Who We Are

481 acres on Prospect Mountain were titled to LLT from the Nature Conservancy, a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gagarin, the James J. Porter Trust, and Mr. Thurston Green.  Since then, additional parcels have been added and LLT has established four scenic hiking trails on the Prospect Mountain Preserve including views from the highest elevation in Litchfield.

The Stillman-Danaher Preserve was established as a 2-mile hiking trail with access from Clark Rd, providing 77 acres of varied woodlands and ridge views.
 

LLT led a fundraising campaign towards the purchase of the 90-acre Haight property along the Bantam River, raising the majority of the funds through a state matching grant, a foundation grant, and private contributions.   The property is now protected and managed by The White Memorial Foundation that contributed its own funds to complete this acquisition.

The Hassig Farm on Route 202, now renamed as the “Graham Thompson Preserve”​, was purchased with financial assistance from CT DEEP and The Ripley Foundation. 

A Community Garden was established on the Graham Thompson Preserve that has grown significantly and improved since then.  The Community Garden now offers 40 garden plots, running water, and a storage shed for community members who share their bounty with each other and our wider community.  In 2019, LLT added an easy walking path known as the Marsh Hawk Trail and built an inviting platform that overlooks a habitat abundant with wildlife.

Wetherfield LLC gifted 65-acres of strategic core forested land in the northwestern corner of Litchfield.

The 80-acre Shepaug Crossing Preserve was established off route 202 in southwestern Litchfield. This preserve offers a 2.3-mile loop trail that parallels the Shepaug River.

LLT completed construction of Medicine Rock Trail on the Upper Bantam River Preserve with help from a grant from the Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust.

The generous and timely donation of land from neighbor John Bolus provided a location for safe off-road parking (Busy Rte. 202) to the Medicine Rock Trail on the Upper Bantam River Preserve. Thank you to John and the Seherr-Thoss Foundation who made this year-end project a reality.

The Katzin family donated 15 acres of prime forested land with streams and a waterfall to expand the Stillman-Dannaher Preserve to 92-acres.

LLT extended the Marsh Hawk Trail and constructed a viewing platform into a vibrant wildlife habitat.  The 15-acre Pepper Preserve on Prospect Mountain Road was acquired with a scenic hay field and a gravel parking lot providing new access point for the Prospect Mountain Preserve trail system. The Pepper Preserve is marked with a memorial stone in honor of Gordon Pepper. 

LLT expanded its existing protected corridor along Route 118 through a generous donation by Moses Lieberman.  The new 121-acre Lauren A. Lieberman Preserve is visible from Route 8 and ensures a green landscape for those driving along the highway.

A gift of 33 acres by New Georgetown Properties is close to the center of town and within easy walking distance of Community Field.

Peter and Susan Aziz donated 2-acres with a commercial building located in the center of town at 28 Russell Street. Through a heartwarming explosion in generosity from grant providers and volunteers from our community, the LLT Headquarters and Non-profit hub was constructed. The “Station” was designed and build to replicate the historic Shepaug Railroad Terminal Station. The stunning building is vibrant with activity.

LLT in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy was able to acquire 74.8 acres to add to the previously protected Evans (2017) and Brooks (2021) properties making a contiguous 127.5-acre core forest preserve on the corner of Brooks Rd and Route 63.

Many additional environmentally sensitive parcels have been acquired and/or preserved during LLT 55+ years of operation. This success is the product of the hard work of volunteer board members collaborating with many community volunteers and partners who support our work. Please join us!