Who We Are

Founded in 1988 by a dedicated group of local citizens, the Woodstock Land Conservancy is a non-profit land trust. We are run by a small staff and an all-volunteer Board of Directors. At its core, WLC is an ever-growing community of dedicated and generous volunteers, supporters, and community members who share a passionate love and respect for the land and the unique place we live. WLC owns and manages undeveloped land and works with landowners to permanently protect their property through conservation easements and by acquiring their land through donation or sale. We also provide nature education and outdoor activities to the community. Because we operate in the public interest, WLC depends on private donations to carry out its work. It is our strong foundation in the community that makes it possible to protect land that otherwise would be lost forever. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how you can become part of our work!

WLC Board and Staff Exploring
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Considerations

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. How are these important values supported in Woodstock Land Conservancy activities? How can we promote them in our programming and reflect them in Board/Staff composition while pursuing conservation of natural resources? There is much work to be done ahead as we continue to consider these questions.

Thanks to The Kingston Land Trust’s Julia Farr and Shaniqua Bowden, who at this month's board meeting shared with us KLT’s process in pursuing socially responsible conservation. We are grateful to our KLT colleagues for this and admire the many fine initiatives underway there. KLT's consulting services can be found at the link below.
https://kingstonlandtrust.org/consulting-speaking-services

WLC Projects

Woodstock NY Pollinator Pathway

Upcoming Pollinator Pathway Events

Register for this program here

The Woodstock NY Pollinator Pathway is a collaboration of non-profits, individuals, and businesses dedicated to establishing a network of pollinator-friendly properties in the Woodstock area. Join the pathway, find events, help, and resources at the Woodstock NY Pollinator Pathway's beautiful NEW website woodstocknypollinatorpathway.org.

Virtual Presentations:
All About Bees with Chris Layman
The DOT Meadow Installation Method with Del Orloske
Working with Your Landscape: Planting and Care of Native Plants
Getting to Know Your Landscape: Site Inventory & Analysis with Karin Ursula Edmondson
Pollinator Garden Talk: Planning Your Garden Q&A with Experts
Designing Gardens from Nature with Karin Ursula Edmondson

Video Resources:
Making Your Existing Garden More Pollinator Friendly
Dutchman's Breeches
Shadbush/Serviceberry a keystone shrub/tree of the Catskills

 and Community Member Partners.

Let’s Talk Preserves

You may be checking out our website looking for great out of doors experiences.  We love that.  For newbies, as we encourage you to explore, a couple of suggestions.  When outdoors, depending on the adventure, bring along: water, snack, tissues, bandaids, dog poop bags, oh, and did we say water?  Our region is wilderness, not parks. There is no staff and no restroom facilities.  Just us and the creatures, the water, the trees…  So, you have an extra responsibility to care for what you are doing.  Pack and take back home with you all garbage, including your dog’s poop (hey, ain’t our dog).  Stay on the trail.  Don’t touch.  Use your senses of smell, sight, and hearing. There is so much to enjoy.

Lastly, in this time of COVID-19, where so many are outdoors – please have alternate plans if you arrive and find a parking lot very crowded, particularly in a small preserve. They are not designed for large groups.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING:

• 6’ apart
• Walk/Bike on the right, except when passing, and please do so with ample room
• Groups – please be in single file when around others.
• Wear face masks when passing strangers.
• If on bicycle, shout out, or ring your bell (remember some folks are hard of hearing) when passing.

Please remain home if you:

• Are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, including fever, coughing
• Have traveled from an affected area and not quarantined two weeks
• Have come into contact with someone who has tested positive
• Have a compromised immune or respiratory system

Being outdoors relieves stresses with the physical and psychological benefits well-documented.

We are grateful for your continued support of our mission and look forward to seeing you in person at our public programs, but in the meantime, do enjoy our online webinars and programs.

For program questions please email WLC Program & Outreach Coordinator Ellie Reese at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please enjoy the calm and healing power of the natural beauty which surrounds us.

All the best,

Maxanne Resnick

Executive Director

Citizen Action

850 Route 28 LLC a Manufacturing Facility Proposed Adjacent to Onteora Lake, Bluestone Wild Forest

A brief note from Executive Director, Maxanne Resnick 

Below is a Daily Freeman article noting the recent recognition by NYS Department of Parks State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of an important historic quarry in and around the 850 route 28 site, as reported by Paul Rubin, consultant, HydroQuest. SHPO has now retracted their approval, which is necessary for the project to move forward. This was a report commissioned by Catskill Mountainkeeper (CMK), along with Woodstock Land Conservancy (WLC) (though Freeman article missed noting this) in our collaborative work together reviewing the proposed 850 route 28 project. This is the type of analysis that is essential to review with this project, and since we are lacking an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) thus far, has meant that CMK/WLC continue to commission work to bring impacts to the attention of those responsible parties.

 Once again, we have requested a number of times the Town of Kingston should be issuing a POS DEC so that a full EIS will be done.

 Feel free to reach out should you have questions or comments to Maxanne Resnick, Executive Director, WLC. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Historical assessment could undermine plan for fabrication plant on Route 28
By William J. Kemble This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Aug 21, 2020    

TOWN OF KINGSTON, N.Y. – A plan for a concrete and steel fabrication facility on state Route 28 could be undermined by a study that found the proposed location was part of a historic and nationally significant bluestone quarry industry. 

The finding has led the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to withdraw its Oct. 31, 2019, advisory that there would not be any significant impact from the proposed construction at 850 state Route 28. The agency has recommend that further studies be done. 

The agency issued a letter on Aug. 7, 2020, noting that the area has already been designated as the Hemlock Historic Quarry District and that a site review by Hydroquest, funded by the Catskill Mountainkeeper, turned up artifacts and significant evidence of the site’s importance.-

Read more ...

White Shed in June, Linda Lynton, Oil on canvas

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