#Middlebury
This trail is an example of one that is developed but needs a bit of work including removing a fallen branch and adding clear trail markings. Join MLT members June 27 for some trail housekeeping. (Janine Sullivan-Wiley photo)
By JANINE SULLIVAN-WILEY
The Middlebury Land Trust (MLT) is offering a unique opportunity to readers who want to learn more about trail markings and invasive plants while enjoying the outdoors and helping the land trust without a long-term commitment. Saturday, June 27, starting at 9 a.m., the land trust will have its first trails work day in over a decade, and you are invited to participate.
Now is the perfect time for it. People all over the country, including those in Connecticut, are recognizing the value for mind and body of working on land trust trails as a great way to spend time outdoors while maintaining social distancing and helping others.
June 27 presents an opportunity for volunteers to join a team and the MLT to work on the trails that are being used and enjoyed more and more and are in need of a little TLC. You can join as an individual, or come as a family. Boy and Girl Scouts are welcome as well. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
So exactly what is involved in a trail work day? The answer – anything that helps maintain the trail so that it can be used readily by others. That can include marking or re-marking trails, pruning growth along the trail, moving fallen tree limbs, or removing invasive species and thus enabling native species to more easily thrive.
No major trail reconstruction such as bridge building or putting down rock or mulch will be involved. Those require an entirely bigger plan. MLT board members will teach you about trail marking and how to identify and remove those dastardly invasive plants.
Preregistration is required so the MLT can assure it is well prepared with the necessary materials and that volunteers can observe appropriate social distancing. Tee shirt sizes are needed, too, as the land trust will give volunteers a free Middlebury Land Trust Volunteer tee shirt.
The following procedures, along with observance of social distancing, are necessary to assure everyone’s safety. All participants must wear a face mask. It’s safer for you to “bring your own” than have things supplied. So please bring your own sunscreen, bug spray and water. Sturdy shoes and a hat are recommended. Bring work gloves, bow saws, pruning shears, loppers, shovels, rakes or any other tools you would like to use. Power tools may be used by persons having appropriate certification. If you have a wheelbarrow, it would be very handy for transporting tools!
The Middlebury Land Trust will supply extra bottled water, as well as materials to mark or update markings on the trails. Group size will be limited to four to five people plus the leader, and unfortunately no pets can be accommodated. (We’re sad about this, too!)
Contact the MLT through jswspotlight@gmail.com if you have questions, or to preregister. Please indicate who will be participating and the size(s) for tee shirt(s).
We will meet at Sperry House Saturday, June 27, at 9 a.m. with teams dispersing to different locations. We plan to wrap up and be back there by noon. If you have a favorite MLT trail you would like to work on, please let this writer know and we will do our best to accommodate your request. The rain date will be Sunday, June 28, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
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