Flanders Fact Sheet
Contact Information
Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust
5 Church Hill Road
Woodbury, CT 06798
203-263-3711
Fax 203-263-2214
E-mail: flanders@flandersnaturecenter.org
Executive Director: Arthur Milnor
Board President: Anne Westerman
Media Contact: Nancy Loader 203-215-4695 | nplcomm@yahoo.com
Mission
Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust promotes the understanding and appreciation of nature and supports the conservation, preservation and management of natural resources.
History
• 1926: Van Vleck family of New York purchases farm on Flanders Road in Woodbury, CT
• Daughter Natalie Van Vleck, accomplished artist, builds studio on parents’ property
• 1934: Van Vlecks purchase 108 acres from Connecticut Light & Power Co.
• 1935: Natalie Van Vleck gives up art to found fully-working turkey farm on parents’ property
• 1942: Natalie inherits Woodbury farm from parents
• 1955: Natalie Van Vleck operating successful Hampshire sheep farm, well-known on East Coast
• 1960s Suburban development encroaches upon Woodbury’s agricultural traditions. In consultation with
environmentalists, Natalie Van Vleck evolves idea to develop nature center on her property to preserve
it in perpetuity
• 1963: Flanders Nature Center Inc. chartered as a non-profit organization
• 1973: Flanders becomes one of first land trusts in area, receiving gift of 6.5 acre Manville Kettle property
Link to more information on the Van Vleck Collection
Flanders Places: Land Trust
Sanctuaries and Preserves
• Flanders holds in trust more than 2,000 acres of open space in Woodbury, Bethlehem, Southbury
and Middlebury, CT.
• Holdings include seven nature preserves and sanctuaries
• Stewards more than 40 open space properties, managing and monitoring the properties to preserve
their natural beauty and care for the system through astute land-use practices
• Organization plays active role with municipal regulatory committees and regional and state organizations
to identify opportunities for preserving more land in future
Van Vleck Farm and Nature Sanctuary
• Original location of Van Vleck Farm at corner of Flanders and Church Hill Roads, Woodbury
• Serves as nature sanctuary and teaching campus of Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust,
which hosts educational programs for children, adults and school groups
• Buildings include a farmhouse, studio, trail house, sugar house and barns
• Landscape includes stone walls, fields, meadows, forests, wetlands, marshes, streams and ponds
• Network of well-marked and maintained hiking trails
Whittemore Sanctuary
• 686 acres located off Route 64 in Woodbury
• 8-mile trail system open to the public
• Ecological habitats include woodlands, streams, ponds, a large bog and abutting lake
Manville Kettle
• 6.5 acres off Jackson Avenue in Woodbury, near town center
• Known as a “kettle” because of geological depression formed during Ice Age
• Landscape includes open field, mixed trees and a swamp
Hetzel Refuge
• 54 acres located in Middlebury, CT, bordered by Middlebury Land Trust property, accessed from
Breakneck Hill Road
• Refuge includes woodlands, hay fields, conifer plantations, swamps and man-made ponds
• Excellent trail system
Frederick W. Marzahl Memorial Refuge
• Located to east and west of Route 132 in Woodbury
• Encompasses stream, waterfall, forestland and semi-open fields
Plumb Brook Preserve
• 126 acres adjacent to a residential development in Woodbury
• Wildlife habitat with low-impact trail system
• Located across from Pilgrim Trail and Plumb Brook cul-de-sac
Fleming Preserve
• 28.5 acres, fronting on Cowles Road in Woodbury
• Site of Flanders’ historic Sap House overlook and Sugar Bush
• Landscape is forests, meadows, trails, apple orchard, stone walls and an overlook
Flanders Places: Facilities at Van Vleck Farm and Sanctuary
Studio/Welcome Center
• Located at main entrance at Flanders and Church Hill Roads in Woodbury
• Houses administrative and program functions of Flanders
Trail House
• Located to east of Studio/Welcome Center on Church Hill Road at entrance to Wilderness Trails
• Used for children’s and summer programs
Sugar House
• Located across Church Hill Road from the Trail House, near public parking area at Botany Trail
• Constructed in 2002
• Hub of maple sugaring operations and school and summer programs
North Barn
• Historic Connecticut red barn, dates from 19th century
• Houses agricultural educational exhibits and programs and farm animals
• Adjacent to Community Garden
• Used for children’s and summer programs
Buz Russell Museum of Antique Tools and Farm Life
• Houses collection of historic farm and dairy tools and implements, as well as antique toys
• Exhibits donated in 2002 by Bethlehem, CT resident, Buz Russell
Community Garden
• Located near the North Barn
• 10 x 20-foot tilled plots available to members to grow organic vegetables and flowers
Hiking Trails
• Van Vleck Farm and Nature Sanctuary, Whittemore Sanctuary, Plumb Brook Preserve, Hetzel Preserve,
Fleming Preserve and Marzahl Refuge offer network of well-maintained pedestrian-only trails
• Trails are free to public. Open year-round, dawn to dusk.
Programs and Events
• Flanders provides environmental education programs that connect science, nature and art for all ages
• Provides programs, workshops, festivals at Van Vleck Farm and Nature Sanctuary, in schools and at
off-site locations
• Seasonal events include Farm Day, Autumn Festival, Maple Celebration and Winter Holiday programs
Download the Calendar of Events
Join.
Volunteer.
Donate.
Calendar
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Special Events
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Happenings
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