Debuting New Trail at Westmoreland Sanctuary

The new year rings in good news for Westmoreland Sanctuary and their partners New York/New Jersey Trail Conference and Westchester Land Trust. The Sanctuary has acquired a 28.6-acre parcel of land, in partnership with Westchester Land Trust. The land now has newly established trails cleared and marked by NY/NJ Trail Conference. This contiguous land to the Sanctuary now links Fox Lane High School to the Sanctuary by establishing a spur trail, allowing unfettered use of the preserve for the middle and high schools without using bussing. Westchester Land Trust holds a conservation easement on the property that covers roughly 19 acres.

The Sanctuary’s new trail through this property is called the Raptor Ridge trail. Raptor Ridge is a mile long and well-marked. The new trail visits a small woodland pond, scenic rock outcroppings, and can be accessed from Westmoreland Sanctuary’s Wood Thrush trail. Raptor Ridge also provides access to the Sanctuary Summit, one of the highest points in Westchester County and the highest point in Bedford, at 813 feet above sea level. The lowest point in the Sanctuary is 445 feet above sea level, allowing roughly a 370-difference in elevation. This allows hikers to challenge themselves with steeper hiking trails. The trail is recently open to the public and Westmoreland has already begun to receive very positive feedback.

These efforts and accomplishments are in line with Westmoreland Sanctuary’s over 65 year-old mission to acquire, enrich, and preserve land for the free use, education, and enjoyment of the public. Westmoreland Sanctuary works with local and regional organizations, including Westchester Land Trust and the NY/NJ Trail Conference, to service the growing needs of the community and the increasing demands of protecting the native flora and fauna.

Donations to the costs of maintaining the land, such as signage and acquisition costs, would be greatly appreciated. To donate: https://westmorelandsanctuary.org/donations/

About Westmoreland Sanctuary
The Sanctuary acquired its first land donation of 85 acres in 1968. Over time, land continued to be acquired, and today, the preserve maintains 669 acres and 8.5 miles of hiking trails. In 1973 a 1700s meeting house was reconstructed and now serves as a Nature Museum. Both are free and open to the public seven days a week all year. Westmoreland uses both the land and Museum to educate about the conservation of native flora and fauna. The Sanctuary educates over 8,000 participants and hosts over 35,000 visitors each year. The Sanctuary is a designated site of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and maintains a platinum status on Candid (GuideStar).To reach us call (914) 666-8448 or email info@westmorelandsanctuary.org or visit us at www.westmorelandsanctuary.org .

About Westchester Land Trust
Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development. Founded in 1988, WLT has preserved 9,000 acres of open space. More than 1,000 acres of land are owned by the organization, which are free and open to the public year-round. WLT was one of the first land trusts in the nation to receive accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information visit https://www.westchesterlandtru...

About New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer-powered organization that builds, maintains, and protects public trails. Together with our partners, we strive to ensure that the trails and natural areas we share are sustainable and accessible for all to enjoy for generations to come. https://www.nynjtc.org/about-us