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THE LONG POND GREENBELT |
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 The
Long Pond Greenbelt, spectacular in its wealth of rare plants, animals, and
ecological communities is widely recognized as one of the state's most environmentally
significant areas. It harbors one of the highest concentration of rare plants
and animals in New York State. The Greenbelt's
most splendid feature consists of a collection of thirteen coastal
plain ponds and pond shore communities. The New York Heritage Program
classifies many of the Greenbelt's ponds, fauna, and flora as rare
both in New York State and worldwide. In recognition of the area's
unique and fragile status, Southampton has dedicated 14 of its Greenbelt
parcels into its Nature Preserve program, which extends the highest
degree of protection in town law. The rest of Southampton's
Greenbelt properties are currently in nomination for Nature Preserve
status.
Within the 1,100-acre Greenbelt management boundaries (roughly Sagg Road and Sagg Main Streets to the east and the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike and Ocean Road to the west), more than 600 acres have been preserved outright since 1975 by Suffolk County, Southampton Town, and the Nature Conservancy. New York State has assisted purchases with funds from the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act and long-term, low-interest loans. Greenbelt ponds, which are under the aegis of the Board of Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the Town of Southampton, cover close to 300 acres. UPCOMING EVENTS: Here's what going on this month in the fabulous Long Pond Greenbelt! Monday, August 9: NEXT FLPG Monthly Meeting: All Welcome! Come help plan our fall Celebration Day and other events. At Long ond Greenbelt Nature Center, 1061 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike. Entrance just north of Scuttlehole Road on east side. Sunday, August . 8:00-10:00 a.m. Long
Pond Greenbelt Trek. Meet
at the South Fork Natural History Society (SoFo) Museum parking lot on
Bridgehampton Turnpike 200 yards north of the RR tracks. Fast paced 5-mile
hike through grasslands and oak forest with flowering mountain laurel
and pond views. Dai Dayton, 631-745-0689. Thursday, August 12. 10:00 p.m. 2nd Annual Perseid Meteor Shower Gathering. At Vineyard Field, behind SoFo Museum See inside for details. Saturday, August 21. Old Farm Road Clean-Up. 8:00 a.m. Meet at Poxabogue Park, just south of the railroad trestle on Old Farm. Collection bags provided. Bring gloves. Sunday, August 22. 10:00 a.m. Milkweeds: A Monarch's Best Friend. The monarch butterfly is sometimes called the "milkweed butterfly" because its larvae eat the plant. In fact, milkweed is the only thing the larvae can eat! Milkweed is also important for many other insects as they nectar. Heather Abrams, SoFo Nature Educator, will take you on a walk in the SoFo field, and through our butterfly garden, so you can learn all about milkweeds and find out why they need our help. For adults and children age. Please call the museum for reservations: 631-537-9735. SAVE THE DATES Saturday, September 25. National Public Lands Day. Install bat houses and join us in a Vineyard Field work and play outing. Stay tuned for more details. Saturday, October 9: 10:00. FLPG’S
Annual Greenbelt Celebration Day. Fun activities for
young and old. Again, stay tuned for details. For more information call  photo: Bob Wolfram
View the Southampton Town interactive trails map here. Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt is dedicated to the preservation, stewardship, and public appreciation of the unique expanse of coastal plain ponds, freshwater swamps, wetlands, and woodlands in the Town of Southampton known as the Long Pond Greenbelt, which stretches from Ligonee Creek in Sag Harbor to Sagaponack Pond in Sagaponack.
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Join the FLPG Email List Read Botanist Stuart Lowrie’s musings on the flora of the Greenbelt here. The Vineyard Field Achievement Report is
available here. |
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