Priority Preservation Areas in Bolton

The Blackledge River Corridor

The land trust has preserved about 33 acres along the Blackledge River Corridor.  The headwaters of the Blackledge River are located in Bolton, near the Fish Farm on Bolton Center Road. The river and its accompanying wetlands have excellent water quality and and are home to a wide variety of wildlife. The river's water quality is rated Class A by the CT DEEP. 

Unfragmented Forest in Southeast Bolton

The Bolton Land Trust owns a 90-acre parcel, the Lombardi Ridge Preserve. A 1.5 mile trail is open to the public. Park on High Ridge Road and access the trail via the gravel road.

This area has been identified by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s Connecticut Resource Protection Mapping Project as containing more than 500 acres of unfragmented forest (significant because certain species of wildlife, such as bobcats, bears and fishers, require large tracts of unbroken woodland to flourish)

Farms
Bolton began as a farming community and its residents are lucky to still enjoy the beauty and bounty of many of the original farms. Almost 600 acres of farm land in Bolton is still used for agriculture, and much of Bolton’s aesthetic beauty is defined by these farms.
The future of these farms is in doubt, however, as pressures for residential development mount. The Bolton Land Trust would like to assist farm owners in planning for the future of their property that accommodates personal circumstances and preserves some of Bolton’s agricultural heritage.

Forested Land in Southwest Bolton: One of the “Last Great Places” in Connecticut
The Nature Conservancy has identified the southwest corner of Bolton as lying within one of its “Last Great Places” in Connecticut. Situated in the Meshomasic Forest Landscape, this area is part of a 17,483-acre forest spanning seven towns. The Bolton Land Trust would like to help Bolton landowners understand how their land fits into this larger planning effort and to help with preservation options here.