneven in places, with some moderate inclines. The Refuge is located at 111 George Street in Barrington, off Warren Avenue in Seekonk (near Four Town Farm). There is a parking area along the side of the road near the white gate at the entrance to the Refuge.
If you have any questions, email cindyelder@blct.org.
About the Workshop Leader
Cindy Elder
Cindy Elder’s poems have appeared in Plainswoman, The Allegheny Review, The Last Stanza Poetry Journal, Frost Meadow Review, Blood & Bourbon, Blue Heron Review, and anthologies by the Tallgrass Writers Guild, Notable Works, Derailleur Press, Outrider Press, and elsewhere. She earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and career writing from Roger Williams University and a master of public affairs degree from Brown University. Cindy lives on the edge of Hundred Acre Cove in Rhode Island, where she serves as executive director of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.

Student Stewardship Team - St. Andrews Farm
2024-08-17 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Andrews Farm, 101 Middle Highway, Barrington, RI, 02806
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Sat., Aug. 17, from 1-3 pm, we’ll be clearing trails and removing invasive plants at St. Andrews Farm. Park in the parking lot at 101 Middle Highway.
Wear lightweight long pants, socks, shoes, t-shirt (Land Trust T-shirt optional), and your Land Trust hat. Bring a water bottle!
REGISTER FOR THE STEWARDSHIP EVENT

Evening Walk at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-08-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
Property Steward Bill Kirkpatrick
Experience an evening walk at one of Barrington’s rarely seen wilderness areas with the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.
On Thursday, Aug. 29, at 5 pm, join a guided walk through the Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, a 32-acre expanse of field, forest and wetland between Sowams Road and the Palmer River. The walk will be led by Property Steward Bill Kirkpatrick.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Dogs are not allowed because of the birds and animals that make this wildlife preserve their home.
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road, 0.7 miles north of Sowams Elementary School.
The walk takes approximately one hour over wet and moderate terrain. We recommend you wear lightweight long pants, sturdy shoes and socks, and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt to protect against mosquitos and ticks. Bug spray will be available. Parking is available on site.
Be aware that the primary bridge which connected the two sides of the property was washed out during a king high tide storm. You will be able to walk both sides of the property, but you won’t be able to walk it as a loop trail. A new bridge is in the planning phase.
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve was acquired by the Land Trust in 1991 through a combination of Rhode Island and Barrington Open Space bonds and charitable donations to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. Due to the sensitive native plants and animals on the property, it is not generally open to the public. The Land Trust hosts several guided walks each year to enable the public to experience the property, which has been preserved as a wilderness reserve in perpetuity.

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Learning Series: Nature Gardening with Doug Tallamy
2024-09-03 19:00 - 20:30 | ZOOM
Renowned author and entomologist Doug Tallamy joins us via Zoom on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 7 pm for a presentation on Nature Gardening and a Q&A with the audience.
This new presentation will inspire those who are familiar with Doug’s work as well as those who are hearing from him for the first time.
REGISTER FOR THE ZOOM EVENT
Author of Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, and New York Times best-seller Nature’s Best Hope, Doug has helped a generation of people understand the connection between insects, plants and the ecosystems they share.
“Nearly every day I get emails from people who have read my books and heard my talks and yet still have questions about ecological landscaping,” says Doug.
“These are good, thoughtful questions about ecology and evolution, biodiversity, invasive species, insect declines, native and non-native plants, conservation and restoration, residential and city landscapes, urban issues, oak biology, keystone plants, Homegrown National Park, monarchs, supporting wildlife at home, and more.”
“In this talk I address as many of these queries as I can with hope that my answers will further motivate people to help restore ecosystem function where they live, work, play, worship, and farm.”
About Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 112 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 42 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His books include Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, The Nature of Oaks, winner of the American Horticultural Society’s 2022 book award.
In 2021 he cofounded Homegrown National Park with Michelle Alfandari (HomegrownNationalPark.org). His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, Allegheny College, Ecoforesters, The Garden Club of America and The American Horticultural Association.
Thanks to our 2024 Land Trust Learning Series Sponsors!
Leadership Sponsor

Partner Sponsors

Supporting Sponsor
Meridian Custom Homes
Community Sponsors
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors
The Gob Shop
Jaffee Orthodontics

Student Stewardship Team - Osamequin Nature Preserve
2024-09-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Osamequin Nature Preserve, 1580 Rte. 114 North, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Sunday, Sept,. 8, from 1-3 pm, we’ll cutting back the perimeter trail at Osamequin Nature Preserve and cleaning up litter.
REGISTER FOR THE STEWARDSHIP EVENT
Wear lightweight long pants, t-shirt (Land Trust t-shirt optional), socks, shoes, and your Land Trust hat. Bring a water bottle!
Osamequin Nature Preserve is located on the northbound side of Rte. 114, approximately one mile north of the intersection of County Road and Massassoit Ave, in Barrington, RI, shortly after you pass Walker Farm on your right. The preserve’s parking lot is marked with a sign.

