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Heritage Trail Project
The Background Story: Continuing the Union County Extension Master Gardener mission of partnership for the creation of a sustainable community through education and implementation, this trail project is an extension of both our Teaching Garden and Woodland Garden paths, as well as, the eventual connection with the the Union County segment of the Carolina Thread Trail. This allows Union County residents an opportunity to walk through the wood environment and to learn about our native Piedmont plants and wildlife. The trail is planned to traverse through the wooded area, adjacent to our teaching gardens, continuing through the woods, and eventually connect with the Jesse Helms Park. The area contains a dry creek bed and an intermittent creek. |
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The Heritage Trail has Two Objectives:
We have marked, cleared, and mulched the beginning of the trail and are working on removing invasive varieties and moving native plants from our existing beds, as well as, planting donated plants along the trail. We plan on identifying each of the native plants with markers. Building Relationships: This is as an excellent opportunity for our Master Gardener Volunteers to network and build relationships with other Union County groups. Agricultural Extension Urban Forestry agent, Bill Smith, is our contact and liaison, and he has indicated plans to assist with the bridge-building. The Heritage Trail will be an ongoing project with a broad scope, and we welcome all that would like to help. |
History of the Heritage Trail:
The idea for developing a walking trail, behind our Master Gardeners' Teaching Gardens, was discussed in 2013. The area was marked with yellow tape, hugging the garden hillside. Carrying the idea further, Master Gardeners Karen Schweiker, Brenda Merrefield, Vikki Tessar, and Carol Larrimore met in 2014 and named the trail and decided on a native plant education focus.
Native Plant Society member and owner of Carolina Heritage Nursery, Lisa Thompkins, walked the trail with us, providing her expertise regarding plant needs, identifying plants on the trail, noting water flow, sun/shade lighting, invasive plants and recommending future plants. Master Gardeners mapped out the initial trail, put down cardboard and mulch, identified a bed at the beginning of the trail and native plants.
Dr. Larry Mellichamp, UNCC botany professor, noted author, and developer of the UNCC botanical gardens, visited the trail and assisted with plant identification and recommendations. Plant donations were received from Pat Kitto and Karen Schweiker, Master Gardeners. Eagle Scout Alec Guara, for his Eagle Scout project, improved and lengthened the trail, providing two benches.
In 2015, we began a partnership with Troop #1 of First Presbyterian Church of Monroe. The group, led by “Mac” Macfarland, took on the development of the trail as their service project, devoting 4-5 hours of hard work 1 to 2 Saturdays each month. The group broadened and flattened the trail, set down rail borders, re-directed water flow, began initial work on a bridge across the dry gulch, pulled invasives, planted the first group of native plants and routed the trail, around the hill, back to the Jessie Helms bridge.
Union County Parks and Recreation liaison, Jarrod Steele, and Union County Agricultural Extension Office forestry agent, Bill Smith, advised and supported the trail development, and confirmed property access for the endeavor. Mr. Smith provided sweat labor, helped clear a fallen cedar tree and arranged for removal of another. Mr. Steele is facilitating potential signage as the trail is part of Union County’s recreational resources.
Vanessa Gorr, Carolina Thread Trail Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, agreed to verbally support the trail endeavor and seek its inclusion in the Carolina Thread Trail in Union County. Eagle Scout Bowen helped extend the trail across the dry gulch along the opposite hillside for his Eagle project. The trail will eventually continue into the woods, as well as, connect the original leg of the trail, as the bridge crosses the dry gulch.
Boy Scout, Jacob Kegley, has taken on the Eagle Scout project of developing several plant beds along the trail, including, the one at the entrance. His focus is on fund raising for plants and bed developing, and continuing the native plant education goal.
*The first loop of the Heritage Trail, approximately 1/4 mile, was officially opened on 4/9/16.
The idea for developing a walking trail, behind our Master Gardeners' Teaching Gardens, was discussed in 2013. The area was marked with yellow tape, hugging the garden hillside. Carrying the idea further, Master Gardeners Karen Schweiker, Brenda Merrefield, Vikki Tessar, and Carol Larrimore met in 2014 and named the trail and decided on a native plant education focus.
Native Plant Society member and owner of Carolina Heritage Nursery, Lisa Thompkins, walked the trail with us, providing her expertise regarding plant needs, identifying plants on the trail, noting water flow, sun/shade lighting, invasive plants and recommending future plants. Master Gardeners mapped out the initial trail, put down cardboard and mulch, identified a bed at the beginning of the trail and native plants.
Dr. Larry Mellichamp, UNCC botany professor, noted author, and developer of the UNCC botanical gardens, visited the trail and assisted with plant identification and recommendations. Plant donations were received from Pat Kitto and Karen Schweiker, Master Gardeners. Eagle Scout Alec Guara, for his Eagle Scout project, improved and lengthened the trail, providing two benches.
In 2015, we began a partnership with Troop #1 of First Presbyterian Church of Monroe. The group, led by “Mac” Macfarland, took on the development of the trail as their service project, devoting 4-5 hours of hard work 1 to 2 Saturdays each month. The group broadened and flattened the trail, set down rail borders, re-directed water flow, began initial work on a bridge across the dry gulch, pulled invasives, planted the first group of native plants and routed the trail, around the hill, back to the Jessie Helms bridge.
Union County Parks and Recreation liaison, Jarrod Steele, and Union County Agricultural Extension Office forestry agent, Bill Smith, advised and supported the trail development, and confirmed property access for the endeavor. Mr. Smith provided sweat labor, helped clear a fallen cedar tree and arranged for removal of another. Mr. Steele is facilitating potential signage as the trail is part of Union County’s recreational resources.
Vanessa Gorr, Carolina Thread Trail Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, agreed to verbally support the trail endeavor and seek its inclusion in the Carolina Thread Trail in Union County. Eagle Scout Bowen helped extend the trail across the dry gulch along the opposite hillside for his Eagle project. The trail will eventually continue into the woods, as well as, connect the original leg of the trail, as the bridge crosses the dry gulch.
Boy Scout, Jacob Kegley, has taken on the Eagle Scout project of developing several plant beds along the trail, including, the one at the entrance. His focus is on fund raising for plants and bed developing, and continuing the native plant education goal.
*The first loop of the Heritage Trail, approximately 1/4 mile, was officially opened on 4/9/16.
Plant varieties that can currently be found, on the Hertitage Trail ~
Tree varieties that can currently be found, on the Hertitage Trail ~
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Plant Donations:
If you would like to donate to this project, the list below contains beneficial woodland plants that are native to the Piedmont region of North Carolina. *For plant donations, please contact: Carol Larrimore at plarrimore@carolina.rr.com
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CONTACTS: We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us for additional information, as well as, volunteer opportunities. Union Country Agricultural Center - General Information: Phone: 704 283-3801 Master Gardener Program, Growline and Gardening Questions Phone: 704 283-3822 By Email: ucmgwebsite@gmail.com |