Trout Brook Valley Old-Growth Forest Reserve -

Trout Brook Valley Preserve

The Trout Brook Valley Old-Growth Forest Reserve (OGFR) encompasses 236 acres, with 39 acres in the Town of Weston and 197 acres in the Town of Easton. The forest, owned and stewarded by Aspetuck Land Trust, is estimated to be 90–100 years old or older, although the age of the oldest individual trees has not been confirmed. The extent of formally verified old-growth forest within the reserve has not yet been determined, but aerial photographs from 1934 show that most of the area was already forested, with few visible stone walls, suggesting relatively limited historical agricultural use.

Dominant tree species include red oak, chestnut oak, and sugar maple, with eastern hemlock prominent in the southern portion. The forest also features dense mountain laurel thickets, highbush blueberry shrubs, and a variety of lichens and mosses.

The preserve supports a diverse assemblage of forest-associated bird species, including barred owl, northern goshawk, pileated woodpecker, brown creeper, winter wren, wood thrush, worm-eating warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, and scarlet tanager. These species, together with the forest’s vegetation and historical continuity, contribute to its conservation value.