Student Stewardship Team - Planting Day at Barrington Middle School
2024-09-10 09:00 - 16:00 | Barrington Middle School, 261 Middle Highway, Barrington, RI, 02806
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 9 am to noon pm, we’ll be planting native flowers and shrubs in the pollinator garden behind the Barrington Middle School. We have LOTS of planting to do – many hands would be appreciated! Even if you can only help for an hour or two, your time would be valuable to us.
REGISTER FOR THE MORNING SHIFT (9 am – Noon)
REGISTER FOR THE AFTERNOON SHIFT (1 – 4 pm)
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear. Wear long pants and a long shirt, and your Land Trust hat (Land Trust t-shirt optional).
We’ll meet in the parking area in the back of the Barrington Middle School.

Pollinator Pathway Tour
2024-09-15 12:00 - 17:30 | Barrington Farm School, 100 Federal Road, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
The Barrington Pollinator Pathway, an initiative of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, is hosting its first ever Pollinator Pathway tour in partnership with the Barrington Farm School! Learn how to welcome and support pollinators in your yard with native plants and pesticide free zones. Visit gardens, both new and some established, to get inspiration and share ideas with fellow gardeners.
SORRY! THIS EVENT IS FULLY SUBSCRIBED.
For more information, email pollinatorpathways@blct.org.
You’ll discover 13 diverse gardens on the tour, all spaces created with nature in mind. The tour includes backyard gardens, front lawn conversions, and gardens dealing with saltwater intrusion. There will be meadows in the making and established meadows as well.
Building wildlife habitat is a journey, and every garden on the tour represents something a little different. The event is free, but registration is required.
A map of the properties will be available on the day of the event, September 15, when you check in. The Land Trust has purchased 50 Pollinator Pathway signs in advance for those who wish to place one in their garden. The cost is $20 per sign. You may purchase one at the event, while supplies last. Cash or check only, please.
Schedule
Noon to 1 pm – Check in and map pick up at the Farm School
Noon to 4:30 pm – Visit sites on the tour
4 pm to 5:30 pm – Tour the Farm School and gather for refreshments and raffle prizes. Pollinator Pathway signs will be available for purchase on September 15 for $20.
Please see the FAQ’s for more information or reach out at pollinatorpathways@blct.org
FAQs
1. What is a pollinator pathway?
Pollinator pathways are public and private pesticide-free corridors of native plants that provide nutrition and habitat for pollinating insects and birds. Some pollinators travel several miles to find nutrition, but many travel only a few hundred feet in their lifetime. By connecting our landscapes with habitat that feeds and shelters them, creating a pollinator pathway, we allow for the movement of species across a healthy, native landscape. Even a small garden can be an oasis for pollinators.
These native plant landscapes also promote climate resilience and fight biodiversity loss. Climate-resilient yards not only protect wildlife but also provide natural defenses against heavier rainfalls and extended periods of drought. These landscapes are better equipped to withstand a changing climate. Plants, especially natives, also sequester carbon, filter pollutants from our water, help improve soil health, and provide the oxygen we breathe.
2. Why are pollinators important?
Without pollinators, 85% of the plants on the earth wouldn’t exist. Almost 80% of the crop plants grown around the world that produce our food- and plant-based products require pollination by animals. 40% of all insect species are declining globally and a third of them are endangered. Insects play critical roles in pollinating the plants we eat, but they also break down waste in our environments and form the base of the food chain.
3. How does the tour work?
Check in and map pickup will start at the Farm School at noon on the day of the tour. Tour site addresses will not be available until September 15. The gardens are mostly in neighborhoods, so please be respectful of neighbors when parking and walking to the sites.
All of the 13 gardens will be open to the public from noon to 4:30 pm. You don’t have to visit all of them, but we hope you will! The Farm School pollinator garden will be open for tours starting at 4 pm. There will be an informal gathering at the Farm School from 4 pm to 5:30 pm, along with a tour of their pollinator garden and farm Light refreshments will be served. Participants can ask questions and share experiences with one another and enter the raffle to win native plants, fresh cut flowers, produce, and honey too!
4. How can I get a Pollinator Pathway sign?
Pollinator Pathway signs will be available for purchase for $20 at the Farm School on the day of the tour.
5. What if it rains?
The tour will take place, rain or shine!
6. What if I have further questions?
Visit our Barrington Pollinator Pathway page for lots of great resources and sign up to receive our newsletters. Register to attend our free Zoom presentation on Sept. 3 featuring Doug Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope. Also, check out these resources: Lawns into Meadows, by Owen Wormser, the regional Pollinator Pathway, the Native Plant Trust, and the Massachusetts Pollinator Network.

