In these unprecedented times, the need for open space has never been greater—as is the need to protect it. Thank you for supporting all the needs of our community—including protecting open space—throughout this crisis.

You can read more about your impact on open space in the Hudson Highlands in HHLT’s 2019-2020 Annual Report newsletter.

With your continued generosity, we can support ALL our communities, human and wildlife alike. Thank you!

Like much of the area, Granite Mountain Preserve was impacted by extensive damage from Tropical Storm Isaias, creating hazardous trail conditions. As a result, the Preserve is temporarily closed. We anticipate the Preserve will be closed for a week or two. Please check our website and Facebook page for regular updates—we will post updates in both places as clean-up progresses. Thank you for your patience and support! And thanks so much to our fantastic land team and Board member Lew Kingsley for leading the clean-up effort.

Our summer Land Management Interns, Jailene Gonzalez and Brant Martin, have been working on invasive species management projects at both Granite Mountain Preserve and The Fresh Air Fund's 2,000-acre Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill.

To share the knowledge and skills they’ve learned over the course of the summer, Jailene and Brant produced three educational videos on improving forest health through invasive species management. The videos are on the common invasive species mile-a-minute and black swallowwort, and on the importance of staying on hiking trails to stop the spread of invasives. You can read more about Jailene and Brant's experience over the summer and watch their videos on our website.

Thank you to the Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management for helping to fund this internship program through New York State's Environmental Protection Fund, as administered by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Our team has been working to bring nature to you with weekly "Nature Time" videos. New this month, we have videos on Squash Bees with Michelle Smith, our Executive Director; Wood Thrush with Julia Rogers, our Stewardship Coordinator; and Plant Reproduction with a special guest appearance from HHLT Board member Anne Symmes.

You can check out these new videos below and the full series of Nature Time videos on our website.

Attention Granite Mountain Preserve visitors: the Preserve will be closed from November 21st through November 29th to accommodate the 2020 deer hunting program. During that time, only hunters with valid HHLT permits will be allowed to access the Preserve. Thank you to the hunters and the community for helping us manage the deer population and help protect our future forests!

For more information on the deer hunting program, please visit our website. You can also tune in to the Putnam Valley Town Board meeting on September 16th to hear our Natural Resources Manager, Nicole Wooten, present an overview of the program (Town Board meetings are generally televised live on Channel 20).

If you missed our latest webinar—Bringing Plant Diversity to Your Landscape: Invasive and Native Plants of the Hudson Highlands—the recording is now available below and on our website, along with the recordings of all our past webinars. You can watch at your leisure to learn how you can help restore native habitats and preserve healthy biodiversity across our shared landscapes

The Philipstown Comprehensive Plan Update Committee needs your help! If you live, work, or attend school in Philipstown, please complete this brief survey on housing, infrastructure, recreation and economic development in our town. Thanks in advance for your input!