Master Naturalist Amy Martin was thrilled that the North Texas Master Naturalists recommended her to Timber Press to write a book about natural areas around Dallas-Fort Worth. The experience turned out to be a healing experience for Martin. It also produced a book that includes information on the natural history and geography of North Texas, a guide to species of flora and fauna, 25 hiking adventures, beautiful photos and more. It is entitled Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth .
“I had broken my neck in a car accident and only 2% of people who have the injury I had survive intact,” she said. “While I was recovering, I designed 26 field trips for a master naturalist conference in North Texas. So, I learned all about these places in North Texas.”
Martin started walking a lot when she got well and she feels that it aided in her healing. Walking on unpaved paths challenges your body. It also helped her regain balance and confidence and gave her the strength to learn to hold her head up again.
Her love of nature comes from her father.
“My dad insisted that we live in a house by a creek, and it made all the difference in the world,” Martin said. “I had a place to play where I could engage in all kinds of fantasy scenarios. I’d pretend I was on a desert island or living in the jungle.”
It also gave her a place to learn to tell stories, which led to her becoming a writer.
She insisted that the book include a chapter about creeks and she added profiles of four “creek kids,” who went on to have jobs in nature because of what they learned in the creek.
Martin selected the places featured in the book. One of her goals was to provide two hours of hiking at each location. She included everything from easy trails to places that “go wild” where finding the trail and staying on it is a challenge. There are car trips as well.
Garland’s Spring Creek Forest Preserve got top billing in Martin’s book.
“It’s one of my favorite places in Dallas County,” she said. “It has so many different kinds of environments… and it’s so well managed…Land that is loved responds to that love. You see that at Spring Creek Forest Preserve,” she said.
Martin enjoyed hiking at the preserve with fellow Texas Master Naturalist David Parrish.
“Watching David Parrish step onto the trail and become a kid again is something I will never forget,” she said. “He became so joyful once he got into his forest, and I became a kid as well.”
Parrish said that it’s an honor to be the first adventure in Martin’s book, Wild DFW. He added that this helps bring new people to the preserve. Sometimes they live nearby and have never heard of the Spring Creek Forest Preserve. And newcomers are always surprised to learn about this special area.
“The preserve’s natural habitat is a Texas treasure,” Parrish said. “As the city of Garland promotes its cultural history, the preserve offers us an opportunity to remember the area’s unique natural history. Naturalists endeavor to capture this diversity by using Citizen Scientist tools, such as eBird and iNaturalist to capture their observations of the preserve’s distinct mix of flora and fauna.”
Martin believes that it’s important for every North Texas city to purchase all the open space they can.
“Thousands of people move here every day. And all the studies say that people’s health is better and their property values are better if there is some open space near them,” she said. “Particularly, if you can be within a 10-minute walk of open space.”
She said that we are losing open space rapidly. Some cities, like Fort Worth are on top of it, purchasing property all the time. It’s also important to have systems in place to maintain the spaces.
“Natural land does not maintain itself,” she said. “It is under siege whenever it’s in a city, by plants like privet, people who illegally dump garbage, people who camp out there and more. We need to make sure each place has a steward and strong municipal support.”
Preserving open spaces is also important for children. They need to experience nature, and Martin hopes that the book will encourage teachers who read the book and feel that they know the places well enough to take kids on field trips to the preserves.
Martin also hopes that the book’s readers will want to join the communities of people who act as stewards for these spaces. She added that people don’t often get a chance to do volunteer work with such long-lasting results. It’s also a great workout and you’re improving the world.
“There is also such a group spirit,” she said. “These park stewards are some of the nicest people in the world. We don’t talk about politics or pop culture. We talk about nature and the conversation is always good.”
Anyone new to the area should start with the first third of the book. It is called Natural History in Ecology. It will change the way readers view North Texas nature.
“There is a little bit of magic in learning a little about nature. You start seeing it in a different way and appreciating it more,” Martin said.
Click here to learn more about author Amy Martin and where to purchase the book.
Notes:
- The Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest offers year-round educational and volunteer opportunities. These include knowledgeable speakers, nature hikes and special events. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to participate. More information: https://springcreekforest.org/ or email springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com.
- Martin will be the guest speaker for the Spring Creek Preservation Society Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, 7 p.m. She will also lead the preserve’s Fourth Sunday Nature Walk Jan. 28, 2024, 2 p.m. at Halff Park.