Planting Days - Town Resilience Garden
2024-09-18 09:00 - 2024-09-19 15:00 | Barrington Town Hall, 283 County Road, Barrington, RI, 02806
The Town of Barrington is establishing a Demonstration Resilience Garden in Town Center, filled with native pollinator plants. We have scheduled Planting Days on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and Thursday, Sept. 19! We are seeking at least six volunteers for each two-hour shift.
All volunteers who plan to participate in the garden on an ongoing basis must register as a volunteer for the Town Garden, and sign the Town’s release form. Registration and release forms also will be available on site during Planting Day, but we ask that you register for your shift in advance using one of the links below. If one shift is filled, please choose another shift, so that we can keep a steady flow of volunteers throughout the day. Thank you for your help!
Register for a Shift on Planting Day
Click on one of the links below to register for a shift:
Wednesday, September 18:
Shift One: 9-11 am
Shift Two: 11 am – 1 pm
Shift Three: 1 -3 pm
Shift Four: 3 – 5 pm

Thursday, Sept. 19:
Shift One: 9-11 am
Shift Two: 11 am – 1 pm
Shift Three: 1 – 3 pm
The project has been designed in collaboration with volunteers from the Barrington Garden Club, the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, the Barrington Public Library, the Peck Center, the Barrington Resilience and Energy Committee, the Barrington Open Space Committee, the Barrington Pollinator Pathway Committee, and youth leaders from Barrington. The project is funded through a People’s Garden Grant from the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District.

Art in Nature Series: Time & Place Mandala Workshop at Allin's Cove
2024-09-22 15:00 - 17:30 | Allin’s Cove, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Join artist Beth Adoette and other curious, creative, open-minded people as you walk a unique Land Trust property, Allin’s Cove, and create ephemeral nature mandalas in the landscape using only objects found at the site.
Then, with the help of some short introspective writing and meaningful discussion, allow nature, art, and your own intuition to give you insight into your life at this moment in time and place.
The workshop costs $35/person. All registration fees benefit the presenting artist. The workshop is open to adults ages 18 and up. Please do not bring your pets as they may interfere with other people’s art on the ground.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
This interesting eco-art wellness experience is an opportunity to connect with yourself, nature, and community all in a beautiful setting of tidal cove, grassland, and marsh. Mandalas are ephemeral and will not be taken home. Photographs are encouraged.
About the Artist
Beth grew up in the Appalachian Mountains with hemlocks, streams, and chickadees in her hands. Once an editorial illustrator, Beth has returned to her love of nature and now concentrates on illustrating, photographing, and writing about nature and nature mandalas.
After completing her certification in eco-art therapy, Beth began designing and facilitating a variety of public and private art wellness mandala workshops for organizations, schools, private groups. Beth holds a BFA in Fine Arts and has received her certification in Eco-Art Therapy through Portland State University (OR), and Project Nature Connect.

Story Walk at Sowams Woods
2024-10-05 08:00 - 2024-10-27 16:30 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Take a family stroll around Sowams Woods, a safe, scenic one-mile walking loop, and read a book at the same time! Young explorers will have fun spotting the large-format pages of a book posted along the trail. This year, we’re featuring Mushrooms Know: Wisdom From our Friends the Fungi by Kallie George and Sara Gillingham.
A young explorer on a Story Walk in 2022.
This vibrant picture book shares fascinating lessons that fungi teach us all: small can be mighty and being unique is a reason to celebrate. Sara Gillingham’s lively art and Kallie George’s charming text captures the wondrous world of mushrooms, and everything we can learn from them.
This program is held in partnership with the Barrington Public Library.
Directions to Sowams Woods (NOT SOWAMS SCHOOL): Sowams Woods is located at the corner of South Lake Drive and Washington Road in Barrington. Please park on Spinnaker Drive or Lighthouse Lane and start the walk on Washington Road.
Learn more about Sowams Woods.

