39 ACRES ADDED

The great diversity of plants and animals that make Little Orange Creek Preserve home now have even more protected forest and wetland to call their own!

Last month, ACT secured an additional 39 acres on the north end of the preserve (see map below) thanks to a generous grant awarded to ACT by a private foundation and to all those who contributed their support to the "Room to Roam" campaign. The new addition is primarily uplands composed of hammock and flatwoods that were never converted to pine plantation, and it forms an important buffer to the vast wetlands that make up Fowler's Prairie further south.

Since last December, ACT has added over 500 acres to Little Orange Creek Preserve, which now totals 2,867 acres. Many thanks to everyone whose contributions made this unique place a part of our community forever.

50,000 SEEDLINGS

This summer, ACT is making a big push to restore the pine flatwoods at Prairie Creek Preserve. With added manpower from summer interns, volunteers, and UF's YELS (Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership and Sustainability) program participants, ACT's goal is to plant 50,000 Wiregrass and Longleaf pine seedlings by summer's end.

Funding assistance is provided in part through the US Fish and Wildlife Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, an initiative established to restore ecosystem function to former pastures and pine plantations. Additional support came from this year's TREEFEST, an Earthday event sponsored by Swamp Head Brewery and Solar Impact.

This effort not only restores habitat, but also educates students and community volunteers about the importance of native plant species and the rejuvenating role of fire in Florida pinelands while participating in land management.

BIRD RETURNS AFTER 20 YEARS

A sign that restoration efforts at Prairie Creek Preserve are headed in the right direction was an observation today (July 9th, pic below) of 3 Brown-headed Nuthatches in a recently burned management zone. This species is fairly local in Alachua County, and restricted primarily to pine flatwoods in good condition. 

We suspect Brown-headed Nuthatches were common in the area before 1995 when this property was clear-cut and planted with slash pine. Other birds that are steadily increasing in number on the preserve are Northern Bobwhite, Indigo Bunting, and Blue Grosbeaks.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK  
Your contribution supports our efforts to protect and restore the natural and historic
areas that make north Florida the place you want to call home.
The mission of Alachua Conservation Trust is to protect the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources in and around Alachua County, Florida. ACT protects land through purchase, donation, and conservation easements, and is a public charity defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

ACT subscribes to the Standards and Practices of the Land Trust Alliance, available at www.LTA.org. ACT does not provide tax advice, and no goods or services were provided in return for this contribution. Donor's name may appear in ACT's annual report, Form 990 to the IRS, copies of which are available at www.GuideStar.org

ACT does not share our contact information, except to land conservation and historic preservation efforts in Alachua County that are affiliated with ACT. Alachua Conservation Trust's Charitable Solicitation Number is CH12693. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800) 435-7352 within the State, or visiting the website www.800helpfla.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State.