Land Trust of North Alabama

Each month Foraging expert Casey Lanier leads a hike on Land Trust property to talk about native plants and their uses. These hikes demonstrate how so many resources we rely on come from nature and it's fascinating to learn more about. Register for upcoming hikes at landtrustnal.org/guided-hikes

💚 2024 Guided Hikes sponsored by Huntsville Coca-Cola

Don't miss our Fall Education Fair this Sunday at Chapman Mountain. From 1-4 PM, you can experience and celebrate all things outdoors. Visit the pavilion to try hands-on activities, see live animals, explore CaveSim (a 60-ft artificial cave passage), and learn about birds of prey, foraging, geology, trees, and more! landtrustnal.org/event/2024-education-fair

For the first time in many years, there is a new trail to enjoy at Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve. Thanks to the hard work of our partners at Madison Greenway and Trails, Inc., Rainbolt Trail is complete and open to hikers offering a moderate hike with several beautiful rock formations along the route. This .48-mile trail joins Rainbow Mountain Loop near the Wild Trail intersection and ends at a brand-new trailhead entrance on Kensington Drive at the bottom of the mountain. The trail entrance is located within a residential area with limited street parking but is ideal for pedestrian access for our many neighbors. Thanks to the City of Madison, Alabama City Hall for their help in creating this new trailhead access. Learn more at landtrustnal.org/rainbolt-trail

Madison Greenway and Trails, Inc and Mayor Finley of the City of Madison joined us yesterday as we opened our newest trailhead at the Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve. Located at the end of Kensington Drive, the Kensington Trailhead is where hikers can access the newly created half-mile long Rainbolt Trail which leads up to the preserve’s trail network. Thank you to Jim Chamberlain, Bob Burns, and all of the many volunteers who made this trail possible.

Want to be the first to hear about Land Trust hikes, programs, and announcements? Land Trust members get priority notification and registration for our events plus discounts for ticketed events like Concert at Three Caves, Moon Dance, or educational workshops. But more importantly, your support makes it possible to provide our community with beautiful natural spaces to enjoy now and always!💚Join today at landtrustnal.org/membership!

Join Land Trust of North Alabama at the Alabama Science Festival celebrating it’s 5th and BIGGEST STEAMfest at the Orion Amphitheater. A fun and incredible experience for all ages. Learn more at landtrustnal.org/event/steamfest-2024.

Federal and military employees can support the Land Trust of North Alabama's mission to preserve our area's natural spaces and resources by donating through the Combined Federal Campaign.
Make a pledge using CFC charity code #29871.

Come crawl and climb through CaveSim at our Fall Education Fair on Sunday, November 3. You can learn about caves and test your careful-explorer skills. Try not to hit the delicate formations as you explore 60 feet of artificial cave passage! Get hands-on practice with cave rescue equipment, including a rescue stretcher and cave rescue phones. See how tight a space you can fit through with our squeezebox. Learn more about this family-friendly outdoor education extravaganza at landtrustnal.org/event/2024-education-fair

🔎This event is made possible by support from the Donald & Ruby Branson Foundation

We recently hosted a full day of educational activities for our homeschool community at Chapman Mountain. Around 60 families spent some time with us enjoying activities from our partners at the International Crane Foundation, nature and field journaling, plus lots of other hands-on opportunities to learn about animals, plants, and more. 🌿Find upcoming outdoor education programs at landtrustnal.org/events.

Last week, a 40-foot observation boardwalk was constructed leading to and around the spring house at Hickory Cove Nature Preserve. This new addition will allow visitors to appreciate the property's historic features but also avoid disturbance to the structures, the creek, and plants in the surrounding area. A big thanks to volunteers Scott Stevens, Rick Rodiquez, Sheryl Kromis and Clark Lawrence, who all helped complete this project, which was made possible by a gift from Bob and June Terry. landtrustnal.org/hickory-cove-preserve

During our monthly Forest Friends program, we learned all about some not-so-spooky bats and how they are different from birds. During our hike we found several plants that drop their seeds in the fall, including black walnuts! Our young friends liked the way the green ones smelled but didn't care for those that had turned black. Find upcoming outdoor education programs at landtrustnal.org/events.

