Help Simsbury Group Clean Up/Beautify The Local Environment

Simsbury Green Coalition

SIMSBURY, CT — A local organization espousing the virtues of sustainability and environmental activism has a busy rest of April ahead — just in time for spring to start heating up.

The Simsbury Green Coalition has several events planned in the community, all with an eye toward the planet and the town many call home.

Among the events planned are:

• Saturday, April 19: Invasive Plant Workshop, 9 to 11 a.m. • Simsbury Farms, Apple Barn, 60 Old Farms Road.

Learn how to ID invasive plants and why they need to be removed from our properties.

After a 45-minute presentation, folks will head out to the Simsbury Farms Exercise Trail for hands-on experience on how to remove these plants from our own properties.

Bring loppers, garden gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protection, bug spray, and water.

Workshop is sponsored by Simsbury Land Trust, Simsbury Conservation Commission, and Simsbury Open Space Committee.

Contact director@simsburylandtrust.org for more information or to volunteer.

• Tuesay, April 22: "Soil. It’s Not Just Dirt" at 7 p.m. at the Simsbury United Methodist Church, 799 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury.

Simsbury Land Trust President Margery Winters will speak. Sponsored by the Simsbury Pollinator Pathway.

• Wednesday, April 23: Film: "Return of the Old Growth Forest," featuring Simsbury Land Trust President Margery Winters, 6:30 p.m. • Simsbury Public Library, Friends Room

The second film, "Return of the Old Growth Forest," describes the characteristics and the importance of old-growth northeastern forests.

Director Ray Asslin and Margery Winters will both be available for questions after the film.

Those who missed the first film “Lost Forests of New England” can see it at naturedocumentaries.org.

• April 25-27: Join the Farmington River Watershed Association and partners in Farmington River volunteer clean-up opportunities. See the date and sites here.

• April 26 (April 27 rain date): Burning bush removal workday at Onion Mountain Park, 9 a.m. to Noon, 71 W. Mountain Road, West Simsbury.

Volunteer efforts are underway to eliminate and control further spread of the invasive burning bush that are taking over Onion Mountain Park.

This is a big project and many hands are needed. No prior experience is needed – just a willingness to pitch in to help restore the ecological health of the park.

Bring loppers, garden gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protection, bug spray, and water.

Sponsored by the Simsbury Conservation Commission, Simsbury Open Space Committee and Simsbury Land Trust.

Contact director@simsburylandtrust.org for more information or to volunteer.

• May 3: Simsbury Sustainability Fair — The Simsbury Public Library and the Simsbury Sustainability Committee are hosting a "Sustainability Fair" with dozens of clean energy and efficiency contractors, environmental groups, arts activities for kids of all ages, and good food.

The leaflet for the event is here.