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Library Talk
Of interest to folks working on native gardens....
WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY presents Collect your Own Seeds for Spring Learn about how to collect seeds, plant them for the Spring and use cold stratification methods. Wednesday October 4th, 2023 7:00 PM to 8 PM
Elaine Silverman, VP of Native Plant Society of NJ |
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3rd Annual
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New Fall Nature Classes & Programs for Kids
A Nature Detective at Work
Our educational monthly classes are each a different theme and encourage children to explore the natural setting at Brightwood Park
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2-4 Year Olds with Adult 2:30-2:45
5-8 Year Olds 3:45- 4:45Sept 21 Imagination in the Woods September 21 For hundreds of years, people have used their imaginations to tell us stories of the forests they walk through. Let’s first imagine Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Bears, Winnie the Pooh, Hansel and Gretel, Big Bear wandering through the woods of Brightwood Park. Then we use our imaginations and create stories about the fun and daring characters wandering the trails of Brightwood Park. Seasons and Trees October 19 What are ways we can identify the season by using our senses in the park? Come to Brightwood Park and see the colors, listen to the rustling and animal noises, smell the dirt forming on the ground and feel the texture of the ground cover. Use your memory to make a matching game. Read “The Leaf Thief” Jack O Lantern Trail October 28 (RainDate Oct 29) Thankful for Nature November 16 It’s Thanksgiving Time! Come to Brightwood to explore the many ways to be thankful for nature! Let’s make festive walking sticks and go for a “Gratitude Scavenger Hunt!” Winter Wonderland November 30 Come to Brightwood Park to experience a new season, a cold season. What will freeze? How does the park look different than it did in Autumn? What will the animals eat when it snows? Join us for a winter walk and find the answers in the Brightwood Park woods. |
Newly discovered Brightwood Park History!
40 Year Old TV Interview with Noel Taylor Discovered
"A park in Westfield is being threatened. Vandals break the picnic tables and leave behind rubbish. Some local residents would like to change the character of the park completely. But one local resident is trying to preserve it's natural beauty...." - from the TV Clip, 1983 Noel Taylor was a Westfield High School biology teacher who was instrumental in saving Brightwood Park as a natural area, and used the park to teach geology and ecology. A plaque dedicated to his efforts sits at the park entrance.
We have recently learned from Mark Taylor, Noel Taylor's son, that he has discovered a TV video clip from the fall of 1983 that included an interview with Mr. Taylor, and parts of a tour he gave to Franklin School students. Thank you to Mark and Dinny Taylor for making this video available to us and for their supportive efforts to continue to preserve Brightwood as a natural park. Enjoy a view into the early days of Brightwood Park! |
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Brightwood Park Open After Coyote Sighting
Thank you to Josh Adler for contributing the picture!
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Brightwood Park has reopened, following a precautionary measure to close it for several days due to unusual coyote behavior reported by several residents. During that time, our Health Department investigated these reports in consultation with the NJ Fish and Wildlife Division of the DEP, which included site visits to the park. It has been determined that there is currently no evidence of rabid animal behavior in the park.
The Health Department advises that the summer months always bring an increase in reports of wildlife. As a reminder, a coyote sighting is typically not cause for concern, and residents should call the police only if an animal appears sick, aggressive, or injured. In addition, residents are asked to continue exercising the same caution as always in our parks in the following ways:
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Green Heron Chicks have Hatched and are thriving!When you can get back into the park, keep an eye out for our three newest inhabitants - 3 newly hatched Green Heron chicks.
More on Green Herons at Brightwood Park |
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Thank you to Chuan-Chu Chou for the photos!
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Field Notes: Fall in Brightwood Park
It's fungi season at Brightwood Park! No those are not hamburgers.... Plus baby green herons, a beautiful set of native plant display gardens.
Kids! Check out the June Issue of Nature Detectives!
The Scouts are Hard at Work at Brightwood Park
Erosion Control!
