High school interns from Westport beautify entrance to The Preserve

In 2010, Aspetuck Land Trust partnered with the Town of Westport to create the 39-acre Newman Poses Nature Preserve in Westport. The entrance to the preserve is located between #307 and #313 Bayberry Lane.  The nature preserve was made possible by land donated by West porter’s Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward, and Lillian Poses, a neighbor and friend of the Newman’s who worked on the New Deal in the FDR administration.

The Preserve has become a popular destination for Westporters and has frontage on the Aspetuck River where Paul Newman, who lived nearby, liked to swim.

Aspetuck Land Trust launched an effort this spring to beautify the entrance to the preserve. Local companies like Gault Energy donated topsoil and gravel, Oliver’s Nursery provided native plants at discount prices and Bart’s Tree Service removed invasive and hazard trees.  Staples high school interns built a stone wall and walkway.

Aspetuck Land Trust is seeking donations to help defray the costs of the improvements. To learn more, or to make a contribution call 203-331-1906 or visit: ASPETUCKLANDTRUST.ORG

The Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT) is a local non-profit land conservation organization founded in 1966 to preserve open space in the towns of Westport, Weston, Fairfield and Easton. ALT preserves provide passive recreation and educational opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy nature, while preserving the flora and fauna and rural characteristics of local communities. ALT maintains 45 trailed nature preserves and other conservation-only properties on over 1,800 acres of land. More than 1,000 individual members support the organization through annual membership contributions.  For more information visit www.aspetucklandtrust.org.