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02/05/2018 11:00 PMThe Chester Land Trust has kicked off 2018 with a flurry of activity, planning events and fundraisers, working on upgrades to the website, and reaching out to new members. Priscilla Robinson, who was elected president in 2017, is excited as more people are getting involved.
“We are always looking for new members and we’ve got some really fun adventures planned,” said Robinson. “Once people join, they’re going to see Chester in a different light.”
Over the past few months, members have been gathering to discuss the plans to build two new osprey nests to add to the already existing nest located in Chester Preserve, which is one of the parcels in town owned by the land trust. The hardware and materials cost approximately $500 and the goal is to raise the nests by mid-March.
A For the Birds Osprey Fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Maple and Main Gallery, 1 Maple Street, Chester, to help defray the costs of building the new nests. There will be refreshments, an art auction, and a question-and-answer session about ospreys.
Tickets ($25) include chili, cornbread, sangria, and a beer sampling, and are available by contacting Fran Curto at francurto@aol.com or 860-227-4946. Reservations are requested, but tickets will also be available at the door.
In addition to the upcoming fundraiser, Robinson is excited for Women’s Walks to resume on the first and third Saturdays of each month. For the first hikes, the group will meet at the Water Street public parking lot at 8:30 a.m.
“Every time we finish a hike, the next hike will be prepared by someone else, so there will be some diversity,” said Robinson. “There’ll be some hiking in the woods and hopefully in other land trusts’ preserves. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and get in shape, too.”
The Chester Land Trust meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Robinson noted that she has met many interesting people through her involvement with the group, including an 80 year-old resident who shares many stories about her lifetime residency in Chester, which she finds “fascinating.”
Members of the Chester Land Trust are involved with stewardship, cleaning up properties, and special events like Huckleberry Adventures with a recycled raft race (the first will be Friday, May 4 at the Carini Preserve), scavenger hunts, informative talks, and fundraisers.
“It’s really fun,” said Robinson. “There are lots of things to do and places to see right here in Chester.”
For information on the osprey fundraiser, contact Fran Curto at francurto@aol.com or 860-227-4946. For information on the Chester Land Trust, visit www.chesterlandtrust.org or call Priscilla Robinson at 860-526-2775.