LOVER

One of the most defining and beautiful aspects of the Town of Redding is its open green spaces, woodlands, and hiking trails, but not everyone has met Silvia Erskine, co-leader of the Redding Land Trust. Along with co-president Gordon Loery, she has been at the forefront of ushering in a new era for the organization, one of spirited fundraising events, community outreach, and a forward-thinking approach to land stewardship.

Erskine brings enthusiasm and meticulous dedication to these efforts, borne of her great respect for the outdoors and her professional work as an accomplished architect and landscape architect.

Erskine grew up in Westport, where she had the run of the woods right out the back door of her childhood home. “Our property was on the border of Wilton and Weston, and I would walk through our neighbors’ backyards and the Saugatuck River natural area for hours with my black lab, Alex,” she says. In many formative ways it was an idyllic childhood. Time spent hiking sparked a love for Connecticut’s woods and rivers that has