A sacred space, a whispering meadow, a path to healing…
Nestled in the very heart of Newtown, spread over 34 acres, lies a beacon of hope – the future site of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.
In September of 2014, the state of CT conveyed this spot of pristine state farmland, with breathtaking woodlands and rolling meadows, to the CVH Foundation. Located only minutes from the highway, the sanctuary is easily accessible from Boston and New York City, making it an ideal destination that hundreds of thousands can enjoy over time.
The Build Timeline
2022
May 2022
The sanctuary has been accepted into the Living Building Challenge, an initiative that inspires people to create the greenest buildings for a healthy world, producing more for the environment than they take.
2021
February 2021
Access drive construction begins
2020
June 2020
Pollinator Garden Installed 
April 2020
Garden beds planted 
2019
October 2019
New apiary to promote bee conservation
September 2019
Retaining wall completion
August 2019
Pavilion moves to permanent location
July 2019
Retaining wall progress
June 2019
Retaining wall construction begins
March 2019
Initial sitework begins
January 2019
Temporary Bailey Bridge ready for action
2018
2018
Volunteers begin constructing the community garden beds
Land prep for raised garden bed installation
2017
2017
BEFORE – Land prep for paddock installation.
AFTER – Rescue Rebuild installs paddocks for future rescued farm animals.
2016
2016
BEFORE – Property’s dilapidated 1920 Bank Barn
AFTER – Rescue Rebuild restores old barn, transforming it into “Catherine’s Rescue Barn”
2015
2015
UConn develops Invasive Management Plan to restore meadows.
Volunteers clear over an acre of invasive plants.
2014
2014
The sanctuary had finally found its forever home.
Governor Dannel P. Malloy presented the deed for approximately 34.44 acres of land in Newtown to the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, Inc. during bill signing of Special Act 14-13, facilitating the transfer of the state-owned land for the creation of an animal sanctuary and wildlife preserve.
