For about a month now, volunteers from the Sweet Briar and Amherst communities and the Central Virginia Naturalist program have been constructing a 3/4-mile-long trail system designed to show off flora and fauna native to the Sweet Briar College campus.

Central Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers Bill Bensiek and Mike Hayslett were building fences along the trail on Oct. 19.The Sweet Briar Nature Trail System, which includes woodland, meadow and wetlands trails, is located off Boathouse Road. More specifically, the Woodland Field Loop begins behind the Nature Center and the Wetlands Education Trail runs from Boathouse Road to the dam of the lower lake.

Work is expected to be finished in late November with an official dedication planned for the spring. Funding for the project was provided by the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust and a donation by alumna Katzie Nager ’53.

“The completed trail system will provide interpretive education for faculty, staff, students, as well as Amherst community members,” Tim Kasper, director of the Sweet Briar Community Garden, said. “A stated purpose of the trails is to provide visiting [K-12] school groups with outdoor experiential learning that can be focused on the SOL science requirements for the state of Virginia.”

Two footbridges have been built on the wetlands trail.
According to Kasper, who designed the trails and sought grant monies for the project, CVMN volunteers have donated more than 100 hours to the effort. “The Central Virginia Master Naturalists have been extremely helpful with the installation of these trails, in particular Mike Hayslett, who has directed the design and installation of the [Wetlands Education Trail],” he said.

Members of the Sweet Briar community have logged about 75 hours, working on the trails and constructing kiosks and interpretive signs. Kasper remarked that he has received “considerable help and consultation” from grounds, engineering, physical plant, environmental studies, the vice presidents office, the dean and others on campus.

Eighteen students from Amherst High School’s Future Farmers of America also participated in the project.

On Oct. 19, Hayslett and CVMN volunteer Bill Bensiek were building fences on a section of the Wetlands Education Trail. Hayslett, who also is an adjunct professor in Sweet Briar’s environmental sciences department, pointed out some of the native plants growing along the marshy walkway.

Turtlehead and about 20 other wildflowers grow along the wetlands trail.
Turtlehead, which has a white bloom similar in appearance to a snapdragon, grows along the trail, he said, as does Asian bittersweet. An invasive plant with reddish-orange berries, many people would recognize bittersweet in fall wreaths and decorations.

The Wetlands Education Trail also boasts three black willow trees. Hayslett called them “obligate wetlands trees,” which means they are native to the area. “[These are] very impressive specimens,” he said. Referring to one of the trees, he added, “Based on experience, that tree might be pushing a century [old].”

Along both trails, interpretive signs will point out native plants and animal habitats. On the Woodland Field Loop, hikers will see a woodland stream and recovering hardwood forest, along with a natural spring and animal habitats.

“The edge habitat will be highlighted on this trail, as many species of animals utilize the edges of woods and fields for hunting and living,” Kasper said. “It is one of the more active areas of the natural environment.”

– By Suzanne Ramsey, SBC staff writer