Gimbel Sanctuary

A Natural Oasis Where Birds Thrive

The Gimbel Audubon Sanctuary is one of seven sanctuary properties managed by the National Audubon Society in Greenwich, Connnecticut. This 80-acre refuge is part of the former 200-acre Gimbel family estate, purchased by Isaac Gimbel in 1925 and occupied by the family for three generations. Roughly half of the current sanctuary (37 acres) was gifted to the Audubon Society of Greenwich in 1972, while the other half (43 acres) was donated by John Fereri in 1995.

Today, the Gimbel sanctuary provides a wide diversity of habitats to explore! Predominant among these is a mixed-hardwood forest consisting of oak, hickory, beech, ash, and maple, with smaller groves of conifers such as spruce, pine, fir, and hemlock scattered throughout. 

Water is another important feature of the landscape, with several small streams and wetlands crossing the property and feeding into the nearby Byram River.

At the sanctuary’s Sherwood Avenue entrance, roughly an acre of recently-restored wet meadow—punctuated by the remnants of an old apple orchard—provides ideal habitat for bird and insect pollinators like the Eastern bluebird and monarch butterfly. 

While several larger areas of meadow and shrubland have been heavily impacted by the encroachment of non-native plant species, future restoration efforts are being planned with the goal of adding at least five acres of healthy early successional habitat by 2030. 

The sanctuary’s yellow trail, which marks the southern end of the 7-mile Byram River Greenway corridor, connects the Gimbel Audubon Sanctuary to the Greenwich Land Trust’s Byram River Gorge Preserve to the north. 

Parking and Directions

The main entrance is via a trail on Sherwood Avenue opposite Nutmeg Drive. The approximate location for this entrance is 29-29 Sherwood Ave. Residential street parking is also available on Nutmeg Drive if the parking loop is ever full.

Maintenance Status

Thanks in large part to the efforts of Greenwich Audubon’s 2025 and 2026 Eco Leader teams, the sanctuary’s yellow trail and Sherwood Avenue parking loop are now open and accessible! A new entrance gate, donated and installed by a local Eagle Scout, welcomes visitors to the yellow trail, while 250 feet of fresh boardwalk helps ensure safe footing in all weather conditions. 

Other partners in this work include Apple Inc., which provided corporate volunteers for boardwalk installation, and the Greenwich Land Trust, who have generously supported fundraising initiatives and continue to collaborate on planning and habitat improvement initiatives. 

Many of the sanctuary’s smaller trails remain inaccessible due to invasive species growth, though restoration efforts are ongoing. We encourage you to check back regularly for additional updates!