News from the Connecticut Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation

drawing courtesy of

News from the Connecticut Chapter
 Dr. Fred Paillet

of The American Chestnut Foundation
Winter/Spring 2020

 Our mission is restoration of the American chestnut in the State of Connecticut

President’s Letter
 Looking back over this past year, to add back the missing genes by breeding program, planned to bring
I have realized how much our chapter crossing trees that have less than 5% the American chestnut tree back. Over
has had to diversify our approach to Chinese genetic composition with the years, scientific advancements in
saving the American chestnut tree. At various hybrid trees of greater Chinese genetics and technology have given
our annual membership meeting we or Japanese heritage to continue the us new tools to incorporate into our
heard Dr. Jared Westbrook summarize backcross process. Further selections efforts. TACF has been instrumental
the genetic analysis of our backcross in our orchards will be steered by blight in funding the complete sequencing
breeding program. While the initial challenge, phenotypic characteristics of the American chestnut genome and
intent of our founders was to have a and also genetic composition. Since is currently funding the same for the
15/16ths American chestnut tree with Connecticut has a sizeable collection of Chinese chestnut, to better understand
enough blight resistance to return to hybrid chestnut trees at the Connecticut the role of genetics in blight resistance.
the forests, the data showed that in Agricultural Experiment Station as well Our foundation has incorporated
many of our trees, not enough Chinese as other locations, our chapter will also genetic analysis into maximizing blight
genes were present to convey the be instrumental in identifying hybrid resistance in our backcross orchards.
desired level of resistance. In July at trees that could potentially be used for According to Dr. Jared Westbrook,
the TACF Chapters Science Meeting, additional lines of resistance in our TACF Director of Science, “Since 2015,
he presented the Foundation’s plan backcross breeding program. TACF and collaborators have spent over
 $1.8 million in genomics initiatives
 Our chapter has also committed
 to accelerate selection in the breeding
 to supporting the Foundation’s 3BUR
 program, map genes for resistance, and
 strategy: Breeding, Biotechnology
 understand how chestnut trees adapt to
 and Biocontrol United for Resistance.
 climate”. Genomic funding has become
 A big part of that will include the
 up to 22% of TACF’s total annual
 deregulation of the transgenic chestnut
 expenditures. The best way for us to
 tree developed at SUNY-ESF. In
 continue supporting these scientific
 November they submitted a Petition for
 advancements is by regularly renewing
 Determination of Regulatory Status with
 your membership in TACF, or if you are
 USDA-APHIS. After the submission is
 not yet a member, please consider doing
 reviewed for completeness, the petition
 so. Continued membership will build
 will be made public on the Federal
 the strongest Foundation to grow with
 Register and it will open up a 60-day
 the changing landscape of American
 public comment period. When the
 chestnut restoration.
 public comment period opens, we will
 be contacting our members to encourage -- Jack Swatt
 writing to the USDA-APHIS in support
 President, CT-TACF
 of this petition for deregulating. I
 strongly think that this may give our
 program a giant leap forward towards
The female flowers in the foreground
 our goal of returning a blight resistant
are overshadowed by the male’s showy
inflorescence display. The male catkins American chestnut tree to the forest.
(rear) have been removed from the flower
stalks exposing the female flowers (front)
 When TACF was founded there
Photo by Jack Swatt was only one strategy, the backcross

