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Friends of Topsmead State Forest (FTSF) is a volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to work with the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) to provide programs and activities to promote, preserve, protect, and maintain the history, heritage and environmental integrity of Topsmead, thereby supporting the wishes of Edith Morton Chase in her will, gifting Topsmead to the State of Connecticut in 1972.
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Lectures on the Lawn
The first event of the FTSF 2020 monthly “Lectures on the Lawn” series will be held Saturday, February 15. It will be a one-hour presentation about bald eagles of Northwestern Connecticut by Ginny Apple. Meet in the “garage”/shed next to Chase House at 1:30pm and be sure to dress for whatever the weather may bring (which we hope will not interfere!) In case of inclement weather, please call Janet Blauvelt at 860-294-2552.
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane—no, it’s an eagle!! Bald eagles were once so endangered that many considered whether to replace them as America’s national symbol. The ongoing story of their recovery as a species and CT’s healthy eagle population is a comeback story worth hearing. Join Ginny Apple, a Master Wildlife Conservationist with the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, for a talk about these magnificent birds of prey that so fascinate onlookers and their valuable contributions to our ecosystem. Ginny Apple will discuss and give a slide show presentation on the bald eagle and its resurging population in Connecticut.
A native Texan, Ginny Apple was one of the first full-time women sportswriters in the country, who left the field mid-career to pursue a path in communications/public relations.
Through the years she has hiked, climbed, kayaked, skied and poked her way through the outdoors and developed a passion for all things natural.
A move to the middle of the woods in Barkhamsted over a 13 years ago brought her into an environment filled with bears and other wildlife. Living in a house surrounded by Peoples State Forest, she observes a large population of Black Bears and supplies field notes and photographs on them to DEEP bear biologists. Her affinity for this magnificent creature led her out west to participate in a Grizzly research mission in Montana and to become a Master Wildlife Conservationist with the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
She is a member of the Barkhamsted Conservation and Economic Development Commissions, on the Boards of the Farmington River Watershed Association and Friends of American Legion and Peoples State Forests (FALPS), volunteers regularly with the Barkhamsted Historical Society (BHS) and maintains the Town's Facebook page as well as that of FALPS and BHS. Just to keep her creative juices percolating, she has a side business, Murder Without Pain, where she writes murder mystery games based on historical subjects and runs them at country inns, corporate parties and fundraisers.
Through the years she has hiked, climbed, kayaked, skied and poked her way through the outdoors and developed a passion for all things natural.
A move to the middle of the woods in Barkhamsted over a 13 years ago brought her into an environment filled with bears and other wildlife. Living in a house surrounded by Peoples State Forest, she observes a large population of Black Bears and supplies field notes and photographs on them to DEEP bear biologists. Her affinity for this magnificent creature led her out west to participate in a Grizzly research mission in Montana and to become a Master Wildlife Conservationist with the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
She is a member of the Barkhamsted Conservation and Economic Development Commissions, on the Boards of the Farmington River Watershed Association and Friends of American Legion and Peoples State Forests (FALPS), volunteers regularly with the Barkhamsted Historical Society (BHS) and maintains the Town's Facebook page as well as that of FALPS and BHS. Just to keep her creative juices percolating, she has a side business, Murder Without Pain, where she writes murder mystery games based on historical subjects and runs them at country inns, corporate parties and fundraisers.
History of TopsmeadIn 1917, Edith Morton Chase received a gift from her father, 16 acres of pristine woods in the Litchfield hills. Today, Topsmead is a state forest with over 500 acres of diverse landscapes.
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VolunteerFind out how you can participate in preserving and promoting the rich heritage and natural beauty of Topsmead State Forest.
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To learn more visit and ‘like’ us on Facebook:
Topsmead State Forest FACEBOOK connection
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Visiting Topsmead State Forest
Buell Road, Litchfield, CT Topsmead offers 510 acres of forests and meadows, for year-round passive recreation including walking, picnicking, bird watching, sledding, and cross-country skiing. In addition, the Edith Chase Ecology Trail is mile walk with interpretive signs. Dogs on a leash are welcome. (Note: open fires & grills are not allowed). Free Guided Tours of Chase Cottage From June through October on the 2nd and 4th weekends of each month from 12:00 PM-5:00 PM. Check our Facebook page for upcoming special programs and events. Hours: 8:00 AM – Sunset year-round Contact Information: Topsmead State Forest Phone: 860-567-5694 Directions From Route 8: Take Exit 42. Go west on Route 118 for 2.0 miles. Turn left onto Clark Road to the stop sign. Take a right at the stop sign then the first left onto Buell Road. The first right off Buell is the entrance to Topsmead. From Litchfield Center: Take Route 118 east for 1.5 miles. Take a right onto East Litchfield Road. Take the first right onto Buell Road. Topsmead will be the first road on the right. Handicapped Access: In an effort to improve access to the Topsmead State Forest cottage and grounds surrounding it, FTSF in conjunction with the Connecticut DEEP is offering access by handicapped tagged vehicles on specific dates. Please contact us to find out more.
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Download Topsmead Trail Map below:
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