Nature Trail Renovated, Trees Planted During National Public Lands Day

As part of National Public Lands Day the Cherry Hill Environmental Advisory Committee spearheaded an effort to renovate the nature trail at Barclay Farmstead, and also helped plant trees at Town Hall.

Nine volunteers worked on renovating the nature trail at the Barclay Farmstead, which had fallen into disrepair. Trail surfaces were enhanced and some new nature trail posts were secured in the ground. Six Trees of Heaven, an invasive tree from China, were removed and cut to eight-foot lengths to support the Farmstead’s Living History Day early American sawing station. 

The reclaimed Barclay Nature Trail is the first  in a series of nature and hiking trails CHEAC plans to establish or reestablish on Cherry Hill’s Open Space land. Other sites are being considered for trails, and most of the work will need to be done by volunteers. 

“This effort at the Barclay Homestead couldn’t be done without the help of concerned Cherry Hill citizens,” noted CHEAC Chairman Lew Gorman.

In conjunction with National Public Lands Day, CHEAC, with Mayor Bernie Platt, Township employees, and others planted about a dozen trees at town hall. 

“Not only will this tree planting aesthetically enhance the Township, provide more shade for a natural cooling effect, and help with stormwater runoff, but these trees will provide the community with a new natural resource that can be enjoyed by future generations,” Mayor Platt noted.

Started in 1994, National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands people enjoy. Mayor Platt supported the establishment of Cherry Hill as a nationally designated National Public Lands Day site. 

Continuing conservation community service opportunities in Cherry Hill will be available in the upcoming months, including planting a pollinator garden, developing nature and hiking trails, working on stormwater basin and wetland revegetation, and removing invasive plants.  Please contact CHEAC at (856) 424-3203 to volunteer.