Join CLT in our mission to preserve Charlestown’s open space and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community. The land trust preserves and protects the distinctive character of our local area through acquisition and management of open space.
Dear CLT Supporters and Friends,
As spring unfolds, it’s been lovely to see color returning to our landscapes—and to celebrate Earth Day together throughout April. From cleanups and guided walks to community events, it was a pleasure to spend time together in support of the places we all love.
We’re looking ahead to a full May calendar of events that continue to connect people with the local landscape. Our Writing About Place series begins this week—a partnership with the Hopkinton Land Trust, Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Cross Mills Public Library, and Earthinform Studio. The series invites participants to slow down, observe, and reflect on how the places around us shape the way we see and tell stories—and how that awareness can inspire stewardship. We hope you’ll consider joining us for a workshop or guided walk.
We’re also excited to share that two new Poetry of the Wild installations will be added to Mill Pond Preserve this month. The boxes, created by local artists Brian O’Connor and Marty Parker using sustainable materials, feature poetry by Susan Killingbeck.
As always, our all-volunteer Board continues to be hard at work—monitoring properties and water quality, advancing land conservation efforts, and supporting a range of ongoing projects. Our Stewardship crew is also going strong, with regular trail maintenance work parties helping to care for and improve our preserves. If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you—please reach out to be added to our work party list.
We hope to see you out there! In the meantime, thank you for being part of this work.
With gratitude,
All of us here at CLT
From May 7th through May 28th, CLT is excited to participate in a collaborative writing workshop and guided hike series exploring how landscape, memory, and ecology shape story and voice. These sessions highlight the value of careful observation and listening, as well as the importance of writing about the places where we live. Deepening our relationship with place through writing can also strengthen our understanding of why conservation and stewardship matter.
Writers of all experience levels are welcome, and all sessions and walks are free to attend. Learn more about the series and preregister for specific events here:
May 7th: Introduction and Reading by Wanda Hopkins, Grace Farrell, and Miles Hardingwood, 5:30pm at Cross’ Mills Public Library
May 14th: Workshop with Wanda Hopkins, 5:30pm at Cross’ Mills Public Library
May 16th: Guided Hike with Hopkinton Land Trust, 10am at Canonchet Brook Preserve
May 21st: Workshop with Grace Farrell, 5:30pm at Cross’ Mills Public Library
May 23rd: Guided Hike with Charlestown Land Trust, 10am at Mill Pond Preserve (details below)
May 28th: Workshop with Miles Hardingwood, 5:30pm at Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Headquarters
Join us for a guided hike at Mill Pond Preserve as part of the Writing About Place series. This walk, led by Keith Killingbeck, will include stops at two Poetry of the Wild installations featuring poems by Susan Killingbeck. Along the way, participants will have time to pause, reflect, and try their own writing inspired by the landscape, with prompts by local author Grace Farrell, as well as engage with conservation land in a more direct, experiential way.
📅 Date: Saturday, May 23rd (Rain Date: May 24th)
🕒 Time: 10am
📍 Location: Mill Pond Preserve, 4962 South County Trail, Charlestown, RI
🎟️ Free and open to all. RSVP here.
Stop by and say hello to CLT Board members at Family Day with the Founders, part of the Town of Charlestown’s 250th Celebration. Join us at the General Stanton Inn on June 14 from 1 to 4pm for an afternoon of family-friendly activities, local history, and community connection. We’ll have a table set up and would love to connect—whether you’re interested in learning more about our work, getting involved, or just coming by to chat.
Save the date! Join us on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 from 6–8pm (doors open at 5:30pm), rain or shine, at The Nordic in Charlestown for a summer evening to remember. Enjoy live music by Jus Tus, a raw bar, dinner, and a lively celebration—all in support of conservation work in Charlestown. Stay tuned for ticket information. Business sponsorships are also available—please reach out to learn more.