Throughout the fall, researchers from Alabama A&M University have been conducting a bird banding project at Chapman Mountain to document species diversity. We're always excited to learn more about our properties. More information allows us to better steward the lands that we protect.

You can help care for beautiful preserved properties. Volunteer to build and maintain trails ensuring our natural spaces remain accessible for everyone to explore. Sign up for upcoming work days at landtrustnal.org/support/volunteer

⛏2024 Trail Care sponsored by Mazda Toyota Manufacturing

Each month, you can join us for guided excursions to explore Land Trust trails alongside a knowledgeable local guide.

💚 2024 Guided Hikes sponsored by Huntsville Coca-Cola

Big exciting news! 🎉Thanks to the support of many generous individuals, organizations and foundations, we've reached our $500,000 goal to create Tollgate Greenway on Monte Sano! With a $500,000 match from the City of Huntsville, we're ready to get this project started and create access for more people to enjoy the beauty of Monte Sano. A paved, multi-use greenway will provide pedestrians and bikers a safe, scenic route to travel while also offering access to nature for people who cannot utilize our natural trails. Learn more at landtrustnal.org/tollgate-greenway-2.

Plan to stop by our Fall Education Fair on Sunday, November 3 from 1-4 PM at Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve to enjoy an afternoon of fun, educational activities for all ages that spotlight the wonder of the outdoor world! You can walk the trails and visit the Terry Education Pavilion to learn from the several naturalists and education partners we’ll have on site. More information at landtrustnal.org/event/2024-education-fair

🔎Made possible with support from the Donald & Ruby Branson Foundation

This spooky season, join us on Green Mountain for a late afternoon hike on Saturday, October 19. We'll chat about how nature inspires and informs classic science fiction stories like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. This family hike, designed for kids ages 9 and up, will explore some of nature's oddities and follow the Alum Hollow Trail to Alum Falls. Make sure to bring a flashlight and your creativity, as the group might just be stitching together its own sci-fi tale. Register at landtrustnal.org/event/2024hike-1019-2

💚 2024 Guided Hikes sponsored by Huntsville Coca-Cola

Explore theater and improvisation with nature as your stage! During our three-part outdoor theatre workshop at Monte Sano Nature Preserve students will discover a flair for the dramatic and appreciation for the flora and fauna of North Alabama. Register at landtrustnal.org/event/theatre-in-the-elements

The overlook at Blevins Gap is a popular spot this week as people gather to catch a glimpse of the comet racing across the western horizon at dusk.

There are over 4000 known caves in North Alabama. But our knowledge of subterranean biodiversity is extremely limited as these habitats are literally hidden below the earth. These subterranean spaces are extremely important to the ecosystem as a whole. On October 22, Dr. Matthew Neimiller of The University of Alabama in Huntsville will present Diversity in the Darkness: Addressing Gaps in our Knowledge of Subterranean Biodiversity in North America. He'll discuss the cave and groundwater fauna of North America and new approaches to address knowledge shortfalls and conservation efforts in these areas. Register to attend at landtrustnal.org/event/presentation-oct2024

Due to an infestation of bark beetles a number of pine trees along Alum Hollow Trail at Green Mountain Nature Preserve will be removed over the next few days. Removal is the only remedy to prevent further infestation. Every effort is being taken to mitigate the infestation and the additional removal of trees. 🌲Learn more at landtrustnal.org/bark-beetles-biology-and-control

We're hiring a full-time Marketing Director to plan, develop, and coordinate all public relations and marketing initiatives to promote the Land Trust’s mission and inspire community engagement across the North Alabama region. 🎉Full job description and instructions to apply at landtrustnal.org/contact