This picturesque evening was held in the Woodcock Nature Center’s candlelit pavilion, on the Center’s property spanning 150 acres in Wilton and Ridgefield. A highlight of the evening was the generous tasting of food carefully prepared by local chef Sarah Bouïssou of Sarah’s Wine Bar. Chef Bouïssou prepared the evening’s delectable meal from a selection of produce donated from local farms including Ambler Farm, Horseshoe Farm and The Hickories. Local purveyor No. 109 Cheese & Wine provided a sampling of artisanal cheeses and a generous wine-tasting selection was provided by Ridgefield’s Cellar XV Wine Market.
A tasting of craft brewers from Nod Hill Brewery was also on hand for beer-loving guests as well as selections from other local favorites: Two Roads and Palm. The evening included a silent and live auction for a variety of popular items including tickets to the Stephen Colbert show as well as unique Woodcock experiences such as catered dinners on the 149-acre preserve from local restaurants, children and family experiences such as animal encounters and birthday parties and a very popular VIP package experience for Woodcock’s annual sell-out Wreath Festival event. Original and cover musical selections were performed by guitarist, local farmer and owner of Horseshoe Farm in Ridgefield, Pete Campbell.
All proceeds supported Woodcock’s environmental education initiatives, which include local outreach, school programs, a variety of family events and adult education activities aimed at connecting to and appreciating our natural world. Woodcock Nature Center’s mission is to connect people to the habitats, plants and animals of Southwestern CT through programs that build awareness, nurture understanding, and advance conservation.
Photographs by Emily Masino