About the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs is a volunteer based non-profit, support organization created to further the mission, environmental education programs, conservation projects and natural resource management efforts at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. The Board organizes fund-raising initiatives to provide financial, program and environmental education support. The Board also works with the staff to support on-going volunteer efforts as well as advocating to raise awareness to promote the nature preserve and nature center as valuable community resources.
About Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is a 140 acre registered state natural area located in Cary, NC. The majority of the preserve is comprised of land owned by the State of North Carolina with a small parcel owned by the Town of Cary. Access to the preserve, parking and a small nature/visitor center are located on the Town's property. Approximately 3 miles of trails are available for walking, quiet recreation and nature study. Designated as a State Nature Preserve, Hemlock Bluffs is a unique natural area, created to protect wildlife habitat and preserve the Eastern Hemlock trees on the property. The on-site staff offer environmental education programs to provide insight into the conservation, biology and ecology of the preserve. Click here to find out more about Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
The preserve is open daily from 9:00 am - sunset.
Address: 2616 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518
Current Happenings
Children's Nature Trail Renovations
A small, but beloved area beside the Stevens Nature Center set aside just for tiny nature lovers is the Kid's Nature Trail. Nestled under the tall pines is a winding trail that delights children with a little nature center, a larger than life log tunnel, mushroom hoppers and other hidden nature gems.
Very heavy use and unbridled visitation during the Covid-19 pandemic took its toll on this area. Several elements meant for kids only were moved and used by visitors who were too large to be accommodated by the smaller size. Small picnic tables, benches and balance logs had to be removed due to damage by adults.
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs have made the Kid's Nature Trail a priority. We are partnering with Preserve staff to renovate and revitalize this very special area in the months to come.
Very heavy use and unbridled visitation during the Covid-19 pandemic took its toll on this area. Several elements meant for kids only were moved and used by visitors who were too large to be accommodated by the smaller size. Small picnic tables, benches and balance logs had to be removed due to damage by adults.
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs have made the Kid's Nature Trail a priority. We are partnering with Preserve staff to renovate and revitalize this very special area in the months to come.
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2021 Exhibit Renovations
The Town of Cary and the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs partnered to renovate the "A Hemlock's History" exhibit panel this spring. Our local exhibit design, fabrication and installation firm, Point Concepts recently installed the beautiful final product inside the Stevens Nature Center. The display focuses on the life history of Eastern hemlock trees, the significance of hemlocks at Hemlock Bluffs, as well as the efforts being undertaken to protect them from the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
R City Rocks Fundraiser
We are excited to announce our partnership with R City Rocks, a fantastic fundraising organization which allows YOU to support the BLUFFS when you eat out and shop in the Triangle!
Each time you patronize one of the local businesses listed in the link below, simply text a picture of your receipt to fohb.rcityrocks.com and 30% of your purchase will go to support the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs at no additional cost to you!
Rcityrocks.com/the-triangle
Some of the participating businesses are:
Chick-fil-A at Cary Towne Center
Ruckus
Papa Murphy’s
City Barbecue
Alpaca
The Melting Pot Raleigh
And More!
New Magnets Funded for the Stream Mural Exhibit
A private donor provided the funds to rehabilitate the magnets associated with the hands-on exhibit located below the new "Wildlife In Action" display in the Stevens Nature Center. The stream mural is extremely popular with our littlest visitors, who love to place native animals along the stream habitat. The old magnets were so over handled, they were literally loved to death! It was time to bring some new animals into the picture. The new magnets are much more beautiful and are made to hold up to the attention of many little hands. These magnets are even specially sized for small hands. We are so grateful to our private donors!
Exhibit installation by Point Concepts Design of Raleigh. Staff have set up interactive touchscreen technology for watching wildlife video clips and visitors can use the wildlife camera selfie station that is part of our new display.
Video Introduction is provided by Digital P Media, Inc of Cary.
Video Introduction is provided by Digital P Media, Inc of Cary.
Children's Nature Trail |
How big is that bird?
Update on the Children's Nature Trail
Who is that peeking out the window of the tiny house on the Children's Nature Trail?
The plexi-glass windows in the little house didn't hold up to the use we were receiving in the Children's Nature Trail. One of the Nature Center's most talented nature programmers is also an artist, so she came up with a "fix". Little critters are going to be peeping out of the windows!
Stay tuned to find out who else lives in the little house at Hemlock Bluffs.
Help us maintain the Children's Nature Trail by making a donation to the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs. Click the support us button on the
top of this PAGE
This area is LOVED by our youngest visitors!
Show your Support by Volunteering
Every year individuals and groups can join forces with the nature center staff to help beautify the trails at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve during two major volunteer workdays. If you enjoy walking, strolling and hiking the trails at the Preserve - consider giving back by volunteering to help with trail work. Come out and work with others who treasure Hemlock Bluffs, you'll feel good about giving back, meet other like-minded people and get a workout in as well!
Sponsors for the event include REI, who typically provides event t-shirts and the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs, who provide lunch.
Volunteer workdays are scheduled throughout the year for organized groups and the general public as well. Thanks to hundreds of volunteers each year; trails are mulched and edged, gardens are maintained and many other Preserve amenities are cared for throughout Hemlock Bluffs.
There's always trail mulching to be done. It's nice to have dedicated volunteers who know how it's done!
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Volunteers worked in the bed on the hillside between the parking lots. It requires a lot of bending over! Not easy work.
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There's always mulching to be done at Hemlock Bluffs. It's nice to have willing volunteers ready to lend a hand!
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The more loads you wheel down the trail, the less you load into the wheelbarrow. It gets harder and harder to push!
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Jan and Andy Ammons
Friends Receive Grant from Jandy Ammons Foundation
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs received a $9,000 grant from the Jandy Ammons Foundation in the fall of 2014. The funding was provided for educational elements to supplement the initial phases of the Children’s Nature Trail at Hemlock Bluffs. The Jandy Ammons Foundation which funds local greenway, park and greenspace projects, came on board to assist with funding for additional trail features to enhance the educational nature of the trail. Initially, the money was used for the large-scale turtle stepper elements and the hand-crafted ceramic bird silhouettes. After the trail was dedicated in June, the rest of the funds were used for interpretive signs, and a playhouse which will serve as a mini nature center.
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs received a $9,000 grant from the Jandy Ammons Foundation in the fall of 2014. The funding was provided for educational elements to supplement the initial phases of the Children’s Nature Trail at Hemlock Bluffs. The Jandy Ammons Foundation which funds local greenway, park and greenspace projects, came on board to assist with funding for additional trail features to enhance the educational nature of the trail. Initially, the money was used for the large-scale turtle stepper elements and the hand-crafted ceramic bird silhouettes. After the trail was dedicated in June, the rest of the funds were used for interpretive signs, and a playhouse which will serve as a mini nature center.
Friends of Hemlock Bluffs Newsletters
You may click on the issue of the newsletter you are interested in below.
You may click on the issue of the newsletter you are interested in below.
| fall_2015_newsletter.pdf |
| fall_2016_newsletter.pdf |
| summer_2016_newsletter.pdf |
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If you'd like to receive Friends of Hemlock Bluffs email newsletters (typically quarterly)
and updates (not more than monthly), please feel free to sign up below: