Avery Farm is part of a critical large block of diverse wildlife habitats highlighted on the State of Connecticut Natural Diversity Database maps: grasslands, hedgerows, early successional forest, oak-hemlock-hickory upland forest, Atlantic white cedar swamp, a habitat managed power utility corridor, forested peatlands, kettle type bogs, poor fens, multiple seeps, several Tier I vernal pools, Ed Lamb Brook, Haley Brook, and the southern portion of a 38-acre marsh.
A north-south ridge extends to Candlewood Ridge. Wooded swamps and seeps provide storm water storage, filtration, groundwater recharge, and flood control for vulnerable areas downstream. A colonial stone slab bridge crosses the Haley Brook.
To the west, Avery Farm is characteristically rugged with ledges, steep cliffs, rocky outcrops, large boulder fields, and glacial erratics. The watershed here feeds west towards the Ledyard/Groton reservoir system, through seeps and overland flows.
To the east, the Avery Farm watershed flows into Haley Brook, Mystic River and onto Long Island Sound.
The Avery Farm property is contiguous to the 91-acre Candlewood Ridge property, Groton and Ledyard town-owned open spaces, and to the Town of Groton conservation easement on a 7-acre former cranberry bog. Combined, over 430 acres of habitat area are available for wildlife and watershed protection.
Established in 1967, Groton Open Space Association (GOSA) protects and preserves our local forests, streams, and wildlife by acquiring, improving, and maintaining open space properties. These spaces are made available to the community for passive recreation, education, and to foster an appreciation of nature.
Avery Farm was acquired in December of 2015, funded by member donations, community clubs, local organizations, businesses, local and national foundations, the Town of Ledyard, and grants from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program, and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Program.
From Ledyard Center, go east and then south on Colonel Ledyard Highway and continue for about 3 miles. Then turn right (west) onto Lambtown Road. After about 0.5 mile, the parking lot and trailhead is on theleft.
A dirt parking lot is located at the end of Groton’s Lambtown Road. From I-95, take Exit 88 and turn north on Route 117. Turn right/east onto Route 184 for about 1 mile, then turn left onto Lambtown Road. Follow Lambtown Road to the transmission line and park on the dirt parking lot shortly after that clearing. Thereafter, Lambtown Road Extension is a private road, please respect private property.
Success! A new password has been emailed to you.
