Recent Posts
Land Trust Issues FY23 Annual Report
The Barrington Land Conservation Trust had a busy year in Fiscal Year 2023 (June 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023). Find out how volunteers and philanthropic work made it possible for us to manage nearly 300 acres of open land, host hundreds of people on public walks, provide a free lecture series, andoffer free programs in our schools. Flip Through the digital version of our FY23 Annual Report. We need your help in the year ahead to continue preserving land and engaging the public in conservation issues. Your support is greatly appreciated! Support the Barrington Land Conservation Trust Thank you!
iNaturalist – An Essential Tool for Citizen Scientists
By Norman Dudziak, P.E., I.M. Science Liaison, Barrington Land Conservation Trust & Sally Johnson, Native Plant Horticulturalist Owner, ecoastal design The crown jewel of citizen science for biological nature observations is “iNaturalist,” a social network with over 2.6 million participants. Using iNaturalist, accessible at www.iNaturalist.org, a growing community of citizen scientists is expanding our knowledge about the wild living world by crowdsourcing data collection and identification. “Citizen” in this context is shorthand for “Citizen of the World” and does not relate to legal status. Norman Dudziak photographed this invasive autumn olive at the Seaview Marsh on October 1, 2020 [...]
Land Trust Elects Four New Board Members
Annual Meeting reflects on a year of community building and progress The membership of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust elected four new board members to its Board of Directors at its annual meeting on Wednesday, June 7, at the Barrington Public Library. All are Barrington residents who bring a diversity of qualifications and life experience to these leadership roles. The Trust also honored three departing board members who have volunteered their skills for many years: Mary Grover, Co-Chair of the Education Committee; Debra Provolo, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair; and Michael Gorfinkle, Secretary. Departing Board Members Mary Grover, Michael [...]
Discover Barrington’s Open Spaces This Summer
Meet Land Trust volunteers who steward these natural places Hundreds of acres of wild open space have been preserved by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust and the Town of Barrington. This summer, you can discover five of these protected areas and meet the volunteers who help to care for them. Guided walks in June and July will introduce you to Andreozzi Nature Preserve, Lombardi Park, PIC-WIL Nature Preserve, Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve and St. Andrews Farm. The walks are free and open to the public, and all ages are welcome. Advance registration is required as parking is limited. REGISTER FOR [...]
Uli Lorimer Presents Earth-Friendly Plants for Gardens
2023 Land Trust Learning Series REGISTER HERE Join us for a special presentation by Uli Lorimer, author of The Northeast Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden and Director of Horticulture at the New England Wild Flower Society. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, June 13, at 7 pm in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library. A livestream option is available (see below). Delaware native Uli Lorimer grew up with an interest in all things green. He’s transformed that passion into a career. If you want a garden that makes a real difference, Uli will help you choose plants [...]
Land Trust Launches Student Stewardship Team
(Left to right) BHS Students Abby Goblick, Sid Gupta, and Emma Pautz co-founded the Barrington Environmental Establishment (BEE), and worked with the Land Trust to launch the Student Stewardship Team for high school students. Students age 14 and older can obtain community service hours and help preserve the Barrington’s natural environment by participating in the new Student Stewardship Team launched by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. The opportunity was introduced in April at Barrington High School in coordination with a student-led group, Barrington Environmental Establishment (BEE). Members of the Barrington High School Interact Club and Environmental Science Club [...]
An Indigenous Perspective on Native Plants
2023 Land Trust Learning Series REGISTER HERE Virtual option available - only a few seats remaining. Join us for a special presentation by Lorén M. Spears, Narragansett Tribal Nation citizen and Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum. Explore native plants and discover their uses in the traditional life ways of the Narragansett People with one of Rhode Island's most recognized and acclaimed Indigenous leaders. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road, Barrington, RI. The presentation will last approximately 1 hour and will be followed by a short reception. [...]
Welcome to Citizen Science Month – See What a Difference You Can Make
By Norman Dudziak, P.E., I.M. Norman Dudziak photographed this Tusukuru hartlandianus dwarf tree spider during “The Search for Neodietrichia” citizen science project. This is now the iconic photo for this species on iNaturalist. April is Citizen Science Month! You can join a growing community of “citizen scientists” who help to expand our body of scientific knowledge by crowdsourcing data collection. “Citizen” in this context is shorthand for “Citizen of the World” and does not relate to legal status. Spring has arrived and you may be itching to get outside — citizen science projects may provide the perfect activity. [...]
Look & Find Nature Walk/Raffle at Osamequin Nature Preserve
Download the Flyer and Word Scramble Form
Earth Day Weekend Walks to Osamequin Nature Preserve
In April, as we celebrate Earth Day, our free monthly walk takes us to Osamequin Nature Preserve, a 42-acre conservation area along the western shore of Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington, RI. The property is owned by the Town and co-managed by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, the Barrington Garden Club, and the Town of Barrington. The parking area holds only 12 cars, and there is no other nearby parking available. Therefore, registration is limited. You may bring only one car per registration, but you may bring as many people as you can safely hold in your vehicle. Carpooling is [...]