CT Chapter of TACF Page 1 www.acf.org/ct

Eversource Works with CT-TACF to Pollinate American Chestnut Trees
By Jack Swatt of the tree services to help with this possibly due to pollination timing,
 During the 2018 growing season project. Lewis Tree Service as well weather or a host of other factors. In
several mature bur-producing American as representatives from CT-TACF total, 32 nuts were collected from the
chestnut trees were reported to CT- (Jack Swatt and Richard Wilhelm) Nehantic trees. Eversource Arborist
TACF. One tree on West Flag Swamp and Eversource Arborist David Boyle Bear LeVangie also was able to help
Rd. in Roxbury produced sterile nuts visited the Roxbury tree twice in late coordinate Asplundh to collect burs
inside the burs indicating that there June and early July to first identify the from a pair of open pollinated trees
was not another flowering chestnut tree female flowers and place protective bags growing close to a road in North Granby
nearby to supply pollen for the female over them, and then a second time when retrieving 129 burs which yielded 213
flowers. Another tree in Nehantic State the flowers were ready for pollination. chestnuts from the two trees. The
Forest in East Lyme was producing burs When Distinctive Tree Care met us at CT chapter of TACF would like to
but we were unable to visit the tree early the Nehantic tree, the female flowers thank Eversource, Lewis Tree Service,
enough in the fall to determine if the nuts were already mature enough to pollinate Distinctive Tree Care, Asplundh Tree
were pollinated. Since the trees were on the initial visit. CT-TACF volunteers Expert Company and our volunteers
accessible by bucket truck, we contacted Ginny Patsun, Michael Gaffey, Jack for working together to help preserve
Eversource in the spring of 2019 to see Ostroff as well as Eversource Arborist American chestnut diversity through
if they could help us bring pollen from Susan Stotts performed the pollination. this project. We would also like to thank
other flowering trees, up to the female Once pollinated the trees were not the State DEEP for granting permission
flowers of these two trees and ensure that visited again until late September when to perform the controlled pollination
they can pass on their genes to future both respective crews returned to collect and collect the chestnuts from Nehantic
American chestnut generations. the bags with the ripening burs inside. State Forest as well as other state-owned
 Eversource utilizes tree services such When the burs were allowed to dry properties. 
as Lewis Tree Service, Asplundh Tree and open, the chestnuts inside were
Expert Company and Distinctive Tree collected and prepared for winter
Care for their tree work. Eversource’s storage. In the spring many of the seeds
Vegetation Management Supervisor, will be planted in our first Germplasm
Doug Pistawka was able to schedule Conservation Orchards (GCO) and the
time with their arborists and each rest will be potted to supply rootstock
 for future grafting and other TACF
 projects. Since three different trees
 were used to supply pollen for the
 Roxbury tree, the three sets of nuts
 harvested will have greater genetic
 diversity than if a single tree was used
 for pollen. A total of 221 nuts were
 collected from that tree. Only one
 source of pollen was used to manually
 pollinate the Nehantic tree, but on the
 day of harvest, CT DEEP Forester
 Emery Gluck led us to a second large
 American chestnut tree nearby that also
 contained many burs. Although that tree
 was not accessible by the bucket truck,
 the harvesting team was able to collect
 some burs with a pruner. Back at the
 original tree, in addition to the bags of
 burs pollinated manually, several other
 burs were collected which contained
CT-TACF volunteer Michael Gaffey removes chestnuts that were open pollenated Scott Hall of Lewis Tree Service prepares the
the male catkins from the chestnut flower Roxbury tree for pollination while CT-TACF
cluster to expose the female flowers - Photo by the newly found second chestnut volunteer Richard Wilhelm (R) and Doug
by Jack Swatt tree. The yield from the Nehantic trees Pistawka (L) from Eversource observe from
 unfortunately was lower than expected, below - Photo by Jack Swatt