Guided Walk: Andreozzi Nature Preserve & Lombardi Park
2024-10-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Andreozzi Nature Preserve, Lee Ann Drive, Barrington, RI, 02806
Andreozzi Nature Preserve. Photo by Jasmine Malik.
Join us on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 10 am for a walk to Andreozzi Nature Preserve and Lombardi Park. These two conservation areas are within 100 yards of each other off the East Bay Bike Path. Both properties are owned and managed by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.
The terrain is gentle but may be wet in places. The guided walk will last about an hour. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
Andreozzi Nature Preserve
Andreozzi Nature Preserve was donated by Annie J. Andreozzi in memory of her husband, Emilio L. Andreozzi, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a unique natural area where plants, birds and other forms of animal life could be protected.
She also wished to have the property used to further public knowledge and appreciation of plants, animals and natural resources.
Lombardi Park. Photo by Jasmine Malik.
Lombardi Park
Salvatore Lombardi and his wife Josephine emigrated from Italy to Barrington in 1924. He worked at the Barrington Brickyard and became a skilled stone mason and, together with their family, they grew a construction and real estate development business.
Lombardi Park was donated by Salvatore Lombardi, Jr., Anthony Lombardi and Joseph Lombardi in 2004. The site includes Little Echo Lake, where many members of the Lombardi family swam in their youth.

Student Stewardship Team - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-10-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Sunday, Oct. 6, from 1-3 pm, we’ll be working at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve digging holes for a new planting of native shrubs.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Wear lightweight long pants, socks, shoes, and your Land Trust hat (Land Trust T-shirt optional). Bring a water bottle!
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road in Barrington. The entrance lies between 461 Sowams Road and 475 Sowams Road. You can park in the grassy area indicated on the map. If you get lost or will be late, call/text me at 508-733-2443.

Student Stewardship Team - Barrington Middle School Pollinator Garden
2024-10-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Barrington Middle School, 261 Middle Highway, Barrington, RI, 02806
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 -11 am, we’ll be placing plant identifier markers in the new pollinator garden behind Barrington Middle School, spreading some additional mulch over the path, and getting the garden ready for winter.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear. Wear long pants and a long shirt, and your Land Trust hat. Land Trust t-shirt optional. Bring a water bottle!
We’ll meet in the parking area in the back of the Barrington Middle School, 261 Middle Highway.
Thanks for participating!

Art in Nature Series: Being [with] Trees with Kendall Reiss
2024-10-19 09:00 - 12:00 | RI
The Barrington Land Conservation Trust’s “Art in Nature” Series presents a community workshop, “Being [with] Trees,” on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 am to noon, with artist Kendall Reiss. The workshop will take place at Sowams Woods in Barrington, RI. Participants will learn to produce molds from natural materials and transform them into art objects and wearables.
This workshop is open to adults and students age 12+. No prior artistic experience is required. Registration is limited to 20 people. The registration fee of $20 covers the cost of materials, payable by check or cash at the event. The artist is donating her time to conduct the workshop.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Sowams Woods, one of the properties protected by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, is part of the ancestral homelands of the Pokanoket people. The preserve is considered a sacred area by the Pokonoket Tribe, a place of peace that was once set aside for women and for childbirth. In 2006, the Land Trust acquired Sowams Woods with the support of local, state, and federal funding and local philanthropists. The property encompasses 12 acres of forested land with a network of trails bordering Echo Lake.
Molding a Relationship with Trees
“With their ability to sequester carbon and provide clean water, forests are integral to understand earth’s climate and cultivate sustainable ecosystems,” says artist Kendall Reiss, a Professor at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.
In this community workshop, participants will work with two different types of alginate to produce molds from trees, rocks, pinecones, and natural materials found at Sowams Woods. From these molds, participants will cast objects and wearables in concrete.
Kendall Reiss has conducted artistic projects among indigenous tree-species reforestation sites in Portugal, in networks of old growth forest in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, in the pine-esker forests of Finland, and with an indigenous tulip tree elder in her hometown of Bristol, R.I. Her work takes many forms: jewelry, objects, conversations, writings, rituals, exhibits, shared understandings, and community workshops.
“My hope is to fuel an ongoing collaboration in which trees are participants in artistic creation and biologic exchange,” she says.
Worksop Handout
Kendall Reiss
About Kendall Reiss
Kendall Reiss is a Professor of the Practice in Metals at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, where she serves as Chair of the 3D & Performance Department. A native of Bristol, she grew up exploring the rocky shoreline of Narragansett Bay. She earned a BS in Geology from Dickinson College, studied at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and received an MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Her work has been exhibited at museums in Finland and Portugal, the New York City Jewelry Week, the Baltimore Jewelry Center, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, Bristol Art Museum, and Haskell Public Gardens. Kendall recently presented her ongoing research project, BEING [with] TREES at the College Art Association annual conference in the session, Learning from Trees: Artists & Climate Solutions.
Kendall has worked on curatorial projects at Brooklyn Metal Works, The Hotel Wilshire, Velvet da Vinci, and Alloy Gallery. She has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, Fuller Craft Museum, and with Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft.
Kendall owns and operates the local arts initiative, Kendall Reiss Gallery & Studio, at 469 Wood Street in Bristol, RI. The business focuses on exhibiting the work of contemporary artists and jewelers, offers private instruction and small group classes in jewelry making and metalworking, in addition to serving as Kendall’s studio.

