Johnston Preserve: A Treasure for the Town of Lyme
Coming in at forest #139 for the Old-Growth Forest Network, Johnston Preserve in Connecticut was officially dedicated to the Network on August 18, 2021, during a poignant ceremony. Henry Selden Johnston previously owned the tract of land that is now Johnston Preserve. Johnston was a lawyer from New York who began buying abandoned pastureland in the area in the mid-1920s. In 2018, the Johnston family sold the 250-acre parcel of land to the Town of Lyme, and it officially became known as Johnston Preserve. The Preserve is a part of the larger River to Ridgetop Preserves, a collection of six connected natural areas comprising over 1500 acres of protected habitat. The contiguous preserves create a vital wildlife corridor for many species of birds and mammals.
Many of Henry Selden Johnston’s descendants attended the dedication, further highlighting the family’s interconnectedness to local natural spaces. Johnston Preserve is a prime example of minimally impacted mature forests, home to a wide variety of tree species, such as tulip poplar, black gum, beech, white ash, and several species of maple, birch, hickory, and oak. The Preserve is home to a unique diversity of habitats, from gently rolling hills and quiet hollows with bubbling brooks to ridges with spectacular vantage points and boggy wetlands. Now, with the help of the Lyme Land Trust and the Old-Growth Forest Network, the amazing trees and habitats found at Johnston Preserve will be protected for many generations to come.
The Johnston Preserve is part of the homelands of the Western Nehântick people. The Nehântick are a group of Algonquian-speaking indigenous people whose name roughly translates to “of long-necked waters”. Along with several other tribes of indigenous people, the Southern New England Coastal Plains and Hills ecoregion contained many resources on which the Nehântick thrived, such as hunting, fishing, and gathering, in addition to growing corn, beans, and squash, otherwise known as the “Three Sisters”.
Throughout the long and rich history of this region in Connecticut, it’s plain to see that there are important resources, especially old-growth forests, that have been carefully protected and fostered over the years. We are so thankful for everyone who had a part in conserving Johnston Preserve and we’re excited to see how this beautiful tract of land can thrive for generations to come. For the Forests!
