Old Saybrook Conservation Commission

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Old Saybrook Conservation Commission CCoOS serves in an advisory capacity to the town of Old Saybrook. It provides expertise & outreach. They are appointed by the Town First Selectman.

The Old Saybrook Conservation Commission is an advisory committee comprised of volunteers with relevant expertise in the field. The commission:

1. Maintains an index of open space, whether public or privately owned, and including marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, for the purpose of evaluating their conservation value to the town or to direct future preservation and/or recreation.

2. Researches utilization options for open space.

3. Reviews & approves state grant-in-aid applications for programs preserving or restricting the use of open space. Additionally, the commission:

1. Reviews and advises on proposed land use changes, upon request by other municipal agencies.

2. Advises on plans & programs relating to the development or use of open space.

3. Promotes, prepares and distributes informational booklets, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets.

4. Maintains an inventory of town natural resources and formulates watershed management plans.

5. Acquires land and easements on behalf and at the behest of the town.

6. Manages municipally-owned open-space property when the agency normally responsible for such duties (Parks & Recreation, by our Charter) delegates that power.

09/18/2026

New yard sign! Mosquito Spray Kills Bees ☣️

Download at www.pollinator-pathway.org/pesticides.

Mosquito spray doesn’t just kill mosquitoes.
It also harms butterflies, moths, fireflies, bees, caterpillars, and countless other beneficial insects that pollinate our plants, feed birds, and keep ecosystems healthy.

The good news? There are better ways to reduce mosquitoes. Eliminate standing water, use mosquito buckets, and protect the insects that make life possible.

Scan the QR codes to learn more from Pollinator Pathway and join Homegrown National Park’s Mosquito Bucket Challenge.

Link also below and in our linktree:
https://homegrownnationalpark.org/mosquito-bucket-challenge/?utm_source=2026mbccampaign

Please share this post to help spread the word that protecting pollinators starts right in our own backyards.

Thanks to artist Kate Spain (Kate Spain ) for the beautiful sign design.

08/27/2026

Butterfly season is still going strong in Connecticut.

Late summer is a great time to spot butterflies visiting gardens, meadows, and other sunny spaces filled with nectar-rich flowers. Black Swallowtails, Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, and several other species can still be seen feeding and preparing for the changing season.

Black Swallowtails are especially striking, with their dark wings, rows of pale spots, and flashes of blue and orange. Keep an eye on late-blooming native flowers, you never know who might stop by for a meal.

What butterflies have you seen recently?

📸Stefan Martin, CT Audubon

Plastic Free July ~ Pick up a reusable produce bag in the Land Use office at Town Hall, M-F, 9am-noon.
07/08/2026

Plastic Free July ~ Pick up a reusable produce bag in the Land Use office at Town Hall, M-F, 9am-noon.

It's Plastic Free July and the Conservation Commission is providing reusable mesh produce bags to help reduce plastic us...
07/01/2026

It's Plastic Free July and the Conservation Commission is providing reusable mesh produce bags to help reduce plastic use. Stop by the Land Use office and pick one up free, M-F, 9-noon while supplies last!

06/22/2026

Looking for a book to read? Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs is the next one for the Rockfall Environmental Book Club.
The Rockfall Foundation

06/03/2026
One more week to order your compost bin or rain barrel at a discount!
06/01/2026

One more week to order your compost bin or rain barrel at a discount!

🌱 The Spring 2026 Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale is LIVE!

Join the RiverCOG in making a positive impact on the environment—right from your backyard.

Why Participate?
♻️ Compost bins help reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil
💧 Rain barrels lower water costs and support your garden naturally

Pickup Details – Sunday, June 14
📍 RiverCOG Office: 145 Dennison Rd, Essex, CT | 1:30–3:30 PM
📍 Middletown City Yard: 485 Washington St, Middletown, CT | 10:00-12:00 PM

Order yours today: https://connecticut.compostersale.com/rivercog/

05/29/2026

Need more plants? Deep River Garden Club has your back!
Email [email protected] for more information. Deep River Garden Club Sustainable Chester Sustainable Essex Town of Deep River Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments

05/18/2026

We hope you can join the Conservation District and Native Plant Trust for the seminar, How to Choose Competitive Native Ground Covers, with instructor Kathy Connolly of Speaking of Landscapes. The seminar will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, 1:30–3:30 PM at deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown. Kathy is a landscape designer, writer, and speaker who emphasizes earth-friendly designs, use of native plants, and low-impact land care techniques.

At the seminar you’ll learn how to leverage native plants' natural competitive strategies to your advantage. You’ll hear about seven ways all plants compete for space and survival, and then learn about natives that cover ground effectively. You'll also have the opportunity to handle some ground covering plant samples from the Native Plant Trust greenhouses and experience firsthand how to observe and identify some of the competitive traits, and how to research others. A PDF handout will be included.

Space is limited and advance registration is required. The event fee is $40. Please register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/how-to-choose-competitive-native-ground-covers/

For more information, contact us at [email protected], or 860-346-3282.

We hope you can join us!

Photo credit: Kathy Connolly
Common violet is a versatile ground cover that readily fills many types of spaces

Address

302 Main Street
Old Saybrook, CT
06475

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18603953131

Website

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