Seminar Subject—

Environmental Protection Through Sound Landscaping

The town will sponsor a free spring educational program for the public on reducing the adverse effects of development on the environment.

The Conservation Commission and the Inland Wetlands Commission will jointly sponsor the session entitled, “Lowering the Impact of Development on Your Environment.”

The seminar is scheduled for 2 to 4 pm on Saturday, April 10, at the Newtown Municipal Center at 3 Primrose Street at Fairfield Hills.    

Rob Sibley, town deputy director of planning and land use, in a statement said that doing too much vegetation clearing on a property can have adverse environmental effects.

“Overclearing can encourage the growth of invasive plants, increase pollution of watercourses, and lead to a loss of habitats,” he said in a statement.

“This [seminar] is a great opportunity for people to learn about reducing the effects of development on our native environment,” he said.

The seminar will include discussion on topics including: ways to make development environmentally sound; how to improve the natural habitat by using native plants and installing buffers; the ways in which developed areas affect rivers, fish, and water quality; and environmentally sound ways to manage lawns.

“This seminar is designed to provide homeowners with development options that are easier on the environment…It’s a great opportunity to learn about what we can do to decrease impacts to natural resources,” said Conservation Official Ann Astarita.

Featured speakers attending the seminar will include: MaryAnn Nusom Haverstock, a supervising environmental analyst at the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Neal Hagstrom, a DEP fisheries biologist II; Pamela Cooper, the turf program coordinator for the University of Connecticut’s extension service, and Jane Didona, the principal member of Didona & Associates, a Danbury landscape architecture firm.

Each technical presentation to be made at the seminar will last about 20 minutes. A question-and-answer session will follow each presentation. Coffee will be served.

People may register for the free seminar by calling 203-270-4350, or by emailing Ms Astarita at ann.astarita@newtown-ct.gov.