Spring Creek Forest Preserve is a unique city of Garland park divided into three different sections. The first part, at 1770 Holford Road, represents an old-growth bottomland hardwood forest with some of the oldest and tallest trees in the county. ADA-compliant concrete trails and natural-surface (dirt) trails that wind through the forest allows visitors to experience nature.
Across the creek, at 1787 Holford is Spring Creek Park Preserve. This area features a limestone prairie with wildflowers and other plants unique to that environment. A wildscape garden at the parking lot and a self-guided interpretive trail along a 0.8-mile natural-surface loop will help you learn more about the ecology of the park.
Soon, another ADA-accessible concrete trail off Ranger Drive, behind Naaman Forest High School, will lead hikers into the third part of the preserve, supplementing the natural-surface trails along the creek.
The Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest hosts a series of interesting speakers the first Tuesday evening of each month, plus nature hikes on the fourth Sunday of each month from September through April. Special events have included first-aid training and our annual Christmas is for the Birds event for youngsters. All are open to the public.
You are invited to support the forest in several ways: become a member; join our monthly volunteer workdays; enjoy the 4th Sunday guided walk; come hear regional experts talk about the Dallas area environment. https://springcreekforest.org/. David Parrish, president
For Kids – Christmas is for the Birds – Saturday, Dec.7, 1787 Holford Road, Garland, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This is a fun event for pre-school or elementary school children. They’ll make bio-degradable bird feeders out of peanut butter and birdseed, then hang the feeders in the forest. There will also be short nature walks to show children a little of the forest and prairie.
Some folks make feeders at home and bring them to hang on the trees. See the suggestions below.
Biodegradable bird feeder ornaments should be hung with cotton yarn or string. Birds will use the string later for making their nests. Metal or plastic hangers, including fishing line, are dangerous for birds and wildlife as they could ingest it and injure themselves. If you make feeder ornaments at home, bring them to the park ready to hang.
Examples of biodegradable feeders:
- Pine cones coated in peanut butter and rolled in birdseed.
- Strings of fresh or dried berries.
- Suet balls (see recipe below)
- Strings of non-buttered popcorn
Make your own feeders:
COOKIE CUTTER FEEDERS
- 1 small package original gelatin unflavored (Knox)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup birdseed
- straws
- waxed paper
- cookie sheet and cookie cutters
- ribbon, string, or twine
Place unflavored gelatin in a pot and add water. Bring to a simmer while stirring until all the gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat. Add birdseed to water/gelatin mixture and blend well; mixture will smell earthy. Place waxed paper on cookie sheet and put a cookie cutter on waxed paper. Spoon birdseed mixture into cookie-cutter pressing it in firmly. Cut straw about 3 inches long and insert to make the hole for hanging. Let it set, then remove cookie cutter and straw. Add string to hang it.
NO-MELT SUET BALLS
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1 cup lard
- 2 cups quick-cook oatmeal
- 2 cups cornmeal
- 1 cup white flour
- ½ cup sugar
- raisins (optional)
- nuts (optional)
Melt peanut butter and lard together. Stir in the other ingredients. Pour mixture into cookie cutters or form into balls and freeze. Raisins and or nuts can be added to the mix prior to freezing.