CT Chapter of TACF Page 2 www.acf.org/ct

Jim Gage - Stepping down from his position as Chapter’s Treasurer
By Richard Bailey, CT-TACF Director orchard and TACF’s mission. collaborate on land protection efforts, to
& Bill Adamsen, Director and former Everyone was excited about planting promote sustainable forestry practices,
Chapter President nuts to start the orchard. No problem and to organize public.outreach and
 With a heavy heart we accept Jim’s getting volunteers. Months later when education efforts in order to increase the
request to step down from his position the excitement has gone and the job is pace and efficacy of conservation in the
as the Chapter’s Treasurer, after 15 years to maintain the orchard, volunteers were MassConn region.
of loyal service. few and far between. Jim was always Jim is quiet, smart, competent,
 I met Jim at a CT Chapter meeting in there when there was a job to be done. hard-working, respectful and humble.
the winter of 2004. Jim had already been The Chestnut Foundation is not Incredibly productive, Jim is the ultimate
involved with the CT Chapter for several Jim’s sole interest. Jim has been a team member. I feel so incredibly
years. His involvement originated from director of the NCLT since 1995. fortunate that our paths crossed when
having grown up enjoying outdoor He told me he doesn’t think he was they did. That I had the opportunity
activities such as hiking. Later he was actually elected to the board. He just to work with and learn from this most
greatly influenced by his brother-in-law started sitting in on meetings and after remarkable man is a legacy I treasure
– a founder of the Norfolk Land Trust – a while they just accepted him as a and honor. His shoes will be hard to
who had spoken to Jim about American member. I’m not sure when he became 
 fill.
chestnuts and the chestnut blight. treasurer but it was before 2004. He
 When Jim retired from United also currently serves as chairman of the
Technologies in 1993 he was looking fundraising committee and a member of
for volunteer opportunities. Because the acquisition committee.
of his talks with his brother-in-law one Jim was one of the original members of
of the organizations he contacted was the Ellington Conservation Commission
the CT chapter of TACF. Northern when created in 2004. He remains active
CT Land Trust (NCLT) president today. When the town acquires a new
Culver Modisette had suggested that parcel of open space, Jim is often the
a connection with TACF might help one who writes an article for publication
NCLT fundraising. Having worked in local papers.
with Jim in developing a strategic plan, Jim has been a member of the steering
Jim, myself, several others still involved committee of the MassConn Sustainable
today formed a board and created an Forest Partnership (MassConn) for
operational infrastructure. Jim told me many years. It is a voluntary association
he had served as Treasurer of the NCLT of public and private forest conservation
and upon hearing that I didn’t relent entities committed to working together to
until he agreed to become the Chapter’s increase land protection and sustainable
first Treasurer. forest management in 38 towns in south
 Jim was heavily involved in the central Massachusetts and northeastern
Ellington orchard from the onset. A Connecticut. It consists of land trusts,
big goal of the program was capturing conservation organizations, state and
 CT Chapter Board Member and Treasurer
the diversity of the native trees we federal agencies and foresters. The
 Jim Gage - August 30th, 2005 touring a
were finding in CT. In June of 2005 members of this partnership realize that proposed site for a TACF Backcross Orchard
Jim helped with the pollination of an political boundaries are irrelevant to - Photo by Bill Adamsen
American chestnut in Enfield. He also plant and animal communities, and to
located a tree near the entry of the ecosystem processes, making it essential
Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford, and to work together to conserve land in a
the nuts from those trees as well as meaningful way on a larger, regional
others, were what was planted at the scale, and to tap into resources that are
Swann Farm backcross orchard. Within not available to organizations working
NCLT, Jim advocated for the creation of alone. The mission of MassConn is to
the orchard and wrote several articles for work with partner groups to identify key
the NCLT annual report and for NCLT areas in the region for conservation, to
newsletters about progress with the

CT Chapter of TACF Page 3 www.acf.org/ct

Chapter Resolution

 In early November 2019, SUNY-ESF of individuals, foundations, and other approval of a Petition for Determination
filed their Petition for Determination of sponsors; and of Nonregulated Status for Blight-Toler-
Regulatory Status for the Blight Toler- ant Darling 58 American Chestnut; and
 Whereas, the Connecticut Chapter of
ant American Chestnut (Darling 58).
 The American Chestnut Foundation has Whereas, if Darling 58 American
Once it had been reviewed for complete-
 contributed to the breeding program of chestnuts are granted nonregulated
ness, USDA-APHIS will be opening up
 TACF by backcrossing Chinese-Amer- status, they will be made available for
a 60-day public comment period on the
 ican hybrid trees developed by TACF not-for-profit distribution to the public,
petition. In order to prepare for the
 with Connecticut native American and to groups including private, indig-
public comment period, the board of
 chestnut trees, thereby establishing enous, state and Federal restoration
directors of the CT Chapter prepared
 seven backcross orchards, and using programs for the purpose of conserving
and adopted the following resolution:
 seeds from those orchards to establish and restoring this species to the forest
 Whereas, the American chestnut two backcross seed orchards: and and continuing vital research; and
tree was one of the most abundant and
 Whereas, the Connecticut Chapter of Whereas, native trees and forests
important trees in the eastern United
 The American Chestnut Foundation has across the U.S. face an unprecedented
States until the early 20th century when
 contributed to the mission of TACF by array of disease, decline, and decay
an invasive fungal pathogen from Asia
 educating the public of TACF’s efforts caused by climate change, invasive
decimated more than 3 billion trees
 to restore the American chestnut at fairs, plants, non-native insects and fungi, and
throughout its natural range; and
 garden shows, lectures and web-based manmade disturbances, and biotech-
 Whereas, the American chestnut and social media; and nology offers some hope that we can
is now functionally extinct, unable to restore forest health, and that restoring
 Whereas, the Connecticut Chapter
sustain itself in the wild, and facing the American chestnut can be a model
 of The American Chestnut Foundation
extinction as the blight remains an ev- for saving other threatened species; and
 has contributed to genetic research be-
er-present threat to any trees that might
 ing performed by TACF by collecting Now, therefore, be it resolved by the
hope to grow from the long dead stumps
 various plant material samples from Board of Directors of the Connecticut
of remaining chestnut trees; and
 Chinese chestnut, Chinese-American Chapter of The American Chestnut
 Whereas, the disappearance of this hybrids and pure American chestnut; Foundation that, the Connecticut Chap-
tree represents a devastating loss to and ter of The American Chestnut Founda-
wildlife, to ecological balance in the tion supports SUNY-ESF’s Petition for
 Whereas, scientists at the State
forest, and to farmers who depended Determination of Nonregulated Status
 University of New York College of
on consistent chestnut harvests and to for Blight-Tolerant Darling 58 Ameri-
 Environmental Science and Forestry
citizens from Maine to Alabama who can Chestnut and urges USDA-APHIS
 (SUNY-ESF) discovered a method to
appreciated its beauty and symbolism to approve the Darling 58 so that the
 enhance the American chestnut’s blight
as a feature of the landscape; and American chestnut can be restored to its
 tolerance using the tools of genetic engi-
 native range in eastern forests.
 Whereas, The American Chestnut neering and molecular biology. During
Foundation (TACF) has led a 37-year a 30-year research effort, SUNY-ESF Passed and Adopted by the Board of
research and breeding program seeking have innovated a process for inserting Directors of the Connecticut Chapter
to restore this iconic tree to its native a gene from wheat into the American of The American Chestnut Foundation
range by developing a blight tolerant chestnut in a way that significantly
 Date___________________
 Feb 13, 2020
tree that can be sustained in the forest. enhances the tree’s blight tolerance
TACF’s work has included a backcross
breeding program, biological controls,
 while decreasing the pathogenicity of
 the fungus, with no pest risk to plants,
 Jack Swatt
 Signed by_______________
 President
and biotechnology, involving thousands no detriment to human or animal health
of plantings, hundreds of research proj- and no adverse effects on the environ-
ects, genomic testing using the most ment; and
advanced science available, thousands
 Whereas, after rigorous testing, SUNY-
of volunteer hours in 16 states, and pri-
 ESF has applied to USDA-APHIS for
vate financial support from thousands

