Connecticut’s Greenwich Land Trust needed an eight-acre parcel of land to connect 165 acres of protected open space along the Byram River—and Sacred Heart Greenwich (CT) is donating that land.“We are excited to contribute to the preservation of such a unique and precious resource that is so important to the community,” says Pamela Juan Hayes, head of the all-girls’ school. “We are pleased to partner with Greenwich Land Trust and be part of their tradition of open-space protection and stewardship. This gift underscores the foundational principles of Sacred Heart Greenwich’s mission, which includes teaching respect for creation and preparing our students to be stewards of the Earth’s resources, while building a global awareness of the issues surrounding human development.”
The new preserve, while varied in habitat and topography, is dominated by a forest of eastern hemlock and chestnut oak growing among steep slopes and rock outcrops. Its many large, mature trees form a dense canopy that help reduce the opportunity for invasive plants to become established.
The school will retain access to the Byram River for its lower, middle, and upper schools’ science classes to enable students to study the natural environment. “The science teachers are looking forward to this new partnership with the Land Trust to continue studies of wildlife, invasive species, ecological systems, water-quality monitoring, trout conservation, as well as other independent projects in our award-winning Science Research Program,” say Amy Dillane and Mary Musolino, upper school science department co-chairs.
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