Written by Mark Twain Library- May 2015
Fifty years of the Redding Land Trust’s highlights and heroes are on display at the Mark Twain Library through the month of May and visitors are invited to get a feel for the organization that has worked so diligently to preserve land in town.
The Land Trust got its start in 1965 when it received a gift of four acres of high woodland on Wayside Lane. Today, it encompasses almost 1,800 acres of preserved open space: woodlands and wetlands, splashing streams and quiet ponds, sweeping vistas across open meadows—all kept safe for generations to come.
“Thanks to those who have put their land in trust with us over the decades, and the hundreds of Redding citizens who donate money each year, we continue to keep Redding the green oasis we all love,” said President Mary Anne Guitar.
The display, which was put together by Redding Land Trustee Silvia Erskine, includes mounted black and white photos of some of the Trust’s early donors and supporters, which were taken by Elyse Shapiro of Bethel, as well as important documents from the Trust’s history. The display also includes different editions of the Trust’s Book of Trails, which is on sale at the Library for $10, maps, brochures and newspaper clips from major the highpoints of the Trust’s history.
