Friends of Brightwood Park
  • Home
  • PRESERVE
    • Ecology
    • Invasive Species
    • Ponds
    • Clean Ups
    • Trails
  • ENJOY
    • halloween-22
    • Photos
    • Birding >
      • greenHeron
    • Trail Maps
    • Calendar
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
  • Who We Are
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo
    • presidentReport-1Q-21
  • Shop
  • JOIN
  • biancaTemp
  • loisTemp
  • Home
  • PRESERVE
    • Ecology
    • Invasive Species
    • Ponds
    • Clean Ups
    • Trails
  • ENJOY
    • halloween-22
    • Photos
    • Birding >
      • greenHeron
    • Trail Maps
    • Calendar
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
  • Who We Are
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo
    • presidentReport-1Q-21
  • Shop
  • JOIN
  • biancaTemp
  • loisTemp
Picture

Kids of Brightwood Park
Archives 

"​ We Do Not Inherit the Earth from Our Ancestors; We Borrow it from Our Children"  
​Author Unknown
Download the current Brightwood Kids Newsletter!

Springtime is for Ducks

BW Kids: duck spotting

Picture
To read about the many duck species that visit Brightwood, mighty oak trees, and earth day, click here for the March 2022 Spring Brightwood Kids newsletter.

Summertime is for Kids

Summer is here! Time to go exploring in the park. Brightwood Park is home to many different plants and animals. There are 1.6 miles of trails that go around the pond and off into the forest. Here are some photos of nature you can find in Brightwood Park.  All photos by Chuan-Chu Chou.  Thank you Chuan-Chu!
And HERE is the June Brightwood Kids Newsletter!
Picture

Who Made These Holes?

The holes in the tree were made by woodpeckers. Brightwood Park is home to a variety of woodpeckers. Mostly, when woodpeckers peck holes in trees they are looking for food, specifically, insect larvae. However, in the spring, they also carve out nests – as seen in the photo of a red bellied woodpecker peeking out from its home in Brightwood Park!
Picture
The next time you are in the park listen for the red-bellied woodpecker’s song

If you look around and listen, you might also see or hear a hairy woodpecker:

Picture
Picture

Moss - Incredible Moss!

• Moss species have survived 450 million years through many different climate crises and events. That means moss lived on the Earth about 200 million years before the first dinosaurs stomped around!

  • Moss grows on every continent and in wide-ranging environments from snowy mountains to dry deserts.
  • Moss is a plant without roots. It anchors itself to the ground with hair-like rhizoids.
  • Moss can help keep soil cool in hot temperatures and warm in cold climates – keeping tree roots and soil protected from extremes.
  • Moss can even adapt to low light and grow in caves.
  • Moss is a microhabitat that helps biodiversity.
Picture

Do You Know About Clouds?

Clouds are made up of tiny droplets of water or ice. Though there are many, many types of clouds, the illustration below shows some of the more common formations shown above.
Picture
What types of clouds do you see above Brightwood pond?

BW Kids in the Fall

Picture

Trail Walking with Goblins

October Halloween in the Park
Picture

Spooky Fun

Halloween Fun in the Woods
Picture

Spiders

Spider Spotting at Brightwood
Brightwood Kids Newsletters:  Fall 2021

Finding Treasures in the Snow and Ice

RULE NUMBER ONE in the WINTER: GO OUTSIDE! 

Picture
Picture
BE BRILLIANT
Winter BW Kids Newsletters:  January 2022

Location

Brightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street.  Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.

What Our Members Are Saying

"I love the work you are doing at Brightwood.  Your efforts have shone a light on the essential elements of the park that we all cherish: its natural beauty and tranquility."

"I have a deep fondness for Brightwood park and would like to see it restored, remain natural and continue to be a site of passive recreation."

"I loved growing up in Brightwood Park !"


"I found Brightwood a few years ago and it's a great place to find wildlife, fish, and enjoy nature. Nice and quiet; good place to un wind and relax. Love it!!!"

​"As a resident for almost thirty years in the Brightwood area of Westfield, I am thrilled to see what is happening to improve and preserve Brightwood park for today and future generations. "


Contact Us


Become a Member!  We'd Love to Have You Join Us.