BURRILLVILLE – The Burrillville Land Trust is shaking off the winter blues, according to members, with a bunch of exciting events coming up in May and June.
The first is an exhibit dubbed, “Stories from the Land,” on display at Jesse Smith Memorial Library from Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 26. Stories and photographs documenting local land owners efforts to preserve their properties will will be available for viewing on the halls of the facility anytime during regular library hours.
On Tuesday, May 16, organizers will celebrate the new exhibit at the Land Trust’s Seed Swap and annual meeting at the library at 100 Tinkham Lane. Learn about the land trust and the organization’s effort to save Sweet’s Hill, and hear from guest speaker Colleen Cronin, an ecoRI news staff reporter, who will talk about how land use is written.
“Hear insights as to how environmental reporting shapes the landscape throughout the state and especially here in northern Rhode Island,” notes a release on the event.
The reception will take place from 5:45 to 7 p.m., and will include light refreshments, and a wide variety of seeds available for the picking. Participants are encouraged to hear the stories from those who want to save their land from the wrecking ball, while swapping seeds of tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, flowers and more, provided by URI Extension Service and Ocean State Job Lot. Save Sweet’s Hill lawn signs will also be available, and the annual election of officers will take place at 6 p.m.
No registration is required for the free event, which is open to the public, though donations are appreciated.
On Saturday, May 27, it’s “Boots, Cameras, Beer and Action,” from 1 to 4 p.m., when Land Trust President Paul Roselli leads a hike along the Clear River Preserve in Pascoag. Participants are encouraged to bring phones and cameras and Roselli will demonstrate auto focus, selective focus, and ways to control exposure, taking photos of mountain laurel, pond creatures and other animals along the way on the mile-long hike.
After the hike, the group will meet at Bravo Brewing in Pascoag to show off the images with projector and screen. A cash bar and refreshments from food trucks and local take out restaurants will be available.
Registration is required here, and donations will be accepted.
The Save Sweet’s Hill Golf Tournament will take place on Friday, June 2, with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and 18 holes of golf, followed by a luncheon with a BBQ buffet, coffee and pastries. Sponsorships are available and there will be prizes for low scores, longest drive and closest to the pin. Non players are invited to attend the just the luncheon, with all proceeds to benefit the land trust’s efforts to purchase and steward the Sweet’s Hill property.
For more information on the tournament, call Roberta at (401) 368-0930.
Finally, on Thursday, June 15, the Land Trust will host the One Room Schoolhouse and Ice Cream Social from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Join volunteers from the Burrillville Land Trust and Rhode Island Lego Artist Andrew Grover as they unveil the Legos version of the One Room Schoolhouse on Eagle Peak Road. Ice cream truck Mumsies will provide ice cream with dairy and vegan options, compliments of the Burrillville Land Trust.
The One Room Schoolhouse Lego project is funded in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and funds from the land trust. Tours of the grounds and the life-size stone schoolhouse will be available. Learn how a conservation easement program saved the building and land from being demolished.
Guests are asked to register here, send an email to burrillvillelandtrustfriends@gmail.com, or just show up to the unveiling.
Most of the events are free and open to all ages .
For more details visit the Burrillville Land Trust on Facebook, go to EventBrite and search for events sponsored by the Burrillville Land Trust, or send a note to burrillvillelandtrustfriends@gmail.com.
