Join us for a tour of our Oakland Forest and Meadow Preserve in Portsmouth with botanist Gary Plunkett. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour one of the last remaining stands of old growth American beech trees on the east coast. This once threatened forest now serves as a haven for people and wildlife alike. Come learn more about this rare and beautiful ecosystem and the abutting meadow with one of the area's premier naturalists.

We will be meeting Saturday May 13th, at 9:00 a.m., at the entrance to the Oakland Forest and Meadow Preserve, which is located at the western end of Carriage Drive in Portsmouth. The tour will run rain or shine. Space is limited, RSVP by May 11th.

Come view the results of the important conservation agreement reached by the Aquidneck Land Trust, the City of Newport and the Town of Portsmouth. This partnership benefits all three communities on Aquidneck Island because it will permanently safeguard 3 of the Island's 7 public water reservoirs, Lawton Valley Reservoir, Sisson Pond and St. Mary’s Pond, as well as the associated buffer lands. While we tour this beautiful 400+ acre site with Carol Trocki, a noted conservation biologist, we will learn about the natural and man-made factors that provide us with the water we drink, while also having the chance to see some of the waterfowl and wildlife that are abundant at this spectacular location.

We will meet at 9:00 a.m. Saturday July 29th, at the intersection of Union St. and Peaceful Way in Portsmouth. The rain date will be Saturday August 5th. Space is limited, RSVP by July 25th.

Get a sneak preview of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail. In celebration of the acquisition of the remaining needed trail easements for the first phase of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail, we will take a walking tour of the progress that has been made towards the completion of this portion of the public trail. When completed, this first phase of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail will stretch approximately 2.8 miles from The Glen in Portsmouth to the northern boundary of the Orchard Course of the Newport National Golf Club. When the entire trail is completed it will stretch approximately 7 miles and will form the single longest public walking trail on Aquidneck Island.

We will meet Saturday September 9th at 9:00 a.m., near the Brown House at The Glen in Portsmouth. Space is limited, RSVP by September 5th. This tour will be guided by ALT staff, the rain date will be September 16th.

Join us for a tour of the conserved land at Newport Vineyards in Middletown and wine tasting. Participants will have the chance to learn about the techniques used in the venerable practice of producing wine from John Nunes one of the proprietors of Newport Vineyards. Later they will have the opportunity to sample the delicious wines produced on site. We will learn about the mix of traditional and modern techniques used to produce these award winning wines, and how the land conservation efforts of the Aquidneck Land Trust helped secure the necessary land for this agricultural business.

We will meet at 9:00 a.m. Saturday October 21st, at Newport Vineyards, at 909 East Main Rd. in Middletown. The rain date will be Saturday October 28th. Space is limited, RSVP by October 12th.

All Land Matters Walk & Talk tours are FREE of charge.