News
On a breezy and sunny Arbor Day morning, about 80 people who care about trees and conservation met at Hawk Hill Farm in Bloomfield.
The event was hosted by Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy (TRLC), The 4Five Farm, Bloomfield, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC). Guests included Bloomfield Mayor Danielle Wong, Windsor Mayor Nuchette Black-Burke, CT Land Conservation Council Executive Director Amy Patterson and Sandy Breslin Conservation Fellow Colin Piteo, Poet Tom Nicotera, State Urban Forester, DEEP Danica Doroski, Trail Donor Diana Hughes, The Notable Trees Project Members John Kehoe & Marty Aligata, Troop 175 Scout Christopher Lloyd, Artist Hayli Graham, and 4Five Farmer Dan Duesing. The Arbor Day Celebration showed how conservation brings people together and how the trees we plant and protect now will be important for the future.
The day started with an Arbor Day ceremony featuring a poem by Tom Nicotera and remarks from TRLC Vice-President Paula Jones, Bloomfield Mayor Danielle Wong, and Connecticut’s State Urban Forester Danica Doroski. They talked about the importance of community efforts to care for nature.
A highlight of the day was the opening of Hawk Hill’s new tree trail. The trail has nine “notable trees,” including five that are among the largest of their kind in Connecticut. A “notable tree” generally refers to a tree that has been recognized for its special characteristics and included in the Connecticut Notable Trees Project. This project, a volunteer initiative supported by the Connecticut Botanical Society, the Connecticut College Arboretum, and the Connecticut Urban Forest Council, collects and shares information about the state’s largest and most historic trees.
Walking the trail, visitors can see big oak and hickory trees, which are a reminder of the long history and importance of conservation. These trees are notable not only for their exceptional size, but also for their historical significance, ecological importance, and status as a community landmark.
Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy, CT DEEP, CLCC, and others celebrate the opening of a new trail at Hawk Hill Farm.
Hawk Hill Farm is an example of successful teamwork. Ten years ago, it was permanently protected by Wintonbury Land Trust (now part of TRLC) through a partnership with Bloomfield. Funding from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program and the Natural Resources Conservation Service helped make this happen, ensuring the farm’s woods, fields, and important trees would be saved forever.
Bloomfield is also committed to trees through the “Trees for Bloomfield” program. Led by the Bloomfield Beautification Committee and the Conservation, Energy and Environment Committee, the town is working to increase its tree cover, improve neighborhoods, and educate people about the benefits of trees for the environment, economy, and health. By working with residents to plant and care for trees, Bloomfield is creating a greener future. Their efforts have earned the town recognition as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, which celebrates Bloomfield’s dedication to tree care.
This Arbor Day celebration reminds us that every tree planted, every piece of land saved, and every community partnership helps create a better Connecticut. At CLCC, we support land trusts, towns, and volunteers in this important work.
