July 2025 Announcements
Preservation Society
for Spring Creek ForestPreserve, Educate, Collaborate
(https://springcreekforest.org)Contact the Society: springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com

 

To all our friends of Spring Creek Forest and Park Preserve –

Society leaders do not yet know the full details about the devastation created in the forest just prior to June 23 along Spring Creek from Halff Park all the way to North Garland Avenue. We do know a work crew thought they had authority to cut a 12-foot-wide road from one end to the other. And they did [went ahead and cut the road].

City administrators are gathering facts and details about the devastation, and are “working on a plan to figure out how to best move forward.” And, they are “planning on getting a team of consultants together to make recommendations and create an action plan.”

We hope more information will be available soon so we can share that with you.


June 24, 2025 – in the forest behind Halff Park. Photo by D. Parrish

 

 

July 2025 Events –

Visit our Society booth at
Garland Red, White & You
Date: Thursday, July 3, 2025
Time: 5:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Location: The downtown square at 6th Street and Main, Garland, TX

Have an unforgettable Independence Day celebration featuring great music, delicious food, games for all ages, and fireworks, all in the heart of the Downtown Garland Square. It’s the perfect way to honor our nation’s independence with FREE admission and vendors adding to the festive atmosphere!

The event starts with the Presentation of Colors at 5 p.m.

Special Event –
An Evening with Moths
Sam K will be here for the 5th annual event!
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Time: 9:00 p.m. until late
Location: 1770 Holford Drive

 

This family-friendly event honoring International Moth Week is an opportunity to experience the Preserve at night! Most moths are nocturnal, so we set up several stations with lighted sheets to attract moths and other night flying insects. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and help with identification. Visitors are encouraged to use iNaturalist to turn in their observations at the event.

Sam Kieschnick, Texas Parks and Wildlife Urban Wildlife Biologist for DFW, will be here again with all his energy and expertise.

          Notes: All children must be accompanied by an appropriate number of adults. For the safety of our young visitors, family and scout groups need to stay together during the event. Bring water and a flashlight. Wear close-toed shoes – no bare feet, no sandals! Wear insect repellent. Parking is limited so car-pool if possible.
We hope to see you there to celebrate Moth Week with us.

  

          One of Sam K’s favorite quotes by Bradley Miller:
“Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.” 



  

 

 

August 2025 Events –
No events scheduled for August. It is too hot.

 

 

Volunteers needed for this and that –
small jobs to big jobs
Contact springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com with your interest or suggestions.Trail Monitor Volunteer: If you walk the trails, we need your help!
Duties generally include: 

  • Walk your selected part of the trail weekly.
  • Perform light maintenance such as litter pickup.
  • Be familiar with Garland’s eAssist program that is accessed through an iPhone app and use it to report major maintenance issues such as trees fallen on the trail, vandalism, criminal activity, etc.
  • You will soon learn some of the unique features of your trail and share those with the Executive Committee.

 

 

Plan Ahead

Monthly Public Speaker Series:
Interesting speakers are lined up. Our meeting is usually on the 1st Tuesday of the month from September to April.

  • Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Location:  currently meeting via Zoom call.
  • For Master Naturalists, this often counts as 1 hour of Advanced Training, but check the MN schedule to be sure.

July and August – Summer break
Tuesday, September 2, 2025: Ian Seamans, Renewable Energy
Tuesday, October 7, 2025: Kimberlie Sasan, Galls in the Forest
Tuesday, November 4, 2025: The Power of using iNaturalist
Tuesday, December 2, 2025: No speaker. Instead, a Holiday Party for Society Members

 

Summer Work Sessions
Summer sessions: June, July, and August:
Summer Work Sessions will be led by Dana Wilson at various times, dates, and locations. If you would like to be on Dana’s work team, please email her at danawilson59@yahoo.com.

 

Fall Work Sessions
Location: Changes with the work that needs to be done. Check the Monthly Announcements, Facebook, or our website.  

We break into teams, and each team has a knowledgeable volunteer, so you know exactly what to do. You could be clearing trails, taking out invasive plants, opening up the prairies, even picking up trash.

