Event Registration - Chestnut Hill Community Association
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Going Native: The Flora & Fauna of the Dixon Meadow Preserve with Paul Meyer and Ruth Pfeffer
8/22/2020

Event Description

Enjoy a summer’s morn with a guided walk in the Dixon Meadow Preserve.  The meadow reaches its peak in late summer, as native grasses and wildflowers mature and a rich diversity of birds enjoy this lush habitat.  
 
The Program
Two back-to-back 30-minute walks will use the Dixon Meadow Preserve to highlight interesting species and to illustrate the importance of native habitats. These socially-distanced, small group walks will be led by two of the area’s foremost experts on the plants and animals that inhabit the Preserve.
 
Paul Meyer, Retired F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum, will lead one group of participants, focusing on the trees and shrubs,  and other features of the Preserve that are essential to attracting the Preserve’s thriving diversity of wildlife.  
 
Birding expert Ruth Pfeffer, of Birding with Ruth, will guide another group, helping them to spot and identify birds and critters along the trail, while providing entertaining tidbits about their lives and habits.
 
At the end of the first walk, the groups will switch and head off on their second session. 
 
Both first-time and frequent visitors to the Preserve will enjoy this program.  
 
DATE: Saturday, August 22, 9am-10:15am (rain date Sunday, August 23)
ASSEMBLY LOCATION: Dixon Meadow House, 548 Flourtown Road, Lafayette Hill
 
Please bring your facemask, social distancing will be observed but masks must be worn if you cannot maintain a distance of 6ft away from others
 
We recommend you wear a sunhat and comfortable walking shoes.  
A limited number of loaner binoculars (and alcohol wipes) will be available, however we recommend you bring your own.

About the Dixon Meadow Preserve
 The Dixon Meadow Preserve in Lafayette Hill, was created in 2014 by the Whitemarsh Foundation on 14 acres of its 98-acre Angus Tract at Erdenheim Farm. The Preserve is a living laboratory dedicated to maintaining a healthy ecosystem in the Wissahickon Valley.  It is a local favorite for walkers and nature lovers, and is utilized by the Whitemarsh Foundation for their varied educational programs. Planted exclusively with native species, the Preserve provides an ideal habitat for local wildlife and migrating birds, which are easily viewed from the walking trails and boardwalk that meander through the meadow. Bird-watching is a popular activity at the Preserve. Over 150 species, both rare and common, have been spotted there, making it a prime destination for birders from across the region. As the seasons change, so does the meadow’s scenery and wildlife, ensuring there is always something new to experience at the Dixon Meadow Preserve.