Date: June 6 & 7
Location: Steere Hill & Phillips Farm Conservation Area, Glocester, Rhode Island
The Glocester Land Trust will host the Rhode Island BioBlitz at its SPECTACULAR Steere Hill and Phillips Farm Conservation Area. You’ll be searching for biodiversity among secondary forests including enormous white pines and mixed hardwoods, a red maple swamp, shrubby hedgerows between old farm fields recently reclaimed from shrub succession by a lot of hard work. There are boulders and ledge and of course the ubiquitous New England stone walls.
Pre-registration is required to participate in RI BioBlitz. There are no walk-ins allowed.
Registration closed May 16. Over 200 people registered and we need this time to get teams organized and make other arrangements. You can still follow along with the expedition on social media.
RI BioBlitz 2025 Downloadable Resources (NOTE: these are for reference in advance, we will give printed copies to you at Science Central when you check in upon arrival:
Handy Reference Map
RIBORF (Rhode Island BioBlitz Observation Reporting Form)
Required Liability Waiver and Photo Release
Safety Rules and Instructions
Water? You bet (though the fish team will have their work cut out for them)! There are forested mountain streams with both rocky and swampy stretches, flooded quarry pits, vernal pools, and a shrub swamp/bog (it will be tough bushwhacking into THAT but unknown biodiversity treasures could await the tough of limb).
Get ready to do some hiking because this is old, hill farm country, and the site is draped over a ridge with streams at either end. There is 150 feet of elevation change between Science Central and the top of the ridge, with its stunning views to the west.
The BioBlitz boundaries encompass 277 acres, including Steere Hill Preserve, acquired in 2002, and the 68-acre Phillips Farm, acquired in 1990. To make sure we get sufficient concentration of our BioBlitzing energy, BioBlitz will not include the contiguous Heritage Park parcel to the west . . . at least not this year!
Science Central will be located on the very top of Steere Hill, a ridge with an astonishing view to the west. Access is via a dirt road, normally closed to vehicles, that climbs up from the Steere Hill Trailhead parking lot on Rt. 44. Organizers assure us it’s accessible to even the lamest cars. Camping will be at Science Central. It could be windy, and if it rains it’ll be very interesting indeed. Find out more about the site and download a slightly different version of the trail map on the GLT’s website.
THANK YOU SPONSORS:
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Glocester Land Trust
Largess Forestry
Payton Family
Peter H. Warny Conservation Fund
Lusi Family