By Anne W. Semmes
A group of individuals, Cynthia Ehlinger, Ted Gilman, Ann Sawyer, Peter and Syd Uhry, Trudy and Richard Sharpe, and Nan and Pat Linskey have formed a conservation project, partnering with the Greenwich Land Trust (GLT) to honor two environmentalists, now passed, Bill and Nancy Ross. “This is an opportunity,” Ehlinger explains, “that aligns with their interests – conservation and stewardship, birds and wildlife, and facilitating interaction with nature.
“The Rosses were dedicated civic leaders and made many contributions to our town. Bill served on the Greenwich Conservation Commission. He served on the boards of the Greenwich Land Trust, Connecticut Nature Conservancy, Greenwich Audubon Society, the Audubon Center in Greenwich, and the National Audubon Society. He made time to build and erect dozens of bluebird boxes on these various properties as well as raise bees. Most importantly, he loved young people and encouraged them to be engaged in life and the outdoors. Nancy served as treasurer of the Greenwich Audubon chapter for many years and was a long-time volunteer assistant to the science curator of the Bruce Museum.
“Nancy was an accomplished birder who also had a deep interest and vast knowledge of wildflowers and native plants. Nancy and Bill were a great team, and they believed in conserving the land for the next generation
“The Ross Fund will support a habitat restoration project at the Trust’s Converse Brook Preserve that has just this month added an eight-acre property that will be the site of the preserve entrance with a small parking area, enlarging the site to 80 acres – making it the Land Trust’s largest preserve.
“A portion of this area needs restoration and is potentially a wonderful education opportunity,” states Ehlinger. “The Ross Fund with now donations of $4,000 with a goal of $12,000, will focus on restoration of this area with appropriate native plants to support the ecological integrity of the preserve. The Land Trust is developing a plan for the area with expected completion next fall. Further details on the scope, timeline and proposed plantings will be available in the next few months.”
The group is asking for early donations, says Ehlinger, “So we can demonstrate a strong start to our fund-raising effort. To donate by mail, write a check to Greenwich Land Trust, add note for ‘Ross Fund.’ Mail to Greenwich Land Trust, 370 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, CT 06831. To donate online: Go to gltrust.org, click on DONATE. Be sure to follow up with an email to Executive Director Will Kies at will@gltrust.org and specify the gift is for the ‘Ross Fund’ and the amount. Donors will be invited to a walk at the Converse Brook Preserve this spring to learn more about this exciting initiative.”
