There are lots of things to do at the Spring Creek Preservation and the fun starts this Saturday, June 6. Meet at 1770 Holford Road to join in the work session from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. There is plenty of space for everyone so there will be no problem with distancing! The fresh air will do you good and you’ll be helping the preserve.
The work session will include weeding the native plant garden, cleaning out some woody plants and keep pushing back the forest that is intent on taking over the prairie. There will be a knowledgeable volunteer at each spot to let you know which plants are native and which should be removed.
Don’t forget to bring WATER, and for protection from poison ivy and thorns, bring wear work gloves, long pants, protective eye-wear and sturdy shoes (no sandals). If you have loppers and/or small tree saws, please bring them.
All participants and the parents of minors must sign a liability waiver. All minors 16 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.
The preserve is also a great place for bird-watching.
Be sure and take binoculars 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. See the full list at ebird.org where we are listed as Spring Creek Forest & Preserve (Dallas Co) PPW-W 097.
The preserve is also a great place to take a walk, and so far, it’s still OK to go out and walk as a family!
Try the Self-Guided Interpretive Trail at 1787 Holford Road that was created by the Dallas North Texas Master Naturalist chapter. The trail is about a mile long and loops through both prairie and forest.
The Garland Parks and Recreation Department recently helped reinstall several trail markers that had gone missing. So, although it really is too muddy right now, when the rain stops it will be a great way to get out of the house. Follow the 12 trail markers and read about the significance of each area on your iPhone or on the downloadable flyer. The markers are numbered, about 3-4 feet tall and about 4 inches wide. To read the information, go to https://springcreekforest.org/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/.
Note: There will be additional work sessions Saturdays, July 11 and Aug. 1 at 8 a.m. Locations will be announced later.