​Conserving land for all of Newtown

The Newtown Conservation Commission is dedicated to the acquisition, preservation and protection of 2,000 acres of town-owned open space. In addition, the Commission is actively working to encourage healthy habitats and increase the diversity of our native wildlife and vegetation.

Open Space

The Conservation Commission acquires and preserves land for future generations.

Plan of Conservation

The 2014 Plan includes Newtown's vision for conserving natural resources and open space.​
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About the Commission

Our mission is to conserve and maintain Newtown's natural resources.
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LIGHTS OUT CONNECTICUT

Next Migration Event: April 1–May 31

Join the growing community of CT residents, businesses, schools, churches, and nonprofits pledging to turn off their unnecessary outdoor and indoor lighting from 11pm to 6am each night during peak bird migration to reduce the risk of light pollution to migratory birds.

Spring: Apr 1–May 31 and Fall: Aug 15–Nov 15.

Visit LightsOutCT.org for more information.

Join The Newtown Invasive Plant Task Force

The Conservation Commission is looking for volunteers to help remove invasive plants on town open spaces.

INVASIVE PLANTS are aggressive non-native plants that were introduced either intentionally or accidentally. They thrive in a variety of growing conditions with no natural enemies to control their rapid spread as would occur in their own place of origin.

  • Environmental Costs are High - Invasive plants displace native vegetation and reduce biological diversity, altering the way plants, animals, soil, and water interact within native ecosystems.
  • Harm to Wildlife - invasive plants don’t provide nutritious food or adequate shelter or nesting sites for birds and other wildlife.
  • Threat to Human Health - Forests infested with Japanese Barberry have a significantly higher abundance of ticks that carry Lyme disease.
  • Economic Impact - Once established large stands of invasives can be difficult and costly to remove. An infestation of Japanese knotweed can potentially devalue a property.

If interested in volunteering to help battle invasives, contact the Land Use office at [email protected]

Introducing the Invasive Insider Column

The Conservation Commission in cooperation with The Newtown Bee is proud to introduce our Invasive Insider column. The purpose of the column is to help homeowners identify the many invasives that are threatening private and public properties, meadows and forests.

Future columns will report on additional invasive plants and how to identify them. We will also discuss methods and timing for control, and proper disposal.

You can find all our articles about invasives on our blog: The Invasive Insider.

Native Plant Policy

Newtown was the first town in our state to approve a Native Plant Policy requiring the use of native plants on municipal properties. ​Native plantings help mitigate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation and the proliferation of non-native exotic species.  Supporting this policy shows our Town’s willingness to preserve and maintain healthy ecosystems, ensuring the well-being of our community now and for future generations. For more information, visit the Native Plants page.