Joshua's Trust now protects over 4,000 acres of land in northeastern CT! Help us reach 5,000 acres - become a land trust member today! office hours Former Eagleville School House South Eagleville Rd Mansfield, Connecticut, Thurs.1:30pm to 3:30pm. Gristmill Lithograph The full color lithograph of a new painting of the Gristmill by artist Charles McCaughtry, is on sale at Joshua's Land Trust Office. Welcome Monarch on asters; © photo by Richard Hyde Joshua's Trust is the largest land trust, by acres preserved, in the northeast "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut. A non-profit organization, the Trust is designed to supplement the open space and historic conservation efforts of federal, state, and local governments by receiving gifts of land, conservation easements, and money. The Trust may also purchase tracts of land that it considers especially important to preserve. Our land trust was founded in 1966 as a joint venture of the Mansfield Historical Society and the Mansfield Conservation Commission. Joshua's Trust now protects more than 4,000 acres in Connecticut. Some properties are owned by the Trust and others are protected by easements. Our CT land trust is named for Joshua, son of Uncas, Mohegan Sachem, who in 1676 bequeathed his hunting grounds in the heart of eastern Connecticut to "16 men of Norwich". Joshua's Trust serves an area roughly conterminous with the Windham Region and extending into Tolland County, including the towns of Andover, Ashford, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, Mansfield, Lebanon, Scotland, Storrs, Tolland, Willington, Windham and Woodstock. For More Information, visit Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust History. Generous landowners who donate conservation easements to Joshua’s Land Trust are inspired by many things: they love Eastern Connecticut, they feel connected to their land, and they wish to leave a legacy of protected land for future generations. This inspiration is at the heart of our work to permanently protect valuable natural resources here in northeastern Connecticut. But for almost all of our donors, donating a conservation easement is a major financial decision, and the federal income tax deduction that comes with a donation helps make easements possible for landowners in our community. Volunteer for Joshua's Trust! The work of Joshua’s Trust is carried out almost entirely by volunteers, everything from cutting trails to stuffing envelopes, leading walks and tours to writing grants. Click here to learn what you can do to help conserve and protect open space in our community! Calling for Trust Memorabilia The year 2016 will be the 50th anniversary of the formation of Joshua's Trust. The anniversary committee is gathering material for a history to be part of the celebration. We are asking members to send photos, clippings or other information to the trust office in care of the anniversary committee. We can copy and return material if you wish. We will also be interviewing people with stories to tell about the Trust. Call Mona Anderson 860-487-1381 with questions or suggestions. Be sure to check out the Joshua's Trust Properties section for details on the wildlife, waterways, trails and preserves that our Connecticut land trust is protecting. Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust is active in the towns and villages of Andover, Ashford, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, Mansfield, Lebanon, Scotland, Storrs, Tolland, Willington, Windham, Willimantic and Woodstock, Connecticut. Trust Reports and Newsletters: You can find copies of the land trust newsletters and annual reports here. Find archived news and events about Joshua's Trust. Related Links: Connecticut Audubon Society Connecticut Museum of National History Conserving Tolland The Last Green Valley The Nature Conservancy Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary River Alliance of Connecticut Thames Valley Trout Unlimited Willimantic River Alliance Land Trust News Conservation Coordinator Needed Joshua's Trust has an opening for a Conservation Coordinator, (8-10 hrs per week). Position responsibilities include assisting the President in coordinating and supporting committees and volunteers. Work in the office on Thursdays 12:00-3:00 pm, and at other times as needed. Some field work. For the full job description, click here. Winter Trek at Allanach-Wolf Woodlands Date: January 29, 2012  Location: Allanach-Wolf Woodlands in Windham For directions, see the Allanach-Wolf property page, directions are on the lower right hand side of the page. Time: Walk begins at 1:00; instruction for show-shoe novices begins at 12:30 Join naturalist Ken Metzler for an informative tour of the winter world. We will snow shoe if there's snow. EMS will provide show shoes at half the regular rental price ($ 10.00) or just bring your own. If you are a novice, instruction will be provided at 12:30. Warm drinks and snacks will be available after the walk. Space is limited and registration is required: Contact Richard Bunce at (860) 647-1455 by January 22nd. Winter Walk & Talk at Goodwin Date: February 18th, 2012  Time: 10:00am to 12:30pm  Location: Goodwin State Forest, 23 Potter Road, Hampton Directions:  For directions, visit the Goodwin Forest Conservation Center webpage Ever wonder how Connecticut’s critters cope with the cold? Join Joshua’s Trust and naturalist Juan Sanchez on a guided walk through Goodwin State Forest in Hampton. Sanchez will illustrate survival techniques described in Bernd Heinrich’s “Winter World.” If you wish to read the book beforehand, it is available at most local booksellers or through Amazon/Audible or B&N. Refreshments will follow at Goodwin’s Conservation Education Center. This event is free, but pre-registration is required: please email juan.sanchez@ct.gov. At the event, interested parties may also sign up for a Joshua’s Trust walking group which will be starting up this spring. Jazz Concert Re-Scheduled The Juniper Hill Jumpers band members photo by Peggy Church New date: Sunday, February 26, 2012 (snow date March 25) Location: Knowlton Memorial Hall, Rte. 44 in Ashford Time: Light refreshments are served beginning at 2:30, with the concert beginning at 3:00 October's "Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon" - postponed because of a freakish snow storm - has been re-scheduled to Feb 26th. The Juniper Hill Jumpers Jazz Band, led by our own Hill Bullard, plays Dixieland style jazz, as well as blues, gospel and some country/western. Come for some toe-tapping