Student Stewardship Team - Sowams Woods - Art in Nature Workshop
2024-10-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 am to noon, we’ll be assisting artist Kendall Reiss who is leading a workshop called “Being [with] Trees.” She’ll be teaching people how to produce molds from natural materials and transform them into art objects and wearables.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Dress for the weather and wear your Land Trust hat (Land Trust t-shirt optional).
Park in the dirt parking area at the juncture of South Lake Drive and North Lake Drive (see picture below – where red dot marks Sowams Woods).

Guided Walk: Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge
2024-10-26 10:00 - 11:30 | Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge, 111 George St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Visit the Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 10 am and enjoy the fall colors and crisp autumn air. The walk is limited in size to ensure the best possible experience for participants.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The walk will be led by Peter McCalmont, Chairman of the Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge Management Committee, and Charlie Brown, retired wildlife biologist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Co-Chair of the Management Committee and Co-Manager of the Refuge.
The Refuge is located on Nockum Hill on a peninsula extending into the Barrington River and Hundred Acre Cove estuary. Owned by the Town of Barrington, the Refuge’s public hiking trails traverse 82 acres of field, forest and shoreline.
History of Nockum Hill
Nockum Hill has figured prominently in Barrington’s history. Once home to the Pokanoket people, it is the site of the first Baptist meetinghouse in the New World. Legend has it that the first shots of King Philip’s War were fired nearby.
The town acquired the land in the 1960s and designated it as a wildlife refuge in 1994. The Barrington Land Conservation Trust was granted a conservation easement on the property in 2005 to ensure the property remains protected in perpetuity. This sensitive land is managed by the Doug Rayner Management Committee in collaboration with the Land Trust.
In 2000, the Refuge was named after ardent naturalist Doug Rayner, a member of the Barrington Conservation Commission and a board member of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. Doug was instrumental in protecting the marshes and upland buffers of the Palmer and Barrington Rivers, Nockum Hill and Hundred Acre Cove, and was active in protecting endangered species and their habitats.
Long recognized as a property of great natural resource value because of its coastal wetland and habitat, it includes extensive salt marsh, shrub-dominated fields, deciduous forest and farmland. It provides habitat for a wide variety of animals which make their home in the diverse ecosystem of the Refuge and several special interest bird species such as clapper rail, seaside sparrow and marsh wren.
The Barrington Land Conservation Trust has preserved approximately 300 acres of open space in perpetuity for the benefit of the public.

Student Stewardship Team - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-11-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Sunday, Nov. 3, from 1-3 pm, we’ll be working at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve doing trail maintenance in preparation for our annual Day After Thanksgiving Walk.
Wear long pants, socks, shoes, and your Land Trust hat (Land Trust T-shirt optional) and appropriate sweatshirt or coat, depending on the weather. Bring a water bottle!
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road in Barrington. The entrance lies between 461 Sowams Road and 475 Sowams Road. You can park in the grassy area indicated on the map. If you get lost or will be late, call/text me at 508-733-2443.