Eagle Scout candidate Gavin Dokko took on a challenging conservation project this May to address the serious erosion of the steep slope leading to the pond on the southeast side of the pond loop trail.
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A new bench was placed along the trail as a part of Oliver James Agar's Eagle Scout project.
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it is exciting to see the young generation taking ownership of the park and working to make it better. -jpl
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History Tours of Brightwood
The Brightwood area was once a center of African American society in NJ. The Friends of Brightwood, in an effort led by Rob Lombard, has begun to explore and document this history.
The latest addition to the set of stories...
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Samuel Jarvis, 76, of Fanwood Ave (now part of Brightwood Park).
2023 Dates
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Edison Scouts Build Pollinator GardenThe local TAP has featured and article about Edison Intermediate School students Mahie Panjwani, Madeline Schlitzer and Kayla Yip and their efforts to spread the word about native plant gardens.
They worked with the Friends of Brightwood Park to learn about species diversity and how to create their garden. “Manicured lawns are this neat, pretty, very stereotypical suburban lawn and they don't leave a lot of room for native plants, which are plants that have been in this ecosystem for hundreds and hundreds of years. They have adapted to our environment and have built a relationship with our native pollinators. When there are no native plants for these pollinators, they have a really hard time and slowly die out,” Schlitzer explained. |
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Welcome Back to the Green Herons! |
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Multiple sources have reported the return of the Green Heron to Brightwood. Now we have photographic confirmation.
Thanks JPL & Chuan-Chu! I hope you get a chance to spot this beautiful bird! |
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Re-establishing Native PlantsThe Seedling Project is Launched in FebruaryFOBP has begun a multi-year effort to re-establish native plants in the park. We have spread seeds in various locations where invasive plants once created monocultures. The goal is to prevent soil erosion while incresing biodiversity and creating habitat for wildlife. We expect the full bounty of colors and flowers in 2024, but look for some Black-Eyed Susans and Partridge Pea blooming yellow this spring and summer.
"What an amazing group of people! We finished in two days what we thought would take four! After two years of working to remove invasive plants, it was very gratifying to re-introduce native plant seeds in the park. We were able to seed in a variety of areas with different seed mixes to complement sun and shade, wet and dry soil conditions. It will be exciting to see what pops up this spring but even more so when these plants mature in future years. " -DR
"It was a wonderful experience working with you all! I have learned so much. I am looking forward to learning more and working with you all more.
What a terrific group of people this team is!” - new member, Bobby |
Conservation Projects at Brightwood Park from the Scouts and Local Students
Several exciting and thoughtful projects are underway up at Brightwood this fall from scouts and student conservationists, They are tackling the hard tasks of documenting the effects of invasive species, working towards reforestation, pollinator gardens and protecting young trees from deer. We will keep you posted on the results of these efforts.
Learn more at PERSPECTIVES ON THE PARK.
Learn more at PERSPECTIVES ON THE PARK.
Oliver Agar is working on an Eagle Scout project to work on re-forestation of an area in the park which was infested with knotweed. He'll be overseeing the planting and care of sugar maple and white oak saplings.
Adrian Gripp is analyzing two sections of the forest to study the impact of invasive plants on forest regeneration. He is working onhis Eagle Scout project.
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Cameron Linenberg will soon present a further proposal to the Recreation Commission to protect young saplings from deer rubbing their forehead and antlers on trees which can damage trees.
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Volunteers Needed!
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viewpoints
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Friends of Brightwood Park GearNEW! Friends of Brightwood Park totes!
Whether you need a beautiful, sturdy full colored embroidered canvas tote, or a simple keep-in-the-car reusable bag, you can look great and show your support for Westfield's beautiful natural park. And don't miss the terrific hats and tee's!. Get your Brightwood Park Gear today! THANK YOU!!
to our wonderful models, Veronica and Samantha, and their parents, Mark and Yvette Rizzolo. AND to James Napoli and Britta Greene for the photo shoot at Brightwood Park |
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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