2023 Land Trust Learning Series: Mark Bertness on Saltmarsh Degradation
The Barrington Land Conservation Trust kicks off its 2023 Land Trust Learning Series on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation on saltmarsh degradation by Mark Bertness at the Barrington Public Library. Dr. Bertness is the Robert P. Brown Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Emeritus at Brown University. REGISTER FOR THE EVENT The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. The event will be held in the Library’s Salem Family Auditorium. If you prefer to attend virtually, email Cindy Elder to get on the livestream list. Dr. Bertness will bring the challenge [...]
Protecting Paper Roads: A Resource for the Public and Wildlife
The Barrington Town Council voted in February 2022 to preserve a "paper road" that provides access to the Town's undeveloped 32-acre property, Tall Cedars. The Barrington Land Conservation Trust spoke in favor of this decision. This strip of land may be an important corridor for wildlife. When open space becomes fragmented, it becomes more difficult for animals to forage and find food. What is a Paper Road? Paper roads are undeveloped parcels of land which can appear on maps but were never paved. They are generally located at the end of or between existing roads. Paper roads exist throughout our [...]
Discover PIC-WIL Nature Preserve in March
This March, our free monthly walk takes us to PIC-WIL Nature Preserve, a 17-acre expanse of forest, field, salt marsh and coastal dunes on the east shore of the Providence River in Barrington, RI. We're holding three walks near the time of low tide: Thursday, March 23, Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26. To register for our walks, visit our Events page. The terrain is gentle but wet in places, with some areas that require crossing narrow foot bridges. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, waterproof footwear. You may wish to bring a walking stick or poles to [...]
Citizen Science Corner
FrogWatch Training Takes Place Feb. 19 By Norman Dudziak, P.E., I.M. FrogWatch is an opportunity to take part in scientific projects for your own enrichment while contributing to science. You can join a growing community of “citizen scientists” who help to expand our body of scientific knowledge by crowdsourcing data collection. In citizen science, an institution or agency creates a project and its infrastructure, then recruits everyday people to help, vastly increasing the number of individuals collecting data in the environment. “Citizen” in this context is shorthand for “Citizen of the World” and does not relate to legal status. A [...]
Check Out The Fall 2022 Newsletter!
The Fall 2022 Newsletter is getting mailed out this week, and if you just want to read it online, click here or on the thumbnail image below. If you want our newsletters emailed directly to you every quarter, fill out the form on our website here and we’ll add you to the list (you can unsubscribe anytime). We hope you enjoy the newsletter and please forward it to anyone in the Barrington community that might enjoy it, and if you have new neighbors, please get it to them when you’re finished with it.
Check Out The Summer 2022 Newsletter!
The Spring 2022 Newsletter is getting mailed out this week, and if you just want to read it online, click here or on the thumbnail image below. If you want our newsletters emailed directly to you every quarter, fill out the form on our website here and we’ll add you to the list (you can unsubscribe anytime). We hope you enjoy the newsletter and please forward it to anyone in the Barrington community that might enjoy it, and if you have new neighbors, please get it to them when you’re finished with it.
Join us for the 2022 Annual Meeting
After a two-year hiatus, the Barrington Land Conservation Trust Annual Meeting will be held in-person at the Barrington Public Library on June 7 at 6:30 PM in the auditorium. The guest speaker will be Virginia Brown, author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Rhode Island, an atlas of all the odonate species found in the state during a multi-year inventory of more than 1,100 sites in Rhode Island. Ginger will speak about the identification, distribution and abundance, natural history, behavior, habitat, seasonality, and conservation of these delightful insects. After the presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session, followed by a reception in [...]
Check Out The Spring 2022 Newsletter!
The Spring 2022 Newsletter is getting mailed out this week, and if you just want to read it online, click here or on the thumbnail image below. If you want our newsletters emailed directly to you every quarter, fill out the form on our website here and we’ll add you to the list (you can unsubscribe anytime). We hope you enjoy the newsletter and please forward it to anyone in the Barrington community that might enjoy it, and if you have new neighbors, please get it to them when you’re finished with it.
Pictures From the Look & Find Family Nature Walk
This week is the Barrington Public School February vacation week, which means it's time for the annual Look & Find Family Nature Walk at Osamequin! This event is a joint effort of the BLCT and the Barrington Public Library. From the Library event page: "Take advantage of this week-long outdoor Look & Find Family Nature Walk & Raffle. At your own leisure, search for hidden clues as you explore the beautiful trails of Osamequin Nature Preserve." Below is a gallery of some great pics already taken at the Preserve, and click here to read more about it at the Library [...]