THE BENEFITS OF TIME IN NATURE
If you were to ask me, I could tell you with confidence that there are enormous physical and mental health benefits to spending time in nature. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Over the last half a century more and more studies have been published that support what nature enthusiasts like me have known all along. A while back my book club chose to read The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams (I swear this was not even my recommendation). Williams travels the globe investigating the science behind the phenomenon and presents her findings in an engaging way. In particular I enjoyed the different ways in which this knowledge has been viewed and applied in various countries and cultures. The Japanese are all about spirituality. The Japanese have long revered the natural world and you may be familiar with the term Shinrin-yoku (often translated to forest bathing) – a phrase allegedly coined in 1982 by a government official to encourage more people to visit forests. The South Koreans have a strong focus on the commercial aspect, such as how to bottle the scents of nature and sell them as one does perfume. And the Americans? Of course we are focused on efficiency! What is the minimum amount of time you need to spend in nature for the maximum benefit?
As I write these Trail Talk articles, I am aware that I benefit from having no physical restrictions to accessing nature, but that not everyone is so fortunate. This issue offers ideas for places to enjoy nature on gentler paths. It is dedicated to those readers who have told me that they love to read my monthly Trail Talk even though they themselves are not able to hit the trails any more.
RETTICH PRESERVE, Madison.
This gem of a property operated as a small family farm for over 100 years before being donated to the Madison Land Conservation Trust in 2014 by Fred and Rosa Rettich. The MLCT has made a great effort to create a preserve that is both brimming with nature and suitable for public access. On their website there is a detailed description of what you can expect to see as you make your way along the paths, including the types of trees to look for, flowers, birds and other curiosities.
There are mowed paths that transect the fields, which are resplendent with tall grasses and wildflowers and several birdhouses. I spent time watching a swallow fly in and out of one of them. Nearby is a beehive nestled in a small wood with a placard describing this honeybee project. The paths closer to the river are well shaded by a variety of mature trees and have recently been improved with a spread of wood chips for better footing. Beyond the main meadow a small footbridge takes you across a wet spot and to the old corn crib. At this point you can continue onto Rankin’s Ramble – a short loop through a more wooded section. Taking this path to the left brings you near the edge of the Hammonasset River where it starts to widen as it approaches Long Island Sound. For an unobstructed view, you can walk a very short distance down a steeper path to a lookout. In the short time I stood there taking a short video at least two egrets flew past, almost skimming the water.
At Rettich Preserve you can observe both the river and meadow activity without going too far from the parking lot, and if you venture further along the trails, there benches along the way to rest. I walked most of the trails and recorded a total of 3/4 of a mile. The only downside is the proximity to the highway and the traffic and train sounds. But if you are good at compartmentalizing you will be able to let those sounds recede to the background and focus instead on the bird calls, the rustles from the wind, the insects and more.
For preserve and trail details click HERE
ABOVE: Woodchip lined river path; corn crib; swallow at a birdhouse
BELOW: A video of the view from the river lookout
CROSS LOTS, Essex.
I discovered the Cross Lots parcel perusing the Essex Land Trust website and when I saw its location on the map I wondered how I had driven past it for decades and never noticed it. I first visited in February, and even with the address of 40 West Avenue plugged into my GPS and knowing it was diagonally across the street from the library I almost missed it. HINT: The entrance is a long driveway between two stone pillars at the brick inlaid crosswalk. There is a street number on the left pillar and a land trust sign on the right pillar. At the end of the driveway there is parking for several cars. When I returned a few weeks ago, I chose to park in the Town Hall lot and walk over, which adds about .3 miles total.
The Cross Lots comprise a 15 acre parcel - the former Cheney Homestead – that was bequeathed to the Essex Land Trust by Harriet Cheney Downing. The property is maintained as open field with bordering hedgerows and stone walls. Walking all the field paths I could find I managed to clock close to one mile. There is a signpost map near the trailhead that marks 22 different trees on the property, and many of them are impressive in size. There is a dogwood field where, when meandering the path in February, I saw a nuthatch and chickadee, and imagined how beautiful it must look when the trees are flowering. Unfortunately by June all the blooms had passed, but it is still lovely. The Land Trust keeps mowed paths and allows the meadows to grow wild. You do need to watch for poison ivy in a few places along the edges. At the back of a beautiful cedar grove stands an impressive ancient European beech tree, and at the crest of the hill a contemplation bench rests under a mature Chinese Chestnut, overlooking an orchard of chestnut saplings and Middle Cove in the distance. Near the parking area there is a pollinator garden. This is a popular destination for dog walkers.
Cross Lots is another property where you can easily customize how far you walk. While the total loop is about a mile, you can get your biggest bang for your buck by walking up toward the cedar grove to admire the variety of large tress and have a rest on the shaded bench.
For a brochure and trail map click HERE
ABOVE: The view from a bench in February overlooking the chestnut orchard and Middle Cove; a European Beech tree; a mown path along the perimeter
SHORELINE GREENWAY TRAIL, Madison.
The Shoreline Greenway Trail began as a vision by a group of citizens to build trails for pedestrians and cyclists to connect communities in the 25-mile corridor from New Haven to Madison. There are currently 3 sections of trail in Madison, Branford and East Haven. The Madison section starts near Hammonasset Beach State Park and extends just over a mile to Webster Point Road. I had passed the parking area for the Madison section numerous times, but never stopped to investigate. I was pleasantly surprised! The parking lot is on Route 1 just east of the entrance to Hammonasset Beach State Park. From the parking lot, follow the wide paved path into Hammonasset State Park. Once you cross the main access road, turn right. The path becomes a wide dirt path and follows the entrance road for a while before veering left to cross a bridge. Before reaching the bridge there is a lovely sitting spot with two benches that overlook the salt marsh. After crossing the bridge the path has a surprising amount of shade as it is lined with numerous mature trees including cedar, oak, maple and sassafras. At times the path gets close to Route 1, but except for one short section the buffer of leafed out trees hides the roadway from view, at least in summer. At times the trail skirts near the edge of the salt marsh and you can glimpse egrets hunting for food and an osprey nest in the distance.
While the total out-and-back is just over 2 miles, you can customize your walk by turning around at any time.
For more information click HERE
ABOVE: A contemplation spot overlooking the salt marsh; a section of wooded path
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