- Introducing the Alice Fern Bruce Preserve -

In December of 2019, the Berlin Land Trust purchased 47 acres of pristine land on Lamentation Mountain to preserve in perpetuity. The property is very close to other open space property that has, in large part, already been protected. Its purchase is the culmination of a long-term, co-operative program of open space protection on the historic mountain, which began about fifty years ago. It is one of the final pieces of the puzzle needed to protect the entire Lamentation Mountain ecosystem.

The Alice Fern Bruce Preserve is located above the abandoned Stantack Road at the intersection of Middletown and Berlin. The significance of this parcel is magnified by its central, interior location, and the fact that it is very well buffered on all sides by other undeveloped land. The land contains five distinct critical habitats, three basalt ridges and easy access to the Connecticut Blue Blazed Trail. The cliff line, described by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association  as "perhaps the most scenic traprock ridge walk in the state", is a prominent feature- visible for miles.

“This piece of property has it all, critical habitats for raptors, box turtles and other wildlife, 

a rare and state-threatened Swamp Cottonwood grove, 

and cliffs and ridgelines that offer sweeping views of central Connecticut” 

 Sigrun Gadwa, Ecologist, Carya Ecological Services 

Ms. Gadwa performed a detailed ecological assessment that gave the Berlin Land Trust the information they needed to submit an impressive open space grant application to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). It was our first-ever grant to DEEP and we were fortunately awarded funding by the state that payed for 65% of the appraised property value.  The trust then raised funds to pay for the difference and the additional costs required by the state for a boundary survey and signage for the property.