Student Stewardship Team - Event Support
2024-11-06 18:30 - 19:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Visible microplastics found in the sediment at the most polluted site from the study near Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by COASTL team member Victoria Fulfer)
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
We’re looking for two or three people to help with check in from 6:30 to 7:15 pm at this Learning Series event on Microplastics at the Barrington Public Library on Wednesday, Nov. 6. You’re welcome to stay for the event if you’re interested. The speaker is URI Professor JP Walsh.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Learning Series: Microplastics in our Environment
2024-11-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Decades ago, beach walkers scoured the sand for sea glass in a rainbow of colors. Now, beaches, salt marshes and our oceans are more likely to be infused with tiny bits of plastic. University of Rhode Island researchers in the COAST Lab (COASTL), led by Professor J.P. Walsh in the Graduate School of Oceanography, estimate that the top 2 inches of the floor of Narragansett Bay now contain more than 1,000 tons of microplastics. That buildup has occurred in just the last 10 to 20 years.
Professor J.P. Walsh
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 pm, Prof. J.P. Walsh and other members of the COASTL team will join the Land Trust Learning Series to discuss their findings about microplastics in our environment, including research conducted over the last year at Mussachuck Beach, a Land Trust property in Barrington. The presentation will take place in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Microplastics are small plastic particles 5 centimeters or smaller. The smallest of these can’t be seen without a powerful microscope; the largest are plastic production pellets called “nurdles” about the size of a pea. Microplastic pollution comes from runoff, littering of single-use plastic items, wastewater treatment facilities, shipping, industrial plastic production, and fisheries. However, it’s estimated that only 1% of that marine plastic remains in the water column. Most microplastics are eventually deposited on shorelines and in marine sediment.
With more than 16 trillion microplastic particles trapped in the top layer of Narragansett Bay’s sediment, the bay is serving as a filter for plastic pollution. This trapping has negative consequences, and may cause behavioral changes in mammals, but might also point the way to potential for efficient removal. Coastal habitats are more easily accessible than the open ocean, making clean-up efforts more feasible.
Listen to Prof. Walsh speak about his research at Mussachuck Grove in December 2023.
Visible microplastics found in the sediment at the most polluted site from the study near Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by COASTL team member Victoria Fulfer)
COASTL strives to determine how materials move and accumulate along shorelines and in the sea. Under the direction of J.P Walsh and in partnership with others, COASTL uses a combination of research methods including geographic information systems (GIS), sediment coring, seafloor mapping, process measurements and laboratory analyses to understand coastal and ocean issues and processes. Studies focus on sedimentary systems, from river mouths to the edge of ocean basins, and from tropical mangroves to high-latitude fjords, and have relevance to biological, chemical, physical and human dynamics. While some projects may only involve a single student examining a local salt marsh, other investigations require many scientists on oceanographic research expeditions.

About J.P. Walsh

J.P. Walsh is a professor of oceanography and a geological oceanographer with a doctorate in oceanography from the University of Washington, a master of science in marine environmental science from Stony Brook University, and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Colgate University. Before joining URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, he was a professor at East Carolina University and program head for coastal processes at the Coastal Studies Institute. His research focuses on coastal sedimentary processes and related aspects, such as coastal erosion, pollutant fate and sand resources for beach nourishment. He uses sediment characteristics, oceanographic measurements, GIS and geophysical methods to understand the processes shaping shorelines and the seafloor.
J.P. Walsh
Over his career, Walsh has conducted research around the world including in the Philippines, France, New Zealand, Antarctica, and around the U.S. He is well known for his research investigating how sediments are eroded, transported and accumulate along coasts and in the ocean. This research is important to understanding geochemical cycling, evaluating ecosystem changes, defining coastal hazards and managing natural resources. He has recently spearheaded efforts to measure microplastics on the shoreline and seabed of Narragansett Bay, and he is working on several projects examining coastal change and resilience in New England.

Student Stewardship Team - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-11-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 am to noon, we’ll be working at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve doing trail maintenance in preparation for our annual Day After Thanksgiving Walk.
Wear long pants, socks, shoes, and your Land Trust hat (Land Trust T-shirt optional) and appropriate sweatshirt or coat, depending on the weather. Bring a water bottle!
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road in Barrington. The entrance lies between 461 Sowams Road and 475 Sowams Road. You can park in the grassy area indicated on the map. If you get lost or will be late, call/text me at 508-733-2443.