For last-minute information, especially if the weather is questionable, check our website or Facebook page for updates, including dates and locations which may change because of conditions. We don’t want anyone working in the forest or on the prairie if there is a chance of lightning strikes.

 

Upcoming Dates:
Saturday, September 13, 2025: 1770 Holford Rd. – Work on our newest pocket prairie.
Saturday, October 11, 2025: 1787 Holford Rd. – Trail maintenance and wildflower seed collecting.
Saturday, November 8, 2025: 1770 – Reroute the Trout lily and/or Bel Air trail.
Saturday, December 13, 2025: Halff park – Groom the trail for the January 1 walks.

 

Safety Information: Each work session begins with a safety briefing.

  • BRING WATER and insect repellent.
  • Close-toed shoes are mandatory. Heavy work gloves, long pants, and protective eyewear are recommended for your protection from poison ivy and thorns.
  • If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. (No power tools.)
  • All participants and the parents of minors must sign our Liability Waiver.
  • Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; no drop off/pick up of those under 18.
  • For Master Naturalists, this may count as Volunteer Hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest – natural resource management project.

 

If you cannot help at our 2nd Saturday sessions, Preservation Society volunteers are ready to try to meet you and work alongside you on a more convenient day. To set up a time to work, please contact Dana Wilson (text or email) at 469.531.6856 or danawilson59@yahoo.com.

 

Service Projects- Need a project for your organization, Gold Award, or Eagle Scout rank? Contact David Parrish, dparrish1953@yahoo.com.

 

4th Sunday Nature Walks
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
The locations of 4th-Sunday Nature Walks will vary throughout the Preserve depending on the subject of the walk. Be sure to check the latest announcements.

July and August – Summer break – it’s too hot!
Sunday, September 28, 2025: Half Park at Ranger Drive – Leader Bill Holston, Walk in the Wild.
Sunday, October 26, 2025: 1770 Holford Rd. – Kimberlie Sassan shows us Galls in the Forest.
Sunday, November 23, 2025: Location TBA. – Use iNaturalist in the Field.
Sunday, December 28, 2025: See January 1 special event instead.

 

For a fun walk on your own, try our Self-Guided Interpretive Trail at 1787 Holford Road that was created by the North Texas Master Naturalist chapter in Dallas. Follow the trail markers and read about the significance of the area on your iPhone or on the downloadable flyer. https://springcreekforest.org/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/ 

Special Fall Events:

Bird Walks with Certified Birder Reba Collins.
          Dates: Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30
          Time: 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
          Location: 1787 Holford Rd.
          Registration required – rcollins20@verizon.net

15th Annual Christmas is for the Birds –
a fun, messy event for youngsters pre-school through elementary school.
          Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025           
          Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
          Location: 1787 Holford Rd.

Start the New Year Right Nature Walk
          Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
          Time: 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
          Location: Halff Park at Ranger Dr.

 

 
Executive Committee

The Executive Committee usually meets once a month. The meetings are open to the public. For information, please contact us at springcreekforestpreservation@gmail.com.

 

 

Become a Society member or donate
The Society’s only means of financial support is through memberships and donations. Membership has benefits such as Member-Only Nature walks and the annual Holiday Party. Your donation helps the all-volunteer Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest offer public lectures, conduct habitat management workdays, and offer public nature walks. Support the Preserve today.We have online payment for membership or donation using credit or debit cards, or your PayPal account. Or, you can still download a membership form and send a check.Go to springcreekforest.org for more information.

Monthly Announcements:
To subscribe please contact:  Barbara_Baynham2005@yahoo.com

 

 

General Preserve Information

The above activities are specific to the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, www.springcreekforest.org.

For general Preserve information, please call Garland Parks and Recreation Department, 972-205-2750.

Dog Policy
On-leash dogs are welcome in our Preserve. However, note that it is illegal to have off-leash pets in Garland parks. Please call 972-205-3570, option 1 to report off-leash animals. Also, please deposit pet waste bags in the trash bins in each parking lot. Do not leave bagged pet waste beside the trail.

Thank you for your support!
David Parrish, President
Becky Sans, Secretary
Marvin Rogers, Treasurer

Barbara Baynham, Vice-president

And the rest of the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest Executive Committee
barbara_baynham2005@yahoo.com

972-495-3569