It's Winter at Brightwood
Photos by Chuan-Chu Chou
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
All of us at the Friends of Brightwood Park wish you a Happy and particularly Healthy New Year.
We have had a tremendous 2025 in the park with all our activities, reforestation projects, classes and more. Thanks to the work and enthusiasm of so many people, Brightwood Park has become an environmental gem that has drawn hundreds of new people to the park. We are all very proud of this. We hope to keep this momentum going in 2026. We welcome our many new members and look forward to the participation of several new volunteers to improve the park and offer some new ideas. So catch your breath, come out to the park (yes, even in the winter) and enjoy nature's quiet time. Enjoy all your holidays, be with family and friends, and stay safe. Jim Lewis President - FOBP |
Going Nuts for Hickories
photo by Bianca Wright
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We are partnering with Rutgers for a germination study of Mockernut Hickory. This project is initiated and led by Jean Epiphan, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County and intends to counter the regeneration debt of our forests in NJ.
The idea is simple: let's plant them like squirrels do and bury nuts in lots of places. However, the study will test different rodent deterrent methods in order to get Mockernut Hickories growing in Brightwood Park. We will track the germination rates and evaluate the seedlings' survival. We have received 51 nuts that will be planted on Saturday, 12/20. If you would like to help with the planting or assessment in the spring and summer 2026, please reach out with the button below. . -Bianca Wright
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A New Birding Group has Formed
Are you interested in joining a birding group at the park? Some people have expressed interest in meeting occasionally to experience the beauty of our feathered friends - let us know if you might be interested.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Alex Loop
Friends of Brightwood Park is fortunate to have a dedicated volunteer helping to maintain the park’s ecosystem and to teach our youth. Alex says it best, “I am optimistic about suburbia‘s ability to exist with native species, flora, and fauna.”
Thank you, Alex, for your time and talent!
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Meet Alex Loop- a multifaceted educator and volunteer. Friends of Brightwood Park is lucky to know such a dedicated teacher with an amazing background. Currently, Alex teaches art in Elizabeth where she brings her talent and skills to students ages K-6. She brought those art skills to the Friends of Brightwood Park Plein Aire Day last May where she instructed the students to create art from the native species living in Brightwood Park – turtles, birds, spiders, frogs, deer, flowers, and trees.
Alex’s teaching of art intersects with her knowledge and passion of our forests and ponds as she spent some years being an outdoor educator. She is passionate about keeping our ecosystem healthy and imparting her knowledge to the younger generations. Not many volunteers are willing to pull weeds! But after meeting with Friends of Brightwood Park’s invasive species team, Alex volunteered her time to continue improving Brightwood Park at our weekly Wednesday weed-pulling sessions. She also serves as Chair of the Scotch Plains Green Team, so healthy ecosystems are one of her top priorities. Friends of Brightwood Park is fortunate to have a dedicated volunteer helping to maintain the park’s ecosystem and to teach our youth. Alex says it best, “I am optimistic about suburbia‘s ability to exist with native species, flora, and fauna.” Thank you, Alex, for your time and talent! |
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Volunteers Needed! |
The Friends of Brightwood Park are working to:
- preserve & restore the park as a nature sanctuary
- remove invasive species that threaten native plants & trees
- promote hiking, walking, fishing, birdwatching and activities in harmony with the habitat
- offer nature and art programs for all ages