Letort Spring Garden Preserve

Paul Mashett and Ben Mummert split these locust, walnut, and ash rails the traditional way. They're salvaged from downed trees they encountered in clearing the Letort Nature Trail extension to Heisers Lane.

Heads up courtesy for Hikers Archery & Flintlock Deer Sat, Dec 26 through Mon, Jan 18 You may encounter a Conservancy steward hunting at the Preserve. Only three special volunteers have permission and hunt there. Other folks hunt neighbors’ property. Each adjusts their plans for other outdoors enthusiasts. What's it mean? Well, across PA, everyone can share open space safelyhunters and hikers included. As outdoor users, be respectful and remember, we all count on each o...ther! When headed out, you and your pet can courteously choose: + Hi-viz (like clothes made for runners or cyclists) + Popular trails + Midday visits + Leashes + Soft voices + Waving ‘hi!’ Deer are lovely and part of our ecosystem. Unfortunately, our herd being out of balance with habitat isn’t good for them and it’s BAD for our struggling natural world. Each deer devours twelve pounds per day of the seedlings and flowers that birds and pollinators, for example, count on. As we struggle to establish those natives, invasive plants thrive because deer ignore barberry, bittersweet, multiflora rose, etc, etc. Our hunters are the same friendly folks who volunteer. Each spends hundreds of hours a year planting trees or wildflowers and controlling invasive plants. They're also conservation professionals. We’re grateful that they take on 'deer duty’ despite the Preserve being small and busy. Because deer settled into suburban life, hunters face an important challenge in the Letort greenway. So, don’t be surprised to see a hunter or scared to meet one! One-million hunters fill ecological roles and sustain family traditions across most of PA’s public and private lands. Let's appreciate each other and help steward the natural world!

Great-big thank you to all the folks who turned out to Deck the Habitat on this Black Friday!! They OptOutside and #OptToAct! We sowed conservation seed, tended tree tubes, pried out junk, picked litter, dragged brush, cleared honeysuckle, and hung a (giant) grapevine wreath on the barn!

Big thanks to Carlisle Sunrise Rotary Club for planting trees on the rail-trail extension, Saturday! We're also so fortunate for the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership --it delivers the plants, shelters, support and leadership to protect waters like the Letort's springhead! These humble buttonbush, serviceberry, hazelnut, and redbud replace bush honeysuckle, privet, and multiflora rose! Other volunteers controlled those invasives this spring. ... They mark a new milestone. Native trees and flowers make a space where friends or families can discover nature, cross paths with wildlife, and leave feeling enlivened! This Thanksgiving, everyone who counts on the Letort greenway is so thankful for the extraordinary citizens and conservation organizations who maintain it! Learn more about Rotary Club of Carlisle - Sunrise: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/10911