During the Tuesday, Nov. 17 regular meeting of the Garland City Council, Mayor Douglas Athas presented the Citizens Environmental and Neighborhood Advisory Committee Recognition for Environmental Achievement Award to the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest. Naturalists from across the Metroplex were present to demonstrate their support.
The group’s president, Barbara Baynham, accepted the award and was joined at the podium by Fay Danahy and Ginny Wilcox, both charter members of the Society; Tom Frey, retired landscape architect for the city of Garland with the forest project from the beginning and leader of the Annual Trout Lily walk; and Jennifer Kolmes.
Baynham thanked several of the society’s key partners including the city of Garland, the Citizens Environmental and Neighborhood Advisory Committee, the Dallas County Open Spaces Program, the Garland Parks and Recreation Department, the Garland Police Department, the North Texas Master Naturalists, the Native Plant Society of Texas, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts.
Spring Creek Forest Preserve in northwest Garland is a combination of both blackland prairie and a rare remnant of virgin bottomland hardwood forest, composed of chinquapin, bur, and shumard oaks. There is also a diversity of other native trees and shrubs. Many of these trees, 100-300 years old, soar to heights of 100 feet on trunks four feet thick. In addition, the preserve has beautiful chalk prairie and wildflower meadows, native grasses, wildflowers and fauna such as eastern bluebirds.
Long known to be a botanically unique and outstanding area, the preserve was officially designated and established by Dallas County Open Spaces and the city of Garland in 1988. 
Since that time, it has been managed by Garland and Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest.
The volunteer society promotes the preservation and protection of Spring Creek Forest Preserve as a cultural and natural resource. Additionally, it facilitates scientific and educational pursuits. Since its establishment in 1989, the society has dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to maintain nature trails, remove invasive species, plan activities with informative guest speakers and provide tours.
Upcoming Events:
Dec. 5, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Christmas is for the Birds. Pre-school and elementary school children will make bio-degradable bird feeders to hang in the trees at the preserve. 1787 Holford Road.
Jan. 5, 2016: 7 p.m. – Monthly meeting of the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest Preserve. Ben Jones, Dean of the Wild Earth Academy at the Dallas Zoo, speaks on “Saving Endangered Species.” North Garland Branch Library.
Feb. 27, 2016: 23rd Trout Lily Walk (times TBA).1770 Holford Road.
Photos provided by Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest Preserve.