fun entertainment that benefits the Trust as well. To print the registration form now, click here! We hope to see you at the end of February! Hikers at Byles Sanctuary October 1st was the first Walktober event at Byles Sanctuary It just stopped raining in time for Saturday's hike, which explored the biodiversity of a climax forest and glacial moraines in our Ashford preserve. Join us for more October walks: Joshua's Trust sponsored Walktober events. Fall Newsletter Online All of these articles, and more in the fall newsletter: Land Trust Alliance Grant Dixieland Jazz Fundraiser Reflections by Allison Burchell-Robinson Remembering Fred Cazel, Jr., and Corine Norgaard Read out land trust's fall newsletter Walktober 2011 The annual Walktober season approaches, when all around the 'Quiet Corner' we celebrate the natural beauty around us with hikes, paddles, farm tours and more. The complete calendar of events is available at the Last Green Valley website. From there you can view or download the brochure. Also check out the list of hikes sponsored by Joshua's Trust, listed on our Events page. Natchaug River Basin video Enjoy this video on YouTube by John Meyer and Holly Drinkuth, about ongoing efforts to protect the Natchaug River Basin watershed. A clip on Mason's Mill activities is included: View the Natchaug River Basin video. On The Radio Joshua's Trust president, Allison Burchell-Robinson, and long-time member and past president Madge Manfred talk about land trust issues and conservation in Connecticut on the air. Their host is Mark E. Ramone of Eastern Connecticut campus radio station WECS. Listen to the discussion here: Joshua's Trust online with Mark Ramone.  'Like' us on Facebook Students from Four Towns Join a Bioblitz Students from Mansfield, Coventry, Windham and Sterling joined teachers and natural resource professionals in a bioblitz May 24th. The program is designed to introduce students to natural resource stewardship and foster interest in environmental and ecosystem studies. Follow this link to the announcement in the online newspaper Windham Today: Students participate in a bioblitz on Joshua's Trust Allanach-Wolf Woodlands. To view more photos of the event, click here. Lof Dedication A good crowd of Trust members, neighbors and friends came out to thank John Lof and his family for their efforts over the years, buying property with the intent to preserve it, and making that vision come true. Follow this link to read about the Lof Woodlands dedication. Town of Mansfield Proclamation Allison Burchell-Robinson, accepting proclamation photo by Wally Robinson At the Mansfield Town Council meeting this Monday, April 25, 2011, Major Betsey Paterson issued a proclamation honoring Joshua's Trust for significant achievement. Follow this link to read the full article: Joshua's Trust receives special recognition from Mansfield. Annual Meeting was held April 12 View the president's comments, learn about the honorees, read the annual report newsletter, all posted on this page: Joshua's Trust 45th Annual Meeting Trustees, Class of 2016 At the annual meeting, President Allison Burchell-Robinson announced the appointment of four new trustees whose terms will run until 2016. They are: Scott Matthies, Brent Gottier, Sarah Fusco, and Nancy Silander. The Trust thanks Carol Enright, Marc Lang, Corine Norgaard and Juan Sanchez, Jr.,, whose terms expired this year, for their five years of service as trustees of Joshua's Trust Joshua's Trust Tolland Preserve Featured Online "Some 27 acres of open space along the Skungamaug River in Tolland will be preserved in perpetuity under a new agreement between a local land owner and conservation trust. Follow this link to read the full article: Joshua's Trust will protect 27 acres off Goose Land Joshua's Trust Awarded Accredited Land Trust Status Only 130 land trusts in the US have received accreditation, and only 4 in Connecticut. On February 9th the Land Trust Alliance announced that Joshua's Trust is now one of this select group. National accreditation certifies that the activities of our volunteers and staff meet the highest standards of operation, ensuring permanent protection of the CT land entrusted to Joshua's Trust. Joshua's Trust Featured in Hartford Courant "After protecting thousands of acres across northeastern Connecticut and "patting ourselves on the back," it was time for Joshua's Trust to get serious. It was time for an outside agency to come in and see how the conservation organization was doing." The full article by Peter Marteka is available online at the Hartford Courant website: Joshua's Trust Receives National Accreditation Joshua's Trust Adds To Preserves in Tolland, CT Stewards Review New Tolland property photo by John Pagini The last property our land trust received in 2010 was 27.2 acres of land off Lemek Lane in Tolland, CT. The parcel includes open fields and forested land along the Skunkamaug River. Remembering Birge Dayton Birge Dayton passed away at the age of 80. Many Trust members worked closely with him over the years. Tributes to Birge are posted here. Congress Votes to Extend Easement Tax incentive In the last month of 2010, Congress voted to renew a tax incentive for private landowners, farmers and ranchers who choose to protect their land with a conservation easement. Conservation-minded landowners now have a full year, until December 31, 2011, to take advantage of a significant tax deduction for donating a voluntary conservation agreement to permanently protect important natural or historic resources on their land. As 2011 begins we are very thankful for all that has been accomplished, and we will continue working to preserve what is irreplaceable in our community, with your support! Tolland Approves Sage Meadow Conservation Plan Thursday, October 29, 2010 From the Journal Inquirer The Tolland Conservation Commission has approved a long-term, comprehensive management plan for the Tolland Sage Meadow property. Joshua's Trust holds a conservation easement on the 22 acre parcel. Proposed use of the Tolland property will include activities like hiking, bird-watching, and snow-shoeing. To read the whole story on the Journal Inquirer website, go to the Journal Inquirer Tolland page. Photos from Peter Tork Benefit Concert Follow this link for images of the October 2010 concert: Peter Tork Fundraiser Fall Tag Sale a Success! Thanks to your generosity, the Joshua's Trust tag sale this Saturday raised over twelve hundred dollars. The sale would not have been so successful without all the donors and shoppers who participated.