VOLUME 15 // ISSUE 2 SUMMER 2015
NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL LAND TRUST
COASTLINES
PROTECTING POLLINATORS MAIN OFFICE
131 Racine Drive, Suite 202 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 790-4524 (910) 790-0392 Fax
Camilla M. Herlevich
Executive Director ext. 206 camilla@coastallandtrust.org
Giving Bees and Butterflies a Hand
John Napiecek
Business Manager ext. 204 john@coastallandtrust.org
Terry Holt
Office Administrator ext. 208 terry@coastallandtrust.org
Jesica C. Blake
Director of Stewardship ext. 203 jesica@coastallandtrust.org
Christopher Ketchie
Stewardship Biologist ext. 207 chris@coastallandtrust.org
Tatum Justice
Stewardship Assistant ext. 201 tatum@coastallandtrust.org
Vann Pearsall
It is a tale as old as time — the story of the birds and the bees. Well, bees, anyway.
S
ince the beginning, humans have relied on a partnership with nature to survive. So it is only natural that when the tiniest workers in the human food chain are in danger, it is time to give them a little helping hand. That’s exactly what the students at Dixon Elementary School in Holly
Director of Development ext. 210 vann@coastallandtrust.org
Ridge did this spring. Onslow County’s Dixon Elementary helped create a new quarter-acre pollinator garden for bees and butterflies, on the Coastal Land Trust’s Everett Creek Preserve next to the school. The students planted 12 different species of plants favored by pollinators, including milkweed, asters, purple coneflower, blackeyed Susans, sunflowers and butterfly weed. In all, 24 students and parent volunteers worked with the Coastal Land Trust’s staff, and volunteers from Duke Progress, to plant over 600
pollinator plants. Teacher Kristen McCutcheon is excited about the project. “This is more than a garden. This project has given select students in first through third grade a wonderful opportunity to solve real world sustainability issues,” she said. “This has been such a pleasure and huge learning experience for myself and the children here at Dixon Elementary,” McCutcheon said. “I am simply blown away by the shear amount of support by the countless volunteers that turned out
from many aspects of the community in order for the day to run as smoothly as it did.” “Taking this piece of overgrown land and turning it into something beautiful is a learning experience that will become a lasting memory for these children. And hopefully even for some, be the start of a budding love and interest for the environment around them,” McCutcheon said. Janice Allen, deputy director of the Coastal Land Trust agrees. “We are very pleased to work with our neighbor to create the
pollinator garden,” she said. “It is a great way to get kids involved with nature.” The Coastal Land Trust owns a 250-acre tract along Everett Creek, across the road from the school. Much of the property is currently being restored to a longleaf pine forest. Now, the Coastal Land Trust has a pollinator garden as well. In the future, another larger 2-3 acres of the property will be turned into a pollinator meadow. Allen hopes that the partnership will expand to include the school using continued on page 2
LAND ACQUISITION GOODWIN CREEK
Beth W. Steelman
CAMP SAM HATCHER
Development Associate/ Volunteer Coordinator ext. 200 bsteelman@coastallandtrust.org
Expanded Preserve Ideal Site For Environmental Education
Stephanie Borrett
Development Assistant ext. 209 stephanie@coastallandtrust.org
CENTRAL OFFICE Janice L. Allen
Deputy Director 3301-G Trent Road New Bern, NC 28562 (252) 634-1927 (252) 633-4179 Fax janice@coastallandtrust.org
NORTHEAST OFFICE Lee L. Leidy
Northeast Region Director Attorney at Law 205 N. Water Street, Suite 1 Elizabeth City, NC 27909 (252) 335-9495 lee@coastallandtrust.org
STAY IN TOUCH
NC Coastal Land Trust
www.CoastalLandTrust.org Design By:
Copycat Printshop Wilmington, NC
www.CoastalLandTrust.org
Piece by Piece
New Acquisition for Havelock Park
O
n the cusp of Earth Day, the Coastal Land Trust purchased a small piece of property in Craven County that highlights the many values we celebrate: conserving valuable forests for wildlife, connecting conservation lands, enhancing local water quality, and offering places for people to enjoy nature. This property physically links a portion of the vast Croatan National Forest (known locally as the Paupers Island Tract) to over 350 acres of Coastal Land Trust conservation lands, specifically the Magnolia Farm Preserve and Lewis Farm Tract, along the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s western boundary. Goodwin Creek, an unbelievably beautiful stream, winds through this area, eventually joining with Tucker Creek and on to the Neuse River Estuary. Ecologists with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program
dubbed the richly diverse hardwood forests along Goodwin Creek on this property and the adjacent Croatan as a special natural area. After purchasing the land from the Belangia family, the Coastal Land Trust gave it to the City of Havelock. The city added this to another property which the Coastal Land Trust gave them in 2013 to complement the city’s overall park vision. Along with canoe/ kayak access to the creek, the plan includes ball fields and nature trails. Both the state and federal government hold easements over the property that restrict any residential and commercial development with the goal to protect the creek and the adjacent military base. This project represents a win for water quality, wildlife, recreational opportunities, and even our military.
Campers prepare to paddle Gales Creek at Camp Sam Hatcher
T
he North Carolina Coastal Land Trust has expanded our Camp Sam Hatcher Preserve in Carteret County. This property lies along Gales Creek and was previously owned by the East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America, with whom the Coastal Land Trust has partnered to protect these additional acres. The Camp Sam Hatcher Preserve neighbors the Croatan National Forest. This provides a protective buffer to public lands and high quality natural heritage areas. This exceptional land also hosts longleaf pine sandhills and savanna habitat with rare plants and animals as residents. The property provides access to Gales Creek, a beautiful tidal creek that flows into Bogue Sound, an Outstanding Resource Water. The Coastal Land Trust will continue to own, manage and steward this ecologically significant property that has been loved and enjoyed by so many through the years. The Coastal Land Trust is already utilizing this property for environmental education opportunities by partnering with local groups.
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