Bedford Hills, NY— Westchester Land Trust (WLT) has been awarded a $123,500 grant from the Sarah K. de Coizart Article TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust to support bat habitat conservation efforts at the organization’s newly protected Lodestone Preserve in Southeast.

The two-year grant will fund critical bat conservation research, habitat restoration, community education, and partnership-building efforts at the 200-acre preserve, which is home to significant bat hibernation habitat associated with the historic Croton Magnetite Mine. Lodestone Preserve is not currently open to the public, as Westchester Land Trust undertakes careful planning and stewardship to protect sensitive habitats and ensure future access is safe, sustainable, and aligned with conservation goals.

Lodestone Preserve contains habitat for several vulnerable bat species, including the federally and state endangered northern long-eared bat, the eastern small-footed myotis (a New York State Species of Concern), and the tri-colored bat, which has been proposed for federal listing.

“Bats play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, from natural insect control to forest pollination and resilience,” said Janelle Robbins, Vice President of Conservation at Westchester Land Trust. “This grant allows us to take a proactive, science-driven approach to protecting vulnerable species while thoughtfully planning for the day when Lodestone can welcome the public.”

Over the next two years, WLT will conduct professional bat assessments, develop and begin implementing a comprehensive habitat management plan, that includes restore native vegetation, and create interpretive installations that connect the property’s magnetite mining history with its ecological renewal. This work is essential to preparing the preserve for eventual public access while safeguarding the species that rely on it.

“At its heart, stewardship is about patience, care, and our shared responsibility to the land,” said Ben Kleist, Preserve Manager at Westchester Land Trust. “Lodestone Preserve is a place that needs time, attention, and respect. By caring for the land first through learning from the landscape, restoring habitats, and protecting wildlife we’re laying the foundation for a preserve that can one day be shared by the community and wildlife in harmony.”

Lodestone Preserve is both a literal and symbolic name. Lodestone refers to magnetite, the naturally magnetized mineral once mined on the property, but it also reflects Westchester Land Trust’s guiding commitment to principled stewardship and long-term care of the land.

Community members who are interested in supporting this work are encouraged to visit www.westchesterlandtrust.org to learn how to get involved in preparing Lodestone Preserve for public access in the future, including opportunities to support habitat restoration, stewardship efforts, and conservation programming.

We acknowledge that our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people and that their culture and traditions live on today.