Sunday March 11 at 1:00 Madison Land and
Conservation Trust will hold an Early Birding hike on the recently acquired
Summer Hill property. The MLCT took
ownership of 77 acres of open space located at the intersection Route 80 and
Summer Hill Road. The land, within a large watershed, is a gateway to north
Madison’s rural beauty, connecting thousands of acres of open space owned by
public and private entities along Summer Hill Road. The land was owned for many
years by Jane Bauermeister, who passed the property on to her children at her
death several years ago. The Bauermeister children retained the site of the
Bauermeister homestead and sold the 6.4-acre parcel on the east side of Summer
Hill Road. Development is restricted on the retained parcel, thereby preserving
the scenic value of the area. The
original homestead was the center of many art and music festivals organized by
Mrs. Bauermeister during her lifetime.
Mrs. Bauermeister referred to her homestead as ‘Birdland’ which is
reminiscent of the many species of birds found in the area of Summer Hill.
The temporary trailhead is located at the
corner of Rt 80 east of Summer Hill Rd (north).
Parking is at 661 Old Toll Rd (Rt 80).
Bring binoculars and cameras to take photos for the 2012 MLCT Photo
Contest. More information about Summer
Hill and other MLCT trails can be found at www.madisonlandtrust.org
