Hadlyme Country Market Hosts 50th Anniversary Fundraising Effort

 
The Hadlyme Country Market and Lyme Land Conservation Trust join in an effort to help raise funds for the Hadlyme Challenge Grant —An anonymous gift offered by a neighbor to match Hadlyme residents’ donations in order to purchase the strategic Brockway-Hawthorne Property.

In its 50th Anniversary year, The Lyme Land Conservation Trust has announced a fund raising drive to protect 82 acres of ecologically key upland forest and swamp wildlife habitat in Hadlyme on the headwaters of Whalebone Cove, one of the freshwater tidal wetlands that comprise the internationally celebrated Connecticut River Estuary Complex. The new proposed preserve is part of a forested landscape just south of Hadlyme Four Corners and Ferry Road (Rt. 148), and forms a large part of the watershed for Whalebone Creek, a key tributary feeding Whalebone Cove, most of which is a national wildlife refuge under the management of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. 

“The Hadlyme Country Market at Four Corners has graciously offered to host a celebration on Sunday, September 4th of Labor Day Weekend to raise awareness and kick off our neighborhood fundraising effort” says Humphrey Tyler, a Hadlyme resident and former Lyme Land Trust board member who is coordinating the fundraiser. 
 
“We are happy to be part of the Hadlyme effort to raise the needed funds in order to receive the matching gift” says Susan Raible Birch co-owner of the Hadlyme Country Market with manager Lisa Bakoledis.
 
“Honoring the Brockway-Hawthorne family brings us full circle to the Hadlyme Country Market’s founder, Lee Luther Brockway, in 1905” says Hadlyme Country Market co-owner Lisa Bakoledis. “Preserving the Hadlyme Heritage, History and Land is very important to us.”

“We hope all of Hadlyme will pledge to support the new Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve forever preserving our piece of heaven for future generations” Raible Birch added.

Sunday September 4th from10am-4pm, guided tours will be offered at the Brockway-Hawthorne property. Maps and information packets will be at the Hadlyme Country Market along with music and gifts for donors and tour participants.  Tickets for a special raffle featuring a framed, numbered and signed Lori Warner print are already being sold at the Country Market with the drawing to be held Sunday at 4pm. PopCentric all natural Ice Pops will be there and a local Banjo artist highlighting the event. Radio iCRV will be doing a live feed, interviewing members of the Lyme Land Trust members all volunteer board, dignitaries and celebrants.
 
Since 1966, Lyme Land Conservation Trust has been conserving the unique and historic landscapes of Lyme, Connecticut. During those years, its rural community has shown that a small population can have a significant impact on conservation.  Residents and friends of Lyme have donated land, dollars, and hard work to acquire and protect almost 3000 acres, owned in fee or under easement, of woodlands, craggy hills, working farm fields, and bird-filled marshes. 
 
 “This new wildlife preserve will represent a triple play for habitat conservation,” said Anthony Irving, chairman of the Land Trust’s Preservation Committee. “First, it helps to protect the watershed feeding the fragile Whalebone Cove eco-system which is listed as one of North America’s important freshwater tidal marshes in international treaties that cite the Connecticut River estuary as a wetland complex of global importance. Whalebone Creek, one of the primary streams feeding Whalebone Cove, originates from vernal pools and upland swamps just south of the Brockway-Hawthorne tract on the Land Trust’s Ravine Trail Preserve and adjacent conservation easements and flows through the proposed preserve. Virtually all of the Brockway-Hawthorne property comprises much of the watershed for Whalebone Creek.”
 
 “Second, the 82 acres we are hoping to acquire with this fundraising effort represents a large block of wetlands and forested wildlife habitat between Brush Hill and Joshuatown roads, which in itself is home to a kaleidoscope of animals from amphibians and reptiles that thrive in several vernal pools and swamp land, to turkey, coyote, bobcat and fisher. It also serves as seasonal nesting and migratory stops for several species of deep woods birds, which are losing habitat all over Connecticut due to forest fragmentation. “Third, this particular preserve will also conserve a key link in the wildlife corridors that connects more than 1,000 acres of protected woodland and swamp habitat in the Hadlyme area.” 
 
Irving explained that the preserve is at the center of a landscape-scale wildlife habitat greenway that includes Selden Island State Park, property of the US Fish & Wild Life’s Silvio O Conte Wildlife Refuge, The Nature Conservancy’s Selden Preserve, and several other properties protected by the Lyme Land Conservation Trust. “Because of its central location as a hub between these protected habitat refuges,” said Irving, “this preserve will protect forever the uninterrupted access that wildlife throughout the Hadlyme landscape now has for migration and breeding……that are important to the continued robust biodiversity of Southeastern Connecticut and Connecticut River Estuary.

Irving said the Land Trust hopes to create a network of hiking trails on the property with access from both Brush Hill Road on the east and Joshuatown Road on the west and connection to the Land Trust’s Ravine Trail to the south and the network of trails on the Nature Conservancy’s Selden Preserve.
 
The Land Trust said it hopes to name proposed new nature refuge in honor of William Hawthorne of Hadlyme and his Brockway family ancestry. Bill’s family has owned the property for many generations and has agreed to sell the property to the Land Trust at a discount from its market value if the rest of the money necessary for the purchase can be raised by the Land Trust. 

Lyme Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) depends on the support of the community in carrying out its mission to conserve the natural, scenic and cultural resources of Lyme.  Support from individuals, demonstrated by high membership levels, also helps LLCT approach foundations for funding large projects by proving a broad base of support from its constituency.
 
“We hope everybody comes out to help kick off this very important neighbor hood fundraising effort of LLCT, have some fun and learn a little about us” remarks Milt Walters, Chairman of the Land Trust’s Development Committee “Large or small, your donation helps the Lyme Land Conservation Trust continue the important work you believe in. We can only do this together. All donations make you a Lyme Land Conservation Trust member.”
 
All donations will be acknowledged and a receipt for tax purposes provided.