Fall Days at Brightwood
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We had a wonderful time at the Halloween Pumpkin Trail - and we hope you did too!!
We carved 80 jack-o-lanterns for your spooky walk in the park, and had a blast seeing your great costumes and sense of adventure. And WELCOME to all our new members!!! Can't wait to see you next year! It was a great way
to kick off Halloween! 
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Sunrise
photo by JPL
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The Friends of Brightwood Park teamed up with the Historical Society at AppleFest on October 18th
It was great to see so many interested people!
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Sponsored by the Town of Westfield & Green Team
Brightwood Park Clean Up Day was Sunday, October 19th
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Thank you to all the participants!
Members of the Friends of Brightwood Park or the Green Team coordinated. |
Pictures from
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A New Birding Group is Forming
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.
A wonderful time at our newest event!
ADOPT-A-TREE
in BRIGHTWOOD PARK was Saturday, October 4th Participants planted a reasonably sized tree; however the town dug the holes!
They also received a tree journal and a tape measure to track its growth, a Friends of Brightwood Park water jug to help take care of it - and help your kids become future scientists. 
The Adopt a Tree program is supported by the Westfield Tree Preservation Commission. |
Nature Detectives - Classes for Kids - 2025 Classes
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
4 Session - 11:00, 11:30 AM and 3:00, 3:30 PM
Limit 10 families per session 2-4 Year Olds with Adult 10:00 to 10:45 am 4-8 Year Olds 3:45 to 4:45 pm |
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Photo by Chuan-Chu Chou
Photo by Chuan-Chu Chou
Crested Flycatcher and Eastern Kingbird. Photo by Chuan-Chu Chou
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A Celebration of FallBrightwood Park is a great place to spot some interesting birds, ducks and turtles these summer days.
Photo by Chuan-Chu Chou
Photo by Chuan-Chu Chou
Photo by Chuan-Chu Chou
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What's going on with all the cages in Brightwood Park?
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This effort is advised and supported in part by Rutgers Cooperative Extension service, the Westfield Green team, and Department of Public Works..
Can I Help?
Yes! FOBP has purchased 125 tree saplings that will be planted and protected by cages between now and the end of October. In addition, FOBP will identify and protect 50 naturally appearing tree seedlings with cages. If you are interested to learn more about these projects and help identify, plant, and safeguard young trees, click here.
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In any natural forest, including Brightwood Park, there are always dead and dying trees. And in healthy forests there is a mixture of young, middle-aged and old trees. When the old trees die or fall due to diseases or storm damage there is a recycling of the forest materials - the canopy is opened up and with the exposure to more sunlight the younger tree saplings in the area get a boost of energy and fight each other and new emerging tree seedlings to fill the open canopy. This succession process can take many years and while it is going on Pioneer species try to establish first. The native Pioneer species (e.g. Burn weed and Pokeweed) eventually get overshadowed by the growing saplings. However, because of the introduction (by accident or well-meaning horticulturalists) of aggressive non-native plants (mostly from Asia and Europe) that out-compete the native Pioneer species. The natural succession process is seriously disrupted. The aggressive invasive species block the light and deprive nutrients from any new tree seedlings. The middle-aged sapling trees may survive but then the second threat to forests comes into play - the deer overpopulation. The deer prefer to browse on the native plants rather than the unfamiliar invasive plants and in addition the adult bucks clean their growing antlers on many saplings in the Fall rutting season (Buck rubbing). Hence FOBP is planting and protecting native seedling trees with cages in the open canopy areas of the park.
A serious new threat has recently appeared in Beech trees in the Northeast forests: Beech Leaf Disease (BLD). This disease is predicted to kill even mature Beech trees in 5 years and is already established in most of the 350 + Beech trees in Brightwood Park. So, in the next few years FOBP is proactively aiming to plant and protect new saplings of native (non BLD susceptible tree species) in areas where the older Beech trees are expected to be dying. |
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Native Planting ProjectThe Pollinator Garden in the parking lot is bigger and better this year. Thanks to hard work by volunteer Bianca Wright and many others, this garden has been extended along the length of the parking lot and many new plants have been added.
The goal is to introduce native plants to increase the biodiversity of the flora in Brightwood, and by extension, the biodiversity of the bugs, butterflies and fauna that are characteristic of a healthy ecosystem. Look for these demonstration gardens and plantings when you visit Brightwood Park. Photos by Denise Ricci and Chuan-Chu Chou |
Newsflash!
Friends of Brightwood Park GearHats in many colors!
Hats for Kids! New Toddler & Youth Tees! New Adult long-sleeve Tees! |
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Beautiful Dark Green Sweatshirts for Adults
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The Brightwood Park Bird Hats are Everywhere!
Bird spotting in the City!
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The Bird Hat has been spotted in Germany!
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Oliver, sporting his Orange Bird Hat.
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Bird Hats in Beloit, Wisconsin!!
Upal, Tracy, Joy and Jordy
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Thanks for your support!! And send us your pictures!
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