The Spring Creek Forest Preserve Society offers chances for birdwatching, walking, volunteering and more.
Saturday work sessions
Saturday, July 11, come to our work session at 1787 Holford. Just two hours in the cool of the morning – 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. No problem staying six feet apart – there is plenty of space and it will make you feel like a new person to get out in the middle of nature and help the Preserve. However, face masks are required, at least at check-in. After that, if there is adequate space for social distancing, you can remove the mask.
We will break into teams and do several projects: weed the native plant garden, clean out some woody plants that have dared to grow in the middle of our space, and keep pushing back the forest which really wants to take over the prairie. Each team will have a knowledgeable volunteer so you know what plants should be removed.
BRING WATER. Also, even in the heat, wear work gloves, long pants, protective eye-wear and sturdy, closed-toe shoes for your protection from poison ivy and thorns. If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. And, don’t forget, face masks are required.
All participants and the parents of minors must sign our Liability Waiver. All minors 16 yrs. and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For Master Naturalists, this counts as Volunteer Hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest project.
Also, note Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 a.m. is the next work session. The location will be announced later.
New picnic tables
Thanks to the Garland Parks and Rec Department, there are new picnic tables on the prairie at 1787 Holford. Take a cup of coffee and relax while you check out what’s blooming.
Take a walk in the preserve
Try the main loop trail at 1770 Holford Road. This is our original Preserve trail. It starts and ends with a concrete walk, but after you have reached the Spring Creek overlook, the trail becomes natural-surface and winds up the hill through the forest until it reaches our little meadow and connects with concrete again. It is about a one-mile walk. As you enter the forest, you can feel the air temperature go down.
Birdwatch at our preserve
Be sure and take binoculars on your walk, because our Preserve is one of the best locations in the region for bird-watching. The birdhouses you see in the prairies are mainly for the Eastern Bluebird, but other small birds such as Chickadees often use them too. Please do NOT go up to and disturb the houses! Watch them from the trail with your binoculars. According to ebird.org, 183 species have been spotted in the Preserve. You can see the full list at ebird.org where we are listed as Spring Creek Forest & Preserve (Dallas Co) PPW-W 097.
For general Preserve information, please call Garland Parks and Recreation Department, 972-205-2750.