Kicking off DNRT’s 50th year!

We are thrilled to be able to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2021 and kicked off the year with a Happy Birthday Walk on January 9. The walk took place at the Slocum’s River Reserve, and the adjoining Grosswendt Reserve, DNRT’s first acquired property. The Grosswendt Reserve was donated to DNRT in 1971 by Carl & Phyllis Grosswendt (Carl was a founding Board member of DNRT). The property is comprised of 17 acres of salt marsh, with two small upland “islands.”  These islands are oblong in shape and are dominated by stunted oaks in the interior and bayberry and marsh elder along the perimeter. The marsh is predominantly cordgrass, with pockets of spike grass, sea lavender, and black rush, and seaside goldenrod interspersed throughout.

Now, 50 years later, over 800 acres on the Slocum’s River is protected through conservation restrictions on private property and ownership by conservation organizations, including DNRT, the Lloyd Center, and the state.  In particular, except for one 200-foot gap, the entire west bank of the Slocum’s River is protected from the Grosswendt Reserve to the mouth of the river – that’s over 5 miles of riverfront!   Furthermore, all the small islands in the river are either owned by DNRT or otherwise permanently protected.

Since our humble beginnings in 1971, DNRT has:

• protected over 5, 500 acres of land
• acquired over 50 Reserves
• created 40 miles of trails on 19 of the aforementioned Reserves and opened them to the public
• grown to over 1,300 members
• worked with hundreds of volunteers
• engaged thousands of people and families through our Reserves and programs

Thank you so much for your support over the years! We hope you will join us as we celebrate ALL YEAR LONG!