Yale Graduate Finds Treasures At Greenleaf Preserve

By Kendra Bobowick

The threads of Yale graduate student and Sandy Hook resident Marlyse Duguid’s research stitch together history, ecology, conservation, and unexpected discoveries found on the lush Greenleaf Farms Preserve’s wetland habitat.

“It’s a fascinating story,” said Newtown Forest Association (NFA) President Bob Eckenrode. With her thesis paper in mind, Ms Duguid said, “I wanted to learn what was there … so I chose that spot.”

Her work at inventorying and recommending planned maintenance for the site is a valuable gift for the NFA.

“It’s [something] we’ve wanted to do on [all] of our properties,” Mr Eckenrode said. “Through science and research, she has documented the history and its value.” The NFA land trust owns more than 1,000 acres of land and open space in Newtown, including the more than 33 acres at Greenleaf, located on Greenleaf Farms Road, west of Poverty Hollow Road.

Impressed with the work Ms Duguid conducted for her master’s degree in forestry and horticulture, Mr Eckenrode said, “The magic that’s happening is the evaluation of the open space.” Her research was “way beyond the requirements. This was a bright star. We were thrilled,” he said.

The roughly 33 acres of meadow, wetland soils, and streams connects with other open space properties owned by the state, private entities, and the town to add up to nearly 100 acres. Sandwiched in a neighborhood of paved streets and manicured lawns, the preserve is the remainder of land that was once Platt’s Farm.

The property took an unusual turn in the years since the land had been farmed. Ms Duguid noted that for one, Greenleaf has remained open while much of Connecticut’s former Colonial farm fields have succumbed to development or reverted back to forests.

“When you have farms that are abandoned,” she explained, the open land lapses into a meadow, then shrubbery returns, and eventually the tract grows into forest. “But, a lot has been developed,” she pointed out. “So there is little early successional habitat left. Either we have cultivated landscapes, or forest.”

The habitat such as the meadow and various forms of wetlands found at Greenleaf “are good for the birds” and for wildlife, she said. “That’s why this property is so important — it’s unusual.”

Deputy Director of Planning and Land Use Rob Sibley said, “That land is wonderful. It’s an island ecosystem that doesn’t normally exist.”

Elaborating on Ms Duguid’s description of a successional habitat, he said that nature somehow skipped the Greenleaf area where former farmland would turn to forest, which in many areas has been cut down for development. Where “certain trees” would normally “dominate the forest,” this step was “held up, stuck in the middle.” He surmises that flooding, soil quality, geographical, hydrological, or other natural properties could attribute to the property’s suspended development.

Noting the Greenleaf features, Mr Sibley said, “It has nice characteristics; it’s a wet meadow.” To have such a habitat cared for is “wonderful,” from a natural resources perspective, he said. Ms Duguid’s work is “top-notch,” he said, glad that the NFA and Ms Duguid are doing this work.

History Highlights

Ms Duguid’s study reaches back to the 1800s when the land belonged to the Platt family. According to her research, in the 20th Century Theron Platt (1848–1927) was a scientific farmer responsible for breeding a blight-free potato, and his son Philo (1880–1926) became the first Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture from Newtown.

“When Theron died in 1927, the Greenleaf parcel passed to his heirs,” according to Ms Duguid’s report. “The parcel continued as an agricultural piece of land for several decades, and changed hands several times until in 1967 investment banker and New Yorker Dan Lufkin purchased the farm. He is best known as the founder of Earth Day, and his hand in developing the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.”

He later sold the land, which had been slated for development. In 1989 Greenleaf Associates owned the preserve and much of the surrounding areas. Her report indicates that per requirements, wetland areas had to be set aside as open space.

“An area of approximately 30 acres of wetland soil, steep slopes, and streams was chosen for protection,” Ms Duguied wrote. On April 19, 1989, Greenleaf Associates donated the acres to NFA. Much of the remaining farm is now developed, with some smaller farms or wooded areas remaining.

As stipulated in the deed, the property will remain a sanctuary that is mowed or hayed only twice a year.

According to Town Historian Dan Cruson, and accounts from Newtown Historical Society, the Greenleaf property, 66 acres now belonging to NFA, was once the Platt family homestead built around 1800. The farmhouse still stands on Poverty Hollow Road and is the house associated with what would later be renamed the Atlasta Farm, owned by the Bickfords “of Bickford Restaurant fame,” Mr Cruson said.

The fields where Theron Platt did his crossbreeding potato experiments, for which he received international recognition, are now developed.

Research

Ms Duguid’s report details the background and geological characteristics comprising Greenleaf, itemizes its soils, and delves into its topography and hydrology. Her report gives a complete picture of the vegetation and habitat and resources present at Greenleaf. Informal studies led to wildlife inventories based on sightings, tracks, and other evidence. The meadows support “healthy populations” of insects and butterflies. She notes large populations of deer and squirrels, and has seen evidence of coyotes, and a variety of birds.

The preserve contains grasslands, forested wetlands, deciduous forest, and evergreen forest. She writes at length about the forest and meadow characteristics, the land features including streams. She details the various plant species, including invasives.

A Look Ahead

Management recommendations for the property include a professional boundary survey, modified mowing regime, wildlife enhancements, education and outreach, recreation capacity, and invasive species mitigation.

“A professional boundary survey will protect the NFA from any risk of future encroachment or boundary disputes,” Ms Duguid states in her report.

Regarding mowing, she suggests that the walking path and mowed area in the southwest should not be mowed in the future, allowing the area to become a larger buffer for the stream. The eastern area should not be mowed either.

“Every effort should be made to let the buffer and forest expand in this area,” she recommended. The habitat will also remain prime for birds’ nesting periods.

“Birds are the most valued wildlife species group at Greenleaf,” wrote Duguid, who suggests installing nesting boxes. Such wildlife also needs “an evergreen element,” she wrote. Certain species of trees provide thermal cover and food for the birds. Hardwood is beginning to invade, she warned. “Without intervention the pines will stagnate.”

The property’s diversity is also ideal for educational programs, and includes room for a kiosk, which can be as simple as a single sign, proposed Ms Duguid, who also indicated that “interpretive trails” can offer guests a tour of ecosystems and habitats on the property.

Recreation on the property should be carefully considered, according to Ms Duguid.

Trails should be planned and natural resources should be clearly marked, she adds.

Mr Eckenrode indicated that the NFA will be using Marlyse Duguid’s inventory report and recommendations to “implement Phase Two of our plans for Greenleaf Farms Preserve.” Phase One was started in 2006-2007 by Cara-Leigh Wilson and Mr Eckenrode as an initial stewardship management plan that identified this property as a diverse ecosystem with native and invasive plants species, a large meadow, and forest habitat.

The parcel contains water courses “that are the headwaters for the Aspetuck watershed reservoir system in Redding and Easton,” he pointed out.

“This property will serve as a wildlife preserve for educational purposes with access limited to specific areas via an established trail system and an informational kiosk explaining its wildlife and water quality value to our community’s ecosystem,” said Mr Eckenrode

Newtown Forest Association welcomes volunteer natural resource expertise in continuing its stewardship efforts on all properties it oversees. Gardeners, tree experts, trail walkers, etc “are all folks we are looking to help us,” said Mr Eckenrode.

NFA is Newtown’s largest private open space land owner with 1,000-plus acres and more than 100 properties. The association continues to focus on maintaining the health and rural character of these wild places within town, and values the support it has in neighborhoods all over Newtown.

For more information about Newtown Forest Association or to read a copy of Ms Duguid’s report, visit www.NewtownForestAssociation.org or call 203-270-3650.