CT Chapter of TACF Page 4 www.acf.org/ct

Orchard Updates

Norcross Chestnut Seed Orchard
By Ginny Patsun
 Seeds that did poorly after the 2018
planting were replaced thanks to Richard
Bailey who germinated enough seeds in
time for the re-planting in early June.
A small group of volunteers added an
additional 100 seedlings. There were no
plans for additional plots to be planted
for 2019. There are approximately 750
trees now growing at the orchard.
 as well as several kinds of butterflies, From left: Jack Swatt, Mike Gerak, Mark
 2019 was the first season since the and a hummingbird or two. Among the Vollaro, Kendra Collins, Becky Purdy, Deni
 Ranguelova, Beverly Baldwin, John Baker
orchard’s inception in 2017 the gypsy flowers is a solar-powered disappearing (Wigwam Brook Orchard Manager) and Keith
moth caterpillars did not invade. There water fountain which acts as a water Johnson. Jay Coles also participated.
were a few quarter-inch long caterpillars source for birds, insects and toads, and Photo by Rich Martin
found on the leaves, but not enough is an aesthetically pleasing addition to Brook Sanctuary chestnut orchard to
to warrant treatment. I waited them the orchard. Grass mounds had been inoculate the chestnut trees for blight
out until they disappeared. Minimal planted which serve as a hiding place resistance. Kendra had grown two
damage had been done to the foliage for various insects, and the remainder batches of blight fungus, one stronger
and the trees continued adding leaves of the orchard that is waiting for more than the other, and these were inserted
throughout the rest of the season. trees to be planted remains fallow and into nail-sized holes on the trunks,
 mowed every two years. This provides about a foot apart, of about 250 of the
 The orchard has one perennial flower
 a hunting ground for birds in search of chestnut trees.
strip that extends the length of two 30- insects.
foot chestnut tree plots. Some of the In a few months, the trees should
perennials include milkweed, mint, and Because the orchard is located in show signs of blight (or not), and in a
various composites. Native and honey the middle of a hay field, I felt it was year blight resistance should be able to
bees have been observed at the orchard, necessary to add variety of plantings to be determined – probably in about 50-
 increase diversity. The more diverse the 70 trees. The nonresistant trees will be
 organisms, the better for the trees. The removed, and the inoculation area on
 flowers and grasses attract predators each will be destroyed.
 that keep the mischievous insects from
 Thanks to everyone for their help. It
 overpopulating and damaging the trees.
 Diversity makes the orchard work more
 was very much appreciated. 
 enjoyable and a lot can be learned from
 In Memoriam
 the complexity of nature. Every season
 brings new discoveries and excitement Garrett Smith, a long-time director
 over the new growth of the perennials of the CT-TACF was very active
 and the chestnut trees. performing many tasks and planting
 in most of our orchards. On May 4th,
 Wigwam Brook Orchard
 Garrett’s family gathered at Wigwam
 By John Baker
 to spread his ashes amongst the
 On June 20, Kendra Collins, chestnut trees he loved so much. This
 Regional Science Coordinator of The was indeed an honor for LHAS, as
 American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) Garrett was an inspired and thoughtful
 in Burlington, VT, and her summer gentleman who helped develop our
CT-TACF Board member and orchard intern joined Jack Swatt, president of orchard. We hope he rests in peace
manager Ginny Patsun hammering the tutors amongst the trees and the mission he
to help the young chestnut trees grow straight the CT-TACF Chapter and about eight
Photo courtesy of Ginny Patsun or so local volunteers at the Wigwam loved so much; God bless him.

