Spend the morning at Mathews Prairie, a 100-acre pristine Blackland Prairie preserve. It is densely grassed, heavily forbed and riddled with deep gilgai impressions. Currently under a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy, NPAT seeks to additionally protect the property from rapid encroachment by purchasing it and co-managing with TNC. Our host will be Brandon Belcher, North Texas Preserves Manager for TNC, who will grace us with his deep prairie knowledge.
READ MORE ABOUT MATHEWS PRAIRIE
Lunch at Just Pie, 2205 Lee St. in Greenville. Sandwiches, salads, soups, and pies.
The afternoon starts with a visit to a NPAT conservation easement adjacent to Clymer Meadow, 1400 acres of Blackland Prairie owned by TNC. We will collect native prairie seeds from the easement for Texas Native Seed Project, part of the Caesar Kleburg Wildlife Research Initiative.
Brandon Belcher will lead a short amble around Clymer, big enough to get a sense of the pre-pioneer prairie. With its broad plateaus and significant slopes leading to wet-weather creek and ponds, the variety of terrain fosters an astounding plant variety.
Details:
• The field trip is free.
• Meet 8:30 am at Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Dr. (off Buckner & Northcliff), Dallas. Park in rows furthest from White Rock Lake.
• We will gather to carpool as parking is very limited at both prairies. Please let us know if you can help as a designated driver.
• We leave at 8:45 am for our first destination, Mathews Prairie, and arrive by 9:45 am.
• At noon, we travel to Greenville and enjoy lunch.
• Arrive 1:30 pm at our last destination, Clymer Meadow, and depart by 4:00 pm.
• Return to the Bath House Cultural Center by 5:00 pm.
• Wear long pants and hiking boots. Hats and sunglasses recommended. Bring a water bottle and insect repellent.
RSVP to laellis55@aol.com or text 214-395-1902. In case of bad weather, the field trip will be canceled and rescheduled at a later date.
