Greenwich Land Trust (GLT) announced the acquisition of 4.5 acres of pristine forest and wetlands, adjacent to its existing 6.3-acre Mygatt Preserve off Chestnut Hill Road in North Stamford.
The generous donation was made by members of the Mygatt Family, following in the footsteps of Katrina Auchincloss Mygatt, who willed the original 6.3 acres to the Land Trust in 1991 to ensure the family’s land would be protected forever. Mrs. Mygatt was a dedicated conservationist and worked throughout the community to advocate for environmental causes and her family continues that legacy today with their gift to GLT.
“The Land Trust is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to conserve, protect and care for this beautiful property in perpetuity, making our community a better place to live and enjoy,” notes Greenwich Land Trust Executive Director Will Kies. The acquisition brings the total number of acres of open space forever protected by GLT to 763.
This newly acquired deep woodland glade abuts GLT¹s existing Mygatt Preserve as well as the 6-acre Chestnut Hill Bird Sanctuary, owned by the City of Stamford, and additional conservation land nearby, creating a sizable greenway and a rich habitat for local wildlife. This property is known to contain a variety of fauna including great horned and barred owls, coyote, deer, as well as wild turkeys, foxes, raccoons, woodpeckers, thrushes, and a variety of song birds.
The terrain includes a steep slope with a glacial boulder field, historic stone walls and a unique freshwater spring that feeds into the wetland at the bottom of the property. A diverse collection of mature hardwood trees including tupelo, tulip, beech, oak, and maple and robust understory of native shrubs such as sweet pepperbush, witch hazel, and spicebush are found throughout.
GLT stewardship staff establishes a management plan for each preserve, designed to protect the land’s conservation value. Among the stewardship projects planned for the newly-acquired property is removal of invasive species such as Japanese barberry and Asiatic bittersweet, to avoid more significant infestations down the road.