CT Chapter of TACF Page 5 www.acf.org/ct

American Chestnuts Found at Bull Hill Preserve in Thompson

Finding the tree
By Jack Morris
 I belong to the Meshomasic Hiking rare: an American Chestnut tree
Club, an organization with about 150 with burs. I spent a few minutes
active members that sponsors daily hikes admiring and photographing the
scattered throughout Connecticut. A tree, removing a bur for later
recent article in the Hartford Courant investigation. I also made sure
had alerted us to a newly announced that its location had been stored
Wyndham Land Trust preserve located in my GPS handheld tracking
on Bull Hill in Thompson. In September unit.
of 2019, the club organized a hike to Returning home, I opened the
investigate this preserve, including a bur expecting the nuts to be flat
trek up to the Three Trees vantage point and infertile, but found one nut
atop Bull Hill. that appeared round indicating
 After enjoying the magnificent view, it was fertile. I contacted Jack
we headed south down an old rutted tote Swatt from the CT Chapter of The
path and in a very short distance one in American Chestnut Foundation
our group said something like, “Hey, (TACF) and he suggested that
look at this tree with all the pods on I join him to return to the site
it.” I had actually gone past it without with the intent to harvest the burs
notice and turning around realized that and recover the nuts for TACF
the hiker had spotted something very chestnut restoration activities. 
 David Morse (l), Jack Morris (c) and Stewart
 Morse (r) collecting the chestnut burs at Bull
Photo by Jack Morris Hill - Photo by Jack Swatt.

 Collecting the Chestnuts
 By Jack Swatt
 Since late September is the time
 when chestnut burs start to open up,
 I had to act quick to prevent the nuts
 from becoming a squirrel feast. We
 returned to the site along with Grace
 Jacobson, David Morse and Stewart
 Morse, three local volunteers who were
 also interested in seeing this tree. While
 hiking to the site we noticed many
 small chestnut sprouts growing in the
 understory along the trail.
 As Jack Morris led us to the top of
 Bull Hill, the forest opened up into a
 large shrubby habitat, the result of a
 recent timber harvest. Since chestnut
 sprouts grow quickly when the canopy
 is removed by natural or manmade
 processes, I knew that this site held great
 potential in finding additional chestnut
 trees growing tall enough to flower and
 produce nuts.
CT Chapter of TACF Page 6 www.acf.org/ct

