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ONP Newsletters
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Summer 2008 (July)
Spring 2008 (March)
Autumn 2007 (October)
Summer 2007
(June)
Autumn 2006 (October)
Summer 2006 (June)
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ONP Update February 2008
The preserve has taken on a very different look in mid winter. We
finally have a fairly dense canopy in a number of areas and that has helped
us control the understory. This is the first year we have had a significant
leaf drop and the dense areas have a whole different feel as you hike
through. Some trees are very confused by the warm winter and are already
forming new leaves even as they drop the old ones, so the open canopy won’t
last long.
The leaf fall has a very positive effect on our restoration
efforts. We must remember that not too many years ago this was an abandoned
citrus grove and part of it was a planted pine forest. One of the things
that happens as a forested area is cleared and used for citrus is a loss of
organic topsoil. Now we are beginning to build back this layer and this will
be an important step to help us re-establish native understory plants.
We hope to restore most of the uplands back to the sandhill plant
community that existed before being cleared for citrus many years ago. This
is not easy since a sandhill community requires burning to retain the proper
mix of canopy, understory and groundcover species. We are not allowed to
burn because of the proximity to the turnpike so we simulate burning with
herbicides. We will begin to manipulate the canopy in the next few years by
killing selected trees (we will probably get a lot of criticism) but this is
the only way to get the proper ratio of species we need. We will probably
kill the selected trees and leave them standing for the woodpeckers to enjoy
as we plant back the species we want.
Well, so much for the ecology lecture. We want the public to really
appreciate what is happening on that site. Remember, the more you know, the
more you see…
The most exciting thing happening at ONP right now is the
construction of our long awaited environmental education center. The unique
log structure is coming together well and gets more interesting everyday.
We will have our first review of the building next Saturday,
February 9 with a community appreciation picnic at the Amon Pavilion on the
West Orange Trail. We will meet at the Pavilion at 10:30 and begin with
planting a tree in memory of George Bailey, followed by a tour of the
building at 11:00, then have our picnic followed by a ‘nature creep’ at 1:00
p.m. This will be a fun time and we invite everyone to attend. Please plan
to come out, bring a snack for the picnic if you like (not necessary) and
enjoy the day with us.
On Saturday, March 15 we will have a presentation by Doris Mager,
“the eagle lady” on birds of prey. Doris is always good and we will get a
close-up look at live birds. Following this we will have our March “nature
creep” which is normally scheduled for the third Sunday of each month. See
you there!
Sincerely,
Jim Thomas
President, Oakland Nature Preserve
If you would like
further information on any of these items, contact us at the preserve office
(407) 905-0054.
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Classroom at Oakland Nature Preserve to
Honor Rotary
A new environmental education center scheduled to be built at the
Oakland Nature Preserve will honor the commitment of ten local Rotary Clubs
that raised more than $75,000 to help build the center. Because of the
tremendous support given to the project by the local Rotary Clubs, one of
the center’s rooms will be named the “Rotary Classroom”. The center will
feature two large rooms, one designated as a classroom/laboratory and the
other as space for a museum.
“We feel this is the most appropriate room,” said Richard Irwin,
who chaired the Rotary fundraising committee. “All of our fundraising
communication about this facility was for an environmental classroom, a
place where our children and future generations can learn the importance of
the environment and water quality.”
The ten local Rotary Clubs pooled resources in a number of ways to
support this project and commemorate the centennial year of Rotary.
Construction on the $650,000 facility is scheduled to begin soon, according
to Oakland Nature Preserve president Jim Thomas.
The other large room in the center will be named the Ginn Museum to
commemorate the financial support of the Ginn Corporation.
Naming rights for the entire building are still available for the
cost of $250,000 and group members are now working toward this final goal.
For more information or to provide funding support for the center, call Jim
Thomas at 407 656 8277. Click on
Naming Rights to see a complete list.
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