Winchester Land Trust
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About WLT

Members walking a trail

Our Mission
The Winchester Land Trust serves as steward of the town’s rural character and natural heritage, striving to foster the preservation of Winchester’s unique lands forever.  Working with government representatives and public and private landowners, the Trust informs and educates the community to promote the benefits of land conservation and balanced growth.

The Winchester Land Trust was organized in 1988 by local citizens who were concerned with the increasing pressure to develop Winchester’s land and the subsequent loss of open land.  The Land Trust provides a means by which the beautiful woodlands, meadows, marshes, and farmlands, which give Winchester its picturesque and rural character, can be preserved forever.

The Winchester Land Trust was created in 1988.  In the first 16 years, the trust secured 9 properties totaling about  26 acres.  From 2004 to the present, the trust has increased the number of acres we protect to 369.  We own 319 acres outright, and protect another 50 acres with easements.  At the same time, our membership has tripled.

Our board collaborates with many groups in Winsted, including the Highland Lake Watershed Association (HLWA), Friends of Main Street (FOMS), the Beardsley and Memorial Library and the Plan of Conservation and Development Committee.  We also collaborate with land trusts in neighboring towns, and with the State Department of Environmental Protection. We hold fun educational events for the public, including a birds of prey demonstration at our Church Field, and a talk on Small Mammals by a White Memorial biologist.

Winchester Land Trust
PO Box 10
Winchester Center, CT  
06094

Email:  winchesterlandtrust@yahoo.com

Phone:  (860) 379-9622

Trail Maps

Erich Woods (PDF)
File Size: 1329 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Hurlbut Field (PDF)
File Size: 769 kb
File Type: pdf
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Old Crossroad Trail (PDF)
File Size: 949 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Ruez Trail (PDF)
File Size: 927 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Houlihan Woods & the Michael Giordano Tribute Area (PDF)
File Size: 312 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

WLT Land & Surrounding Opening Space

Land Map 2015 (PDF)
File Size: 10381 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Board Members:
  • Jennifer Perga​, President
  • Doug Pfenninger, Vice President
  • Louise Van Alstyne, Secretary
  • Joey Pierce, Treasurer
  • Susan Closson
  • Alan Colavecchio
  • Barbara Douglas
  • Gayle Moraski


Honorary Board Members
  • Dom Campi
  • Kevin Case
  • Chuck Dmytriw
  • Shelley Harms
  • Andrea Hitt​
  • Barry LeJeune
  • Jay Martin
  • Katherine Oneglia
  • Christine Royer
  • Craig Snyder
  • David Woodworth
Legacy Board Members
  • Lou Ehrich
  • George Sherwood

Our Mission

The Winchester Land Trust works to preserve the rural character and natural resources of the Winchester, CT area, and to educate the community about the benefits of land conservation and balanced growth.

How can you help?

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