The ES of Virginia Master Naturalists are pleased to announce that the Cape Charles Natural Preserve (NAP) is open once again. The wheel-chair accessible boardwalk meandering through the maritime forest and dune scrub habitat to the Chesapeake Bay has been repaired and overhanging vegetation has been pruned. The overlook at the Chesapeake Bay has been re-configured to preserve the dune edge and prevent further erosion of the dunes.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) acquired a new addition, east of the original NAP, which sports a second boardwalk over a fresh water wetland and a short path to a small, open meadow-like area, welcoming to pollinators.
Dot Field, Natural Area Research Coordinator, Eastern Shore Region Steward and Richard Ayers, Coastal Operations Steward of the DCR organized several crews of Master Naturalists to remove a number of fallen trees, repair, replace missing and damaged boards on the boardwalk as well as to prune over- grown vegetation.
The NAP provides a peacful area for leisurely hiking and oberving nature, both plants and wildlife. The NAP is full of birds all year— in fall migratory songbirds stop to feed in the woods, in winter gannets, loons and scoters are seen out in the Bay, and in spring and summer pine warblers, wrens and chickadees among other native birds fill the woods. There is no access to the beach as it is home to the federally protected northeastern beach tiger beetle.
The NAP provides a peaceful area for leisurely hiking and observing nature, both plants and wildlife. The NAP is full of birds all year— in fall migratory songbirds stop to feed in the woods, in winter gannets, loons, and scoters are seen out in the Bay, and in spring and summer pine warblers, wrens, and chickadees among other native birds fill the woods.
There is no access to the beach as it is home to the federally protected northeastern beach tiger beetle.
About the Author
Thanks for your hard work repairing this walk ramp that I helped build from start to finish . It was hard work but many have enjoyed it as have myself from time to time. As a long time Carpenter this was a special thing to construct from mountains of lumber . ( Thanks Joe and Mr. Denny for hanging in there to get it finished along with the walks over the pond too what a job it was )
When you and Larry built that it was just a nature walk….now it is the:
‘Cape Charles Natural Preserve (NAP)’ lol!
I think the last time I saw you was in Cashville when I was shacked up with the doctor.
🙂
Merry Christmas Roy, I still listen to the Ozark Mountain Dare Devil and the Galax Blurgrass CDs you burned me.
Merry Christmas ole boy.
hello , Larry didn’t build it , I was working for Northampton County when it was built . I retired from building for the most part , still have my contractors license .
Good music is always good , Merry Christmas
That’s right. My mind is confused with confusion. I knocked poor Larry out of Bobtown on my way to Cashville, then I just couldn’t leave that fine town and spent another few years down at the end of Broadway with an ar-tist. I could write a book about what I have seen, smelled, heard and tasted. Using my body like an amusement park ride, over the years…it has been a barrel of monkeys. I have been ‘giving’em a fit’ both night and day.
‘You never let them see it coming’
Sounds like community leadership, and a perfect excuse to just go for a walk. Thank You.