Student Stewardship Team - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-11-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Sunday, Nov. 24, from 1 pm to 3 pm, we’ll be working at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve removing debris from the trail in preparation for our annual Day After Thanksgiving Walk.
REGISTER FOR THE STEWARDSHIP EVENT
Boots and warm clothing are recommended, as some areas are wet. Bring a water bottle!
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road in Barrington. The entrance lies between 461 Sowams Road and 475 Sowams Road. You can park in the grassy area indicated on the map. If you get lost or will be late, call/text Cindy at 508-733-2443.

Student Stewardship Team - Event Support
2024-11-29 10:30 - 13:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Friday, Nov. 29, from 10:30 to 1 pm — the day after Thanksgiving – we’ll be helping to guide the public through Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve during our annual Day After Thanksgiving Walk. Don’t worry if you haven’t been there before. We’ll position you at a waystation where you can point people in the right direction and tell them about your work with the Student Stewardship Team.
Wear long pants, socks, shoes, and your Land Trust hat and Land Trust T-shirt optional, and appropriate sweatshirt or coat, depending on the weather. Bring a water bottle!
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road in Barrington. The entrance lies between 461 Sowams Road and 475 Sowams Road. You can park in the grassy area indicated on the map. If you get lost or will be late, call/text me at 508-733-2443.

Day After Thanksgiving Walk - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-11-29 11:00 - 13:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
On Friday Nov. 29, between 11 am and 1 pm, Land Trust volunteers will be stationed at waypoints to guide visitors through the Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, a 32-acre expanse of field, forest and wetland between Sowams Road and the Palmer River.

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Dogs are not allowed because of the birds and animals that make this wildlife preserve their home. You may arrive anytime between 11 am and 1 pm. Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road, 0.7 miles north of Sowams Elementary School. The walk takes approximately one hour over wet and moderate terrain. Wear boots! Severe weather cancels the event. Parking is available on site.

Be aware that the primary bridge which connected the two sides of the property was washed out during a king high tide storm two years ago. Good news – we are now in the process of rebuilding, with the support of volunteers from Roger Williams University’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders. You will be able to walk both sides of the property, but you won’t be able to walk it as a loop trail.
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve was acquired by the Land Trust in 1991 through a combination of Rhode Island and Barrington Open Space bonds and charitable donations to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. Due to the sensitive native plants and animals on the property, it is not generally open to the public. The Land Trust hosts several guided walks each year to enable the public to experience the property, which has been preserved as a wilderness reserve in perpetuity.

Stewardship Event - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-12-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
On Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 am to noon, the Student Stewardship Team will work together with the Tuesday Trails Team at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve. We need many hands to help remove debris from the washed out boardwalk near the marsh. We have cut the boardwalk into pieces that can be hand carried or transported by wheelbarrow or cart.
Dress for the weather and wear waterproof boots. Adults – if you have a wheelbarrow or cart you can bring, that would help! Bring work gloves if you have them. Gloves will also be available onsite.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road in Barrington. The entrance lies between 461 Sowams Road and 475 Sowams Road. You can park in the grassy area indicated on the map. If you get lost or will be late, call/text me at 508-733-2443.

Winter Walk at Sowams Woods
2024-12-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Fill up your cup with fresh air and sunlight on a Winter Walk at Sowams Woods on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 pm. All ages are welcome. Since it’s cold outside, we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace to stay warm as we enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Round-trip, the distance is about two miles. The walk will be finished in under an hour.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
Sowams Woods is a 12-acre nature preserve in Barrington, RI. We’ll park in the dirt parking area near Echo Lake at the juncture of South Lake Drive and North Lake Drive (see picture below – where red dot marks Sowams Woods). Enter North Lake Drive or South Lake Drive via Middle Highway and cross over the bike path to access the parking area.

Sunrise Walk at Osamequin Nature Preserve
2025-01-04 07:00 - 08:00 | Osamequin Nature Preserve, 1580 Rte. 114 North, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Early risers – this one’s for you!
Launch into the new year with a brisk sunrise walk on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 7 am at Osamequin Nature Preserve. We’ll experience the quiet of the forest and Hundred Acre Cove as the sun slips above the horizon at 7:12 am.
Dress for the weather and bring your camera to capture the beauty of first light. All ages are welcome. The walk will last under an hour and we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace to keep warm.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
Osamequin Nature Preserve is a 42-acre property located on the Wampanoag Trail, bordering Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington, RI. Visit the Osamequin Nature Preserve page for more information, including map and GPS coordinates.
We’ll meet in the parking area at the entrance to Osamequin Nature Preserve, which is located on the northbound side of Rte. 114, shortly after you pass Walker Farm on your right. Round trip, the walking distance is about 2 miles.

