Local news- Press Release
Durham County Public Health North Carolina - Durham County Open Space Launches Trail Steward Program 21 February 2024 ( news )
Durham County Public Health , state North Carolina ( By Press Release office)
Feb 21,2024
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Durham , N . C . –
Durham County Open Space Program is excited to announce its new Open Space Steward program . Open Space Stewards are volunteers who help the Open Space Program monitor and protect the New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail and the Bottomlands ecosystem . Open Space Stewards will walk the trail regularly and have the opportunity to assist with a variety of projects , including ecological research , trail maintenance , and outreach .
“This is an excellent way to help care for Durham County’s public lands while learning about conservation and land management , ” said Open Space Specialist David Bradley when asked about the benefits of becoming a steward .
Open Space Stewards commit to walking the trail at least once a month for a minimum of six months . Stewards should be comfortable walking up to three miles on a mostly flat but occasionally muddy trail . No prior experience or knowledge is required . Open Space staff will provide all necessary training during and after the orientation process .
Durham County’s New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail , located at 3791 SW Durham Dr . , is accessible from the City of Durham’s Old Chapel Hill Road Park and allows visitors to explore part of the County’s New Hope Creek Preserve . Home to the New Hope Bottomlands ecosystem , one of the oldest and most biologically diverse bottomlands forests in central North Carolina , New Hope Creek Preserve is a refuge for many rare species , including several that have yet to be found anywhere else in the state , and protects a critical wildlife corridor along New Hope Creek .
“The delicate nature of this ecosystem , and the fact that the trail sits largely in a floodplain , present unique land management and maintenance challenges . Open Space Stewards will help the Open Space Program continue to care for this remarkable part of Durham County’s natural heritage so that its benefits and beauty can be enjoyed by County residents for generations to come . ”
For more information about this opportunity to help protect nature in Durham , review the
Open Space Steward volunteer interest formor contact David Bradley , Open Space Specialist , at
dabradley@dconc . govor ( 919 ) 943 – 3997 .
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