For nearly 40 years, the Westerly Land Trust has been preserving the natural beauty of Westerly by protecting forests and farmland and creating opportunities to explore the outdoors. The Westerly Land Trust is a treasured steward of our landscapes.
The Mission
The Westerly Land Trust is dedicated to protecting open space, restoring culturally significant properties, and providing environmental education. Beyond land conservation they protect local water resources, support agriculture, preserve wildlife habitats, and help maintain Westerly’s sense of place. Balancing conservation and responsible community growth, the Trust helps ensure that future generations can enjoy the same natural beauty that exists today.
More Than 1,900 Acres Protected
Since acquiring the Avondale Farm Preserve in 1998 the Trust has grown significantly. What started with 50 acres has expanded to more than 1,900 protected acres of forests, wetlands, grasslands, farmland, and riverfront habitats. Some of the Trust's most notable properties include: Grills Preserve, the largest preserve, encompassing roughly 550 acres of woodland and trails and Crandall Family Preserve, a 482-acre property that helps safeguard Westerly's public drinking water supply. The Riverwood Preserve, Champlin Farm Preserve, Anderson Preserve, Camp Quequatuck, Colonel Willie Cove Preserve, and Wahaneeta Preserve, all offer wildlife habitat protection and access for public enjoyment. Miles of trails, peaceful places to observe wildlife, and countless opportunities to connect with nature are just minutes from town and accessible to all.
Nature as the Classroom
The Trust is committed to environmental education providing students living, outdoor classrooms to study wildlife, geology, habitats, botany, and conservation throughout the year. Educational Programs include: school field trips, teacher support and curriculum-based programming, afterschool enrichment, scout and summer camp partnerships, homeschool programs, and family hikes. Educational topics such as local wildlife, pollinators, forests, weather patterns, insects, and ecosystem health help foster a lifetime love of nature.
Events to Get You Outdoors
WLT offers year-round events to explore nature, stay active, and deepen your connection to the land. Take part in Thursday Hikes, Wonder Walks, Guided Paddles, Outdoor Yoga, the Voices of the Land speaker series, nature and gardening workshops, guided nature walks, preserve tours, trail runs, and many other events throughout the year.
The Future
Through conservation, education, and community engagement, the Trust is preserving Westerly’s landscapes and inspiring future generations to care for them. If you explore a woodland trail, attend a family nature program, or enjoy one of Westerly's protected open spaces you're benefiting from the work of the Westerly Land Trust.
Learn more about the Westerly Land Trust
