Land & Biodiversity Management in Coverdale Farm Preserve
Growing Forward with Nature ( Continued from page 7 )
radish , crimson clover , and cereal rye aids in controlling weeds , decreasing soil erosion , fixing nitrogen into the soil , breaking up soil compaction , increasing plant diversity , and creating a nutrientdense green manure .
We are further advancing our vegetable production through construction of a new Agriculture Education Building that will serve as the hub of our growing operations and farmer education with the goal of extending the growing season in 2020 .
Funding for the Coverdale Farm Preserve Master Plan Implementation Projects has been made possible by the generosity of foundations , corporations , and individual donors including : Crystal Trust , Longwood Foundation , Welfare Foundation , Marmot Foundation , Patagonia , Corteva , NextEra , Harvest Market , Calvert Retail , Brinsfield Family Foundation , Allen Marsha Barnett , Francis Bayard , Hank & Mary Davis , Margaretta Frederick & Michael Martin , Barbara Greenewalt , Dr . H . Theodore Harcke , Bill & Melinda Hardie , and June Robbins .
Land & Biodiversity Management in Coverdale Farm Preserve
• Two pair of American Kestrels are nesting in boxes this spring and each pair has produced five eggs . Two of these adults were banded last year at nearby Mt Cuba Center . The eggs and nestlings will be monitored by staff and volunteers until fledging .
• Controlled burns were performed . Our fall burn was used as a field study for fire school students .
• A 7-acre native meadow was installed in 2019 , providing improved habitat for meadow nesting birds .
• 100 cedar trees were planted within our Red Cedar Grove which is a great habitat for owls . Two Long-eared Owls were found in the grove this past winter .
“ Study nature , love nature , stay close to nature , it will never fail you .” ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
• A grove of invasive alien Ailanthus trees was removed to reduce the food source of invasive Spotted Lanternflies .
• A large American Chestnut tree was discovered in fall , 2019 . The tree ’ s DNA will be analyzed to determine if the tree is 100 % American Chestnut or if it is an American and Chinese Chestnut hybrid .
• Sandhill Crane and Summer Tanager migrated through this year increasing the total bird species list for Coverdale Farm Preserve to 190 .
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Burrows Run Preserve of Coverdale Farm Preserve - Photography by Christi Leeson