Collecting the Chestnuts (continued)
 From the Three Trees vantage in breeding a blight resistant American Volunteer Opportunities
point we could see the small American chestnut capable of returning to the
chestnut tree loaded with burs, some forests of the Appalachian Range. The chapter is in need of a new
already opened, but many still closed Treasurer (see page 3). If you would
 Since the one tree contained fertile be interested in filling this position,
up. I also scanned the surrounding
 nuts and chestnut trees do not self- please contact tacf.ctchapter@gmail.
opening to look for burs covering the
 pollinate, at least one other tree has com to be referred to the Nominating
top branches of other maturing sprouts.
 matured enough to produce male flower Committee.
 While there were many trees reaching catkins and potentially may produce
a height similar to the bur-loaded tree, If you are interested in helping with
 female flowers in the future. With the
no other tree was found to be holding orchard work, finding or verifying
 open surroundings and bright sunshine,
the nut-containing burs we were looking American chestnut trees, or helping
 this area has the potential to harbor
for. Moving down the trail we relocated with our newsletter, contact Jack Swatt
 several future nut producing trees. We at jswattchestnut@gmail.com
the tree and found that all the burs were intend to return to Bull Hill in late June
reachable with a 12-foot telescoping Additional volunteer opportunities
 to early July when the chestnut trees are
pruner and quickly collected them. After and events may be added at any time.
 flowering and easy to find.
the burs completed opening over the Please check out our event calendar
next week or two, I was able to collect We hope that members of the Wyndham at www.acf.org/events/category/ct for
an astounding 238 nuts, some of which Land Trust and the Meshomasic Hiking the latest information.
will be planted in the spring in our first Club would like to join us in our quest
Germplasm Conservation Orchards. to find more chestnut producing trees
Those nuts will play an important at this location. Thank you to the
part in preserving American chestnut Wyndham Land Trust for preserving CT-TACF Officers and
genetic diversity, which is just one step this spectacular property. Board of Directors
 Officers:
 President – Jack Swatt
 President Emeritus – Star Childs
 Vice President – Dr. Jack Ostroff
 Treasurer – James Gage
 Secretary – Florian Carle
 Board of Directors (term ending):
 Christian Allyn (2021)
 Florian Carle (2021)
 Star Childs (2021)
 Michael Gaffey (2021)
 Jane Harris (2021)
 Dr. Jack Ostroff (2021)
 E. Woods Sinclair (2021)
 Bill Adamsen (2020)
 Dr. Philip Arnold (2020)
 John Baker (2020)
 Dr. David Bingham (2020)
 Jim Gage (2020)
 Bert Malkus (2020)
 Ginny Patsun (2020)
 Mark Vollaro (2020)

 Email: tacf.ctchapter@gmail.com

 The many chestnut burs stand out against
 the bright background of the blue autumn
 sky Photo by Jack Morris

CT Chapter of TACF Page 7 www.acf.org/ct

The Connecticut Chapter
of The American Chestnut Foundation

Jack Swatt — Chapter President
226 Long Swamp Rd.
Wolcott, CT 06716
jswattchestnut@gmail.com

Upcoming Calendar of Events
CT Flower & Garden Show Details will be made available as it gets Meet at the parking area on Bull Hill
 closer to planting season. Rd to hike to the clearing and search for
February 20-23, 2020
 additional flowering chestnut trees where
 New England Region Grafting
We will again be holding an exhibit at a tree was found in 2019 producing fertile
 Workshop
the 2020 CT Flower and Garden Show burs (see article). Directions will be
at the Connecticut Convention Center in May 30, 2020 posted on our website.
Hartford. This is a great event to educate
 Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Rd, Hike at Nehantic State Forest
others about chestnuts and to share our
 Portsmouth, NH. Learn chestnut grafting
mission with the public. We will be June/July, 2020
 techniques from Dr. Hill Craddock,
needing plenty of volunteers to help staff
 Professor of Biology and Environmental See two of the largest flowering wild
the exhibit. More information will be
 Science at The University of Tennessee American chestnut trees in the state.
available closer to the event dates but if
 Chattanooga, and TACF board member.
you are willing to volunteer, contact Jack Exhibit at the Durham Fair
Swatt at jswattchestnut@gmail.com. Presentation on Restoration Efforts of
 September 24-27, 2020
 the American Chestnut at Great Hollow
Annual Membership Meeting
 Nature Preserve Presentation on Restoration Efforts of
May 2, 2020 at 10 am the American Chestnut at New Canaan
 June 6, 2020
 Library hosted by the New Canaan
CT Forest & Park Assoc., 16 Meriden Rd,
 Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 Land Trust
Rockfall, CT
 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT. After the
 October 17, 2020 at 10:30 am
Orchard Plantings in Wallingford, presentation we may walk the trails at
Woodstock, and Haddam Neck Great Hollow Nature Preserve looking Walk at one of New Canaan Land Trust
 for American chestnut sprouts surviving Properties at 12:00
May, 2020
 in their forests.
 151 Main St., New Canaan, CT. After the
We will need volunteers to help with
 Hike at Bull Hill Preserve, Thompson presentation we will reconvene at one of
planting American chestnut seeds in 3 new
 with Wyndham Land Trust the New Canaan Land Trust Properties to
Germplasm Conservation Orchards. We
 see several American chestnuts surviving
are also in the planning stages of possibly June 27, 2020 at 10 am
 in their forests.
planting a seed orchard in Winchester.
 CT Chapter of TACF Page 8 www.acf.org/ct