East Lyme — The Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 457-acre preserve on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The ceremony is slated to get underway at 9 a.m., followed by guided hikes starting at 10 a.m. Activities will take place at the preserve's main entrance, located at Veterans Memorial Park at 10 Memorial Park Drive in Niantic. The public is invited. 

In 2001, the Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve initiated the effort that led to the creation of the preserve. It was ultimately created through a public/private partnership in 2007 and is sustained through a management agreement with the town and the East Lyme Land Trust.

"The Friends continue to work to conserve this important ecological, educational and recreational resource for future generations to enjoy," stated the organization in announcing the celebration."The Nature Preserve overlooks the environmentally fragile Niantic River and protects the delicate ecosystem of this tidal river from waste and erosion runoff. Equally important, it provides an undisturbed habitat for native and migrating birds and other wildlife. The preserve has seven miles of hiking trails which offer not only the town, but also the region and the state, invaluable opportunities to explore and appreciate this pristine natural environment."