Westchester Land Trust enhances the habitat at the Frederick P. Rose Preserve in Lewisboro

On Sunday, March 15th, a group of approximately 15 volunteers gathered at the Westchester Land Trust’s 115-acre Frederick P. Rose Preserve on Rt. 121 in Lewisboro to enhance the natural habitat of a unique blueberry orchard.

The orchard consists of dozens of very large highbush blueberry bushes that were once cultivated but have since been neglected. The volunteers pruned the bushes to give them new life and encourage them to grow more fruit for wildlife and humans!

This effort is just one of several major initiatives planned at the Preserve this year. WLT will also increase the size of the meadow at the Preserve to help its plants and animals thrive, as well as reclaim the Brady Farm Trail by removing 200’ of encroaching invasive shrubs. These projects have been made possible thanks to the generosity of Sandra Priest Rose as well as Adam R. Rose and Peter R. McQuillan.

Founded in 1988, WLT works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity, and to protect and enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam County. WLT’s conservation efforts impact the long term health of these communities through protection of watershed areas, air quality, and food supply. In total, WLT has approximately 7,500 acres of open space including more than 660 acres of preserves owned by the organization.

Photo Cut-line: James Best of Pound Ridge prunes one of the dozens of very large highbush blueberry bushes at the Westchester Land Trust’s Frederick P. Rose Preserve in Lewisboro.