More Trees Added to the Roster

/ Jason Major / 1 Comment
FOSG blog Post (6-3-20)pages

American elm showing Y branching pattern and other diagnostic features.

Paul Dolan, forester and Area Director of Rhode Island Resource Conservation and Development Council, visited Salter Grove to verify tree identifications on Monday, June 1st.

Paul last visited in late December 2019 and confirmed the identification of most tree species in the park based on bark and winter bud characteristics. His recent visit verified the occurrence of additional species that came to light with their leaf emergence. Continue reading →

Special Thanks to Trail Volunteers

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Nancy and Carolyn

Nancy Sumrall (left) prepares the trail to Audubon Hill while Carolyn Hardie
records plants for the next batch of identification labels.

What better way to stave off cabin fever than some outdoor exercise? We are grateful to those who have pitched in to help develop the nature trails, which will allow children and their guardians to learn about the natural world of Salter Grove’s diverse habitats.

Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself

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FoSG blog post (5-1-20)(1

Trail distance marker, hanging plant tag, and tree stake (left to right).

We have installed all of the permanent distance markers, and have started on the first batch of permanent plant labels along the trails in Salter Grove.

The distance markers are spaced 100 feet apart and serve to locate plants and animal sightings, past, present, and future.

Hanging plant tags identify shrubs and vines while 3″ x 5″ signs identify tree species. Not shown in the photo above are 2″ x 4″ labels for smaller herbaceous plants.

This is the second step of a multi-phase process to develop a smartphone-accessible website for visitors to access ecological, geological, and cultural information while they are at the park. This project has the support and approval of Warwick’s Parks and Recreation Department and RIDEM.

Obviously these permanent tags look much nicer than the white plastic tags and stakes which were placeholders during the identification process. Please respect this effort to provide a multi-generational educational experience by looking, but not touching (dogs too!).

All Warwick Parks Closed, Including Salter Grove

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IMG_5681

Public parks, beaches, and recreational facilities in Warwick—including Salter Grove—will be closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Barricades have been installed at the entrance to prevent vehicular entry. Mayor Solomon said Warwick police will continue to monitor parks and beaches for compliance.

“If people are blatantly ignoring the new rules – if they choose to congregate in groups at parks and beaches, or if they are not complying with physical distancing rules – they may be cited if actions and behavior are not corrected,” Mayor Solomon said.

Please see here for more details.