Clean Up - Osamequin Nature Preserve
2025-01-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Osamequin Nature Preserve, 1580 Rte. 114 North, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Winter is a great time to collect litter that can be hard to see when the leaves are out and the plants are in full bloom. Help us keep Osamequin Nature Preserve pristine by joining our clean up on Sunday, Jan. 26.
The clean up will begin at 1 pm and end at 3 pm, but we welcome you to come even if you can only stay for an hour. Many hands make light work! When you’re finished, you can enjoy a self-guided walk of the preserve. Maps will be provided. All ages are welcome; parents must be responsible for the safety of their own children.
REGISTER FOR THE CLEAN UP
We’ll notify registrants if the clean up is rescheduled due to inclement weather.
Osamequin Nature Preserve is located on the northbound side of Rte. 114, approximately one mile north of the intersection of County Road and Massassoit Ave, in Barrington, RI. There is a parking lot on the right hand side at the entrance to the preserve.
We will provide trash bags and trash-picking tools (as supplies last). Please bring your own gloves. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
If you have any questions, email cindyelder@blct.org.
Thank you for helping to keep our natural places clean for wildlife and humans!

Young Explorers' Adventure at Sowams Woods
2025-02-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Join us for an adventure especially designed for our youngest explorers!
Bring the whole family on Wed., Feb. 26, at 10 am for a winter walk through Sowams Woods, a special place where animals make their home in the forest on the shore of Echo Lake.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
We’ll run, jump, sing songs and go on a scavenger hunt for nature’s treasures. The adventure will last about an hour.
Sowams Woods is a 12-acred nature preserve accessible from a parking area at the juncture of South Lake Drive (off Middle Highway) and North Lake Drive in Barrington, RI.
Bring your camera to get some memorable family photos. This event is free and open to all, so invite your friends, playmates and grandparents!

Learning Series - Climate Change: Seeing the Forest through the Trees
2025-03-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Climate change is full of paradoxes. The need for action is urgent, and yet, true success is a long game.
Heather Goldstone, Chief Communication Officer of the Woodwell Climate Research Center, kicks off our 2025 Learning Series with a big-picture look at how we talk and think about climate change. This free event will take place on Tuesday, March 4, at 7 pm, in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
The accumulation of greenhouse gases is supercharging both droughts and downpours, fires and floods. It is a global phenomenon with intensely local impacts. This talk will address common questions and misconceptions about climate change and present a realistic, empowering framing of our climate challenge—the scope of the problem and the kinds of solutions we need.
About Heather Goldstone
Heather Goldstone leads Woodwell Climate Research Center’s communications activities, bringing the rich stories of Woodwell Climate scientists to diverse public audiences. She draws on her extensive experience as both a scientist and a journalist, and her passion for melding data and narrative in climate change stories that build awareness and inspire action.
She came to Woodwell Climate from WGBH, where she founded and hosted a weekly science-focused radio show, Living Lab Radio. Previously, she wrote the Climatide blog about coastal communities facing climate change. Her reporting on science and the environment has appeared in outlets ranging from Cape Cod Times and Commercial Fishery News to NPR’s Morning Edition, The Takeaway, and PBS NewsHour. In 2014, she was recognized for the breadth of her work with WGBH’s Margret and Hans Rey/Curious George Producer award.
As a child, Heather fell in love with the ocean and went on to pursue a career in marine research before turning her energies to science communication. She serves on the Woods Hole Sea Grant Marine Outreach Guidance Group and Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative Advisory Committee, and she frequently teaches or mentors students in communication skills.
Thanks to our 2025 Land Trust Learning Series Sponsors!

Meridian Custom Homes ~ Providence
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors – Bristol
PODS Swimming – East Providence
Rosemary’s School of Dance – Warren, Bristol, Rehoboth
Jaffe Orthodontics – Barrington & Portsmouth

Student Stewardship Team - Clean Up at Veterans Memorial Park
2025-03-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Veterans Park, West Street, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
This event is for members of our Student Stewardship Team for high school students ages 14 to 18. If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Saturday, March 15, from 9-11 am, we’ll be picking up litter at Veterans Memorial Park.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear. Bring a water bottle!
We’ll meet at the parking lot on West St., across from the YMCA (see map).

Thanks for participating!
