Your generous support of the Healthy Forest Fund has a huge impact on the wellbeing of thousands of acres of nature preserves and many miles of foot trails. That ranges from removing woody invasive plants, building and improving foot trails, and planting seedlings to removing storm-downed trees, adding trail markers, leading hikes … and much more.
Our stewardship crew this season includes Ohio University interns and AmeriCorps members, led by land steward Bill Rucker. Every day they prioritize critical issues to keep our nature preserves, trails, and native habitat healthy, accessible, and inviting for our local community and regional visitors.
Make a gift to the Healthy Forest Fund to support this crucial work! Donate here.
Here are some of the projects funded this season by your Healthy Forest Fund gifts:
- Four miles of new foot trails were completed, expanding our network of trails for visitors to explore. The crew completed a Woodland Trail loop and built a new Creek Trail at Joy Valley Nature Preserve, and constructed new trails at the Lindy’s Preserve and Winner Woods.
- Persistent non-native, invasive plant species are a stubborn problem in our forests, where they threaten native habitat and require constant work to control. Our team has worked countess hours to remove aggressive species like Autumn olive, multiflora rose, common barberry, privet, garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, and lesser celandine.
- At Lindy’s Preserve, the 3-year-old saplings in our American Chestnut grove were carefully checked, tended, and re-staked to ensure the small, native tree will continue to thrive and grow. Seventy-three seedlings were planted in protective tubes in 2023 as part of a broad effort to reestablish American chestnut trees.
- In the wake of strong spring storms, downed trees were cleared from trails in several areas, including Baker, Blair, Mary Beth, Lindy’s, and Winner Woods preserves.
- Wooden foot bridges were inspected and repaired at the Blair and Lesli Johnson preserves.
- A soil restoration project was conducted near the pond at Mary Beth Preserve. The activities – including soil testing and preparation, and planting native seeds – were part of a student class project by intern Lillian Keener in collaboration with native plant experts.
- To help hikers find their way, new metal arrow trail markers were installed on foot trails at Baker, Joy Valley, and Lindy’s preserves.
- To ensure property boundaries are clearly visible, the team updated and installed about 10 miles of boundary signs.
- When they were not working on site, the stewardship team created informational posters to be displayed in trailhead kiosks, archived tasks in the Landscape software program, and took part in an outreach program at the Athens County Public Library.
- The crew of interns and AmeriCorps workers also were instrumental in helping Athens Conservancy prepare for a public celebration at Joy Valley Nature Preserve in May. They helped oversee site preparation, made sure trails were clear and inviting, directed guest parking, interacted with more than 60 community attendees, and led guests on hikes.