The following is a press release from the Woodbridge Conservation Commission:

On October 17th, the Woodbridge Conservation Commission will host its “Fall Walk” at the Elderslie Preserve property in Woodbridge, CT. All members of the community are invited to attend this fun outdoor event. The Fall Walk will start at 1 PM at the Elderslie Preserve property, located on Peck Hill Road, between Old Quarry Road and Elderslie Lane, and 1/2 mile south of Seymour Road (Rte 67). There is limited off-road parking on site. There is also side-of-road parking available on Peck Hill Road.

The historically rich, 267-acre Elderslie Preserve was acquired by the Town of Woodbridge and dedicated in 2002. The property had been owned by the Wallace family since 1639 when it was granted to them by the King of England. Resident Tom Wallace’s grandmother asked that the land be called “Elderslie” in honor of the village in Scotland from which her family had come to the colonies in the 1600s. As an aside, Elderslie, Scotland is the reputed birthplace of William Wallace, the Scottish patriot and national hero of Braveheart fame.

The Elderslie Preserve is the largest open-space parcel in Woodbridge, providing pristine near-wilderness exploration and passive recreation to all who visit it. The property is an integral part of the Greenway Trail system, with miles of trails connecting it to most other open space lands in Woodbridge and beyond. The Elderslie Preserve also contains the historic “Lodge,” which was a 1661 hiding place for Judges Whalley and Goffe – two of the three “regicide judges” who came to this country to escape execution by Charles II. The well-blazed trails of the Elderslie Preserve take hikers past many colonial rock walls and “erratics” – the huge boulders left by the glaciers.

The Woodbridge Conservation Commission was formed to advise the Board of Selectmen on the preservation, development, and conservation of natural resources, including water resources, within the Town of Woodbridge. Maps of all Town trails may be found and downloaded for use on the WCC’s website. The WCC’s 2010 Fall Walk offers an opportunity to take a guided tour of this beautiful open space, meet with your neighbors, and enjoy a lovely New England autumn day in the woods. Children are welcome, and comfortable and sturdy shoes and clothing are recommended. Refreshments will be served at the end of the hike. Steady rain and/or lightning will cancel the walk. Drizzle will not. For further information contact: Craig Percy, 203-393-2384.