This is the first walk of the 2008 nature walk series and it is being held at DesRoches Nature Preserve in the Town of Galway and is being led by local naturalist and educator Andy Fyfe. The casual stroll though the nature preserve is free and open to the public and people are encouraged to bring their families along to enjoy the outdoors, said Laura Welles, Acting Executive Director for Saratoga P.L.A.N. The trail is about one mile long.

“Spring is such a great time for people to get out in the land, see amazing things and enjoy the fresh air.  Families should get out and celebrate what we have right in our backyards,” she said. 

The walk was planned to introduce the public to the DesRoches Nature Preserve and to show walkers the work that is currently being done by the organization and volunteers.

Donated to Saratoga P.L.A.N. in 2005, the DesRoches Nature Preserve includes a former pine tree plantation and three small ponds created by an earthen dam.

Saratoga P.L.A.N. is a land trust that directly protects open space in Saratoga County by conservation easements and land acquisitions. The organization works with land owners, developers and government agencies to protect land and water resources in an area where development is constant. 

“We work with land owners who wish to conserve their property. Some donate or sell their land to our organization or transfer development rights to us to protect the property, and the owners can still live on the land and use it,” Welles said. 

Since 2003, Saratoga P.L.A.N. has conserved more than 3,030 acres of land in Saratoga County and has made them into trails, nature preserves and open space areas.

In order to prepare for the nature walk, employees from Saratoga Associates reached out to Saratoga P.L.A.N. to help clear the DesRoches Nature Preserve and develop public access as a company-wide Earth Day project.

If families are unable to come to the Earth Day nature walk, Welles encourages them to do little things to get out and enjoy Saratoga County.

“Go out for a walk, enjoy the environment and all that the county has to offer.  Take a moment to reconnect with nature on Earth Day and every day,” she said.

Saratoga P.L.A.N. will be hosting nature walks on May 7 at 10 a.m. and the Orra Phelps Perserve in Greenfield, and on May 14 at 10 a.m. at the Kayderosseras Creek Preserve at 10 a.m. Those who wish to attend any of the nature walks should contact Saratoga P.L.A.N. at 518-587-5554 to register.