Joshua's Land Trust will explore the Hubbard Sanctuary in Chaplin on Wednesday, January 8th at 2:00 pm. The hike will be 1.3 miles of easy walking through woodlands and around a field and pond. Park at the Chaplin Town Office building and Garrison Park parking lot on Route 198, 2.2 miles north of the intersection of Route 6 and Route 198. For more information, call 860-455-1226 or email Marcia Kilpatrick at Kalmia1234@gmail.com with "JT walk" in the subject line.
This 31-acre sanctuary is situated upon glacial meltwater sediments, laid down during the waning of the last ice sheet. There are two ponds, fields, and hardwood forests, offering a rich and varied experience for hikers, birders and wildlife viewing. The trail takes you through the town of Chaplin's Garrison Park and CT's Natchaug State Forest. This sanctuary was donated to Joshua's Trust by Mollie Hubbard in 1985. Her parents bought the property in the 1930's and operated a farm there for many years. Mollie was a member of the Natchaug Ornithological Society and worked at the University of Connecticut as a scientific illustrator. Adjacent is Agnes' Pasture, a 12-acre addition to the preserve which was acquired from Agnes Fuller in 2011.
Please note: Because the neighboring state land is actively hunted, visitors to the Hubbard Sanctuary are advised to wear blaze orange in hunting season.
Joshua's Trust works with fourteen towns in Northeastern CT on issues of conservation and open space preservation, currently protecting over 4000 acres. Information about Trust membership, its work and its preserves can be found at www.joshuaslandtrust.org.
