~February/March 2025~

Although Beech Bluff is still closed, stay tuned for exciting announcements to come!

Missed last month's newsletter? Click here to read the January/February edition.

Park Progress Update

We are oh-so-close to the opening of Beech Bluff County Park! Among one of the final projects that are close to completion are the Stormwater Control Measures, or SCMs. SCMS are structures that remove pollutants from stormwater runoff, which helps control water quality before it reaches natural bodies of water and drinking water supply reservoirs. There are multiple SCMS on-site.

Learn more about SCMs

Meanwhile, Beech Bluff staff continue to do what we can for our future visitors. Inside our Park Center, we will have activity stations set up throughout the exhibit hall.

If you are an adventure-seeker, try checking out one of our free Adventure Backpacks! We will have four different themes available to loan, each of which comes with a take-home journal to reflect on your visit.

Budding Artist: Unleash your inner artist using these creativity prompts, drawing pencils, and colored pencils.

Park Historian: Travel through time with these activities and prompts that will guide your exploration of Beech Bluff's history.

Outdoor Play: Let the games begin with these activities and prompts that get you playing and exploring the outdoors.

Nature Discovery: Connect with nature using these activities, guides, and tools to explore the vibrant landscapes of Beech Bluff.

No matter what your interests are, these backpacks are sure to lead to a fun-filled day at Beech Bluff County Park! Once we're open, simply sign one out and return it before the end of your visit.

Where's Beatrice Beech?

Were you able to spot Beatrice hiding in last month’s issue? She was helping the Litter Brigade clean up the park!

See if you can find Beatrice in this newsletter and check back next month for a hint at where she was hidden.

Upcoming Programs

We hope to see you at our virtual Mach program! Click on the program name to visit the registration page.

Growing with Regenerative Practices (virtual)

Friday, March 28, 10-10:45 a.m.

Interested in learning how to use an ecological approach to grow food? Join us for an engaging and informative virtual class on Growing Food with Regenerative Practices! This workshop is designed for gardeners, food enthusiasts, and anyone interested in learning how to grow healthy, sustainable food while regenerating the soil and ecosystem.

Staff Out and About: Groundhog Day Event

On Sunday, February 2, Julia Embrey attended the Groundhog Day event at White Deer Park in Garner to represent the Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space department. There, she taught visitors about signs of wildlife and testing them on their track ID skills while talking about Wake County Park offerings (including Beech Bluff, of course!). As a benefit, Julia got to witness White Deer Park's very own groundhog, Snerd, predict an early spring.

We can't wait to do our own events and wayside programs with you at the park!

It's Turtle Time!

Top: Stella basking in her brand-new home.

Bottom: Ali Wood holding Stella on her first day at Beech Bluff.

Remember the update in our January newsletter that we would be getting our own eastern box turtle? Say hello to Stella, who has officially joined our team! She will act as Beech Bluff's animal ambassador. You can find her in the Park Center and during guest star appearances in some of our programs.

Stella has quite the personality, rushing to receive her breakfast every morning and bask in the fine mist we spray to create humidity in her enclosure. So far she has loved mealworms, red wigglers, apple, honeydew, carrots, broccoli and spinach. We can't wait to experiment with more fruits and veggies straight from Beech Bluff's gardens!

Note: It is unlawful to take home eastern box turtles and keep them as pets. Stella was rescued and rehabilitated after an injury and due to the nature of her injuries was unable to be released back to the wild. She was cared for at Bass Lake Park before coming to Beech Bluff. If you find an injured wild turtle, consider reaching out to a reptile rehabilitator.

Learn about the NC State Turtle Rescue Team

Park Feature: Managing Your Garden for Wildlife During Winter

This month's park feature comes to you from the garden!

We are at a time of year when it feels like spring one day and winter the next. If you are like us and have spring fever, you may spend those extra warm days outside working in the garden and soaking up the sun. Resisting the urge to clean up your garden this early, however, can help support pollinators and other wildlife.

There are many species of bees, butterflies, moths and other insects and invertebrates that live in the ground and under organic matter like leaves and pine straw, so you may want to leave some of this as overwintering habitat instead of clearing it out. Many other species of native bees and insects also overwinter and lay eggs in the stems of your plants!

The seed heads of flowers like bee balm, purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan's are also natural birdfeeders. When the birds have consumed most of the seed in late winter around late February or early March, then consider cutting the seed head off and leaving around 24 inches stem for nesting habitat for native bees and other insect species.

Learn more about stem-nesting native bees

Beech Bluff County Park

3321 NC 42 Hwy

Willow Spring, NC 27592

beechbluff@wake.gov

Connect with us

Although Beech Bluff is still closed, stay tuned for exciting announcements to come!

Where's Beatrice Beech?

﻿Park Feature: Managing Your Garden for Wildlife During Winter

Park Feature: Managing Your Garden for Wildlife During Winter