Branfords Bucolic Property Preserved - Branford, CT Patch

10/1/13 11:59 AM

Editor Jenn McCulloch jenn.mcculloch@patch.com

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Branfords Bucolic Property Preserved

We hiked the recently purchased Weil property, encountered a deer and saw why the acquisition means so much to the Branford Land Trust and the community in general.
By Nicole Ball Email the author August 16, 2011

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1 Comment Related Topics: Branford Land Trust, Land aquisition Branford, and Weil Property What do you think of the acquisition? Have you hiked there? Tell us in the comments.

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Branfords Bucolic Property Preserved - Branford, CT Patch

10/1/13 11:59 AM

To the left of where the white trail dumps out to the salt marsh, is 34 acres known as the Weil property. For years, the Weil family owners of the Stony Creek Puppet House had owned the land. The puppet house and the nearly 34-acre parcel were put on the market. When the property was put up, Dock said she and other members of the BLT wanted to purchase the land, however with all their money tied up in acquiring the development rights to the Johnson Farm property and fundraising for purchase of the Pieper Woodlands property, the procurement of the Weil parcel was not an option. Recently when an anonymous donor stepped in to buy the land, Dock said the group was in shock. Its such a fabulous gift, she commented. Somebodys doing it totally anonymously, whos obviously not doing it for the glory. Somebody who just knew how special this is and would be forever to this part of town and actually the town in general. A Stony Creek native, First Selectman Anthony Unk DaRos said in a press release after the property was purchased by the BLT, The Weil property is a parcel that every thoughtful Creeker for the past several decades has worried about, coveted, or developed a scheme to protect. As co-chair of acquisitions for the BLT, Dock said, that despite acquiring acres upon acres of open space during the mid 90s to the mid 2000s, the Weil property was always the one in the back of the organizations mind. Its such a key piece, she said, to the open space in this area. In addition to creating a beautiful vista for hikers, nature enthusiasts and residents of Stony Creek, the acquisition of the property allows the 28-mile White Dot Trail, which encircles the town of Branford, to continue uninterrupted at this section. Where the trail meets the marsh, Dock said, the BLT with the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection will be constructing a boardwalk to allow the white trail to pass over the creek. The construction of the boardwalk, she said, is due to begin something this fall. Next to the newly acquired land is the BLT property, Stony Creek Limited Partnership, which was acquired by a group of area residents jointly in the 1980s and gifted to the BLT. South of that property is the BLTs Washburn parcel, gifted by the Washburns. The Weil property, preserved as it is, as it always was, allows the area to remain a perfect example of a Branford costal forest commented Dock. Because the Weil family maintained the land, she said, the area is in good shape and just a few group clean-up days away from being perfect for hikers (a work day for the area is scheduled for Aug. 20, click here for more details). Well educated about the area, Dock explained that local farmers owned parcels of salt marsh, like the one at the end of the Weil property. The salt hay would be plowed and harvested, she explained as a crop. At this particular location a tide gate was actually built, dating back to what she thinks is the late 1800s, so farmers could better harvest the salt hay. The tide gate, which still works but is no longer used, would be lowered to prevent the high tide form flooding the area and farmers would use oxen to plow the hay. The soft grass, said Dock, was used as packing material to ship one of Branfords most plentiful crops: strawberries. Thick with history, both of nature and man, the area, now preserved forever, will continue to provide enjoyment for the community. Whether you come in the spring to browse the mountain laurel along the wooded trail, stop to see the 1960s spherical home tucked in the woods, have a chance encounter with a deer (like we did) or spend an afternoon watching the migrating birds pass to and fro, the property is a gift for all and an adventure waiting for many. Email me updates about this story. Enter your email address
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Wayne Cooke
10:23 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2011

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For the sake of the deer and the birds, good for someone stepping up and preserving the Weil property. I have always found it rather hypocritical though, that a large number of "conservationists" expressing "concern" over developing wooded areas, themselves own big houses on multiple acres of cleared woodland.
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Branfords Bucolic Property Preserved - Branford, CT Patch

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