THE CHESTER LAND TRUST

​Chester, Connecticut

Chester Land Trust board member volunteers work in partnership with residents and Town officials to identify land that has conservation possibilities, and determine if and how the acquisition of such parcel could benefit both the Town residents and others in the community. ›› more

2026 Annual Meeting
​and 2027 Membership Drive 

Click map to enlarge.​

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Annual Memberships
& Donations

Volunteers

Protecting irreplaceable forests, farmlands, wetlands and wildlife

for the purpose of enjoying our natural resources, open spaces 

and unique environment for present and future generations.

Click HERE ​
​to join and support 
The Chester Land Trust

Who We Are

SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

• Mission Statement •

The Chester Land Trust is a volunteer non-profit organization established in 1987. Currently, the Land Trust has 87 gifted or donated preserve acres and an additional 6.7 purchased acres which is the Motley preserve.
​›› more

How Land ​is ​Acquired

2026​​ CLT Properties

Carini Preserve

Scudder Preserve

Burr Brook Preserve

Duck Pond Preserve

Piquet Preserve

Wood Preserve

Chester Creek Preserve

Waterhouse Brook Preserve

Rayner Preserve

Gateway Preserve

Constance Baker Motley Preserve

​Lakeview Avenue Preserve
​The Old Tannery Preserve
Melillo Preserve

​The Pines Easement
Brooks Lane, Liberty Ridge Easement
Bush Conservation Easement




"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Rachel Carson

CLT Map 600w

Latest News

​​Chester Land Trust (CLT) will enter its 40th year of operation in 2027. We deeply appreciate the support that you have provided over the years. Together, we have been able to preserve 14 open space properties and provided opportunities for people to connect with nature in a variety of peaceful settings. 

Your support has allowed us to expand the onsite parking areas at Carini Preserve and the adjacent Scudder Preserve, develop a ½ mile loop hiking trail (“The Oak Tree Loop Trail”) at Piquet Preserve, and initiate a project called the “Rayner Preserve Adaptation Project” at Rayner Preserve. The main goals of this project are to provide safe access and onsite parking at the Preserve, which has a 650-foot section of Pattaconk Brook running through it. Your support will allow us to maximize this opportunity to make Rayner Preserve a special place to visit.

Since we are an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to CLT are critical for our continued operation. They are deductible from Federal taxes.

CLT Annual Meeting
Our Annual Meeting will take place at the Chester Meeting House on November 21, 2026, starting at 3 PM. The meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.  We are delighted that Janet Cunningham, Owner and Tour Guide, Wanderlust Ecotours, has agreed to give a presentation called “The Web of Life at Chester Creek.” Join us for a visual tour of Chester Creek's ecosystems from the shaded riparian forests down to the freshwater tidal marsh and into the Connecticut River. We’ll dive into how the watershed works, spotlight the native plants that anchor the creek and meet the birds and mammals that call it home. 

2027 Membership Drive
Membership categories and corresponding donation amounts for 2027 are the same as they have been for many years. You can donate by 1) sending a check made out to Chester Land Trust and sending it to P.O. Box 82 or use the on-line payment system on this website. Click the “Membership/Contact Us” tab near the top of the website page, select “Contact Us” and then “Become a Member” to access the payment system. Although we use an on-line system from PayPal, you do not need to have a PayPal account to pay Membership Fees or make a donation using a credit card. Donations in any amount can be made and would be greatly appreciated !!! 

Preserving Open Spaces​

Chester Land Trust Video Tour

- Join us on our journey -