The Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary

A lot has been happening at Connecticut Audubon’s Trail Wood Sanctuary.  This past winter we made the difficult decision to conduct a selective timber cut on the sanctuary after multiple years of gypsy moth defoliation and drought killed a significant number of trees on the property causing a public safety hazard.  In an effort to make lemonade out of lemons, a plan was developed to restore and regenerate the forest bird habitat.  Although it was tough to see the trees come down, the good news is the sanctuary is rebounding and we are already seeing an uptick in bird species and abundance.

We received great news in May.  The 1772 Foundation through the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation awarded the Connecticut Audubon Society $15,000 to replace the aging roof on the circa 1806 Teale homestead and repoint the chimneys. The grant has a 1:1 match requirement. In addition to soffit repairs and gutter replacement work, we are honoring the match with the Window Restoration Fund. We have raised about half of the monies needed to restore all the windows in the house.  Please consider giving, we are grateful for any and all donations

In addition to the roof and windows, we are insulating the first story ceilings throughout the house. Given the rather large mouse and squirrel populations that have nested in the house over the years, we decided to install rodent resistant insulation. This work will cost over $10,000 and we expect donations to cover the work to come from Connecticut “C” corporations. Thanks to the Neighborhood Assistance Act, a program run through the Department of Revenue Services, any C corporation that donates monies for energy efficient modifications to a pre-qualified non-profit’s facility can receive a 100% state tax credit. It is a win-win for everyone! The corporation receives a dollar for dollar tax credit for their donation and the non-profit organization receives improvements that ultimately reduce operational costs.

Six writers and artists are participating in our summer residency program.  Consider coming to Trail Wood Under the Harvest Moon, September 22 at 5 p.m., to walk the grounds, enjoy the Quiet Corner Fiddlers and delectable food as well as view their art work and read excerpts of their written work.

For more information on any of these programs contact Sarah at the Center at Pomfret 860-928-4948 or send an email to sheminway@ctaudubon.org.   In the meantime, enjoy the trails.