Southbury’s Platt Farm has been preserved for today and tomorrow

We know farms produce everything from corn and wheat crops to livestock to fruits and vegetables. But they also yield peace of mind as we pass by the open spaces and fenced-in fields lined by huge trees — a pastoral connection to our not-so-distant past.

Since 1985, Connecticut has lost more than 90,000 acres of farmland. Anyone who grew up in Connecticut or lived here for a number of years can remember a piece of farmland now turned into a housing development or shopping plaza. There is forever a sense of regret for what once was and will never be again.

The late Willis and Lillian Platt knew that. In 2001, the Southbury Land Trust purchased the Platt Farm, a 110-acre former dairy farm on the banks of the Pomperaug River. A sign on an informational kiosk recognizes the Platts: “Through the generosity of Willis and Lillian Platt, this land that they loved and farmed is preserved forever for the enjoyment of present and future generations.” (The Platt family still has a dairy farm across town which has been in operation since 1773 and is now run by its ninth generation.)

Now that’s my kind of forever when it comes to farmland. And it’s one of the most scenic farms I’ve seen during my travels across Connecticut. Tucked along the scenic-designated Flood Bridge Road — a stepback-in-time dirt lane — the rolling farmland of Platt Farm Preserve is a love-at-first-sight experience. A winter-sleeping cornfield lies to the south and rolling pastures reach to the northern horizon. And then you see the white clapboard farmhouse and a red barn and silo and the image of a picture-perfect Connecticut farm is complete.

There are a number of ways to explore the preserve after parking. A trail marked with blue blazes travels up a fairly steep traprock ridge before emerging near the top of the pasture with commanding views of evergreen and deciduous forest. The area is the southern end of a 7mile-long traprock ridge. The trail loops around the preserve’s perimeter and past the farm to the lower fields.

The land trust’s website says the preserve’s “variety of habitats is ideal for hiking, nature study, fishing, birding and picnicking … the northern portion of the farm is somewhat rugged and is excellent habitat for nesting birds, such as woodcock, indigo bunting, warblers and field sparrows.”

The southern portion of the farm takes hikers around the edge of a cornfield and past a huge traprock boulder to the banks of the Pomperaug, a 13mile waterway created by the confluence of the Weekeepeemee and Nonnewaug rivers. The preserve has 2,000 feet of frontage along the Pomperaug River.

The Marc J. Taylor, M.D., Memorial Greenway encompasses the entire length of the Pomperaug, as well as the Weekeepeemee and Nonnewaug, in Southbury and Woodbury. According to the trust, Dr. Taylor, who died in 2012, was “a physician who once made house calls to all corners of Southbury, enjoyed nature, and appreciated the beauty of rivers. As his medical career wound down, Taylor became a national champion for rivers and environmental stewardship.”

The trail along the river is beautiful, with low-hanging hemlock branches creating a tunnel effect as you walk the banks of the energetic waterway. The waters are clear, show

casing the pebble-strewn bottom of the Pomperaug. The trail travels past the parking area, and hikers can return to their cars along the dirt road.

The trust was founded in 1978 and protects more than 1,000 acres of open space in this New Haven County town. But for me the gem of Southbury is a former-dairy-farm-turned-preserve now producing peace of mind and saving some of our pastoral past.

Platt Farm Preserve

Southbury

The bottom line: Located on the scenic-designated Flood Bridge Road, the 110-acre Southbury Land Trust preserve offers scenic vistas, seemingly endless meadows, a climb up a traprock ridge and a hike along the banks of the Pomperaug River under a canopy of huge hemlocks.

Length: A 2½-mile loop trail marked in blue blazes showcases much of the preserve. The half-mile orange trail runs through the pastures with the mile-long red trail traveling along the lower field and the Pomperaug River. There are several miles of additional trails within the neighboring, townowned Platt Park.

Difficulty: The ascent to the top of the traprock ridge is the only moderately difficult trek at the preserve. The remaining trail climbs are gentle along the edges of meadows, through the cornfields and along the banks of the Pomperaug River.

Directions: Interstate 84 to exit 14/South Britain. Follow Route 172/South Britain Road north. Take a right on Main Street South and follow for about a mile and take a left on Flood Bridge Road. The preserve parking area is about a mile down on the right. Parking is also available on the road pullouts. Go to southburylandtrust.org/trail-maps for a map of the trails.

Pet friendly? Leashed dogs are allowed and must be cleaned up after.

Things to do nearby Leo’s Restaurant:

Serving patrons since 1987, Leo’s offers homemade foods and is known for “one-of-a-kind homemade breads and crazy concoctions” like the Eiffel Tower (apple and cinnamon raisin bread French toast), Vanna White (Belgian waffle topped with fresh fruit and a scoop of vanilla Ice cream) and breakfast pizza. Bennett Square, 7 Poverty Road, Southbury, 203-264-9190, leosrestaurants.net

Aquila’s Nest Vineyards:

The owners say this Newtown winery was “inspired by mythological tales and our love for astronomy.” All the wines are branded with the image of a constellation and the name of a woman drawn from an ancient Mediterranean myth, such as Queen of Illyria Red Blend and Princess of Troy Merlot. Guests can sit indoors, in an igloo, next to the fire pit, in a “romance” pergola or by a “forbidden” fireplace. 56 Pole Bridge Road, Newtown, 203-518-4352, aquilasnestvineyards.com

Shepaug Eagle Observation Area: The largest hydroelectric facility in Connecticut, Shepaug Hydroelectric Station, provides a unique habitat for wildlife and is an important winter feeding site for bald eagles. The movement of water below the dam prevents ice from forming, so there’s always access to an abundance of fish for eagles to feed on. During the viewing season, which runs through March 12, admission is free but reservations are required. The viewing area is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2225

This article originally appeared in Connecticut Magazine. Follow on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag.

Peter Marteka for Hearst Connecticut Media A bench sits next to a sugar maple at Platt Farm Preserve.

Peter Marteka for Hearst Connecticut Media Hemlocks stand — and hang, in some cases — along the Pomperaug River.

Peter Marteka for Hearst Connecticut Media The views from the top field are spectacular.