Brightwood Park Day-2024
​Thanks for coming!

 Brightwood Day Pictures from Lisa Seela

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024
from 8 am to mid-afternoon

Prospect Street
Westfield, NJ
8 AM to 3 PM
FOBP in collaboration with the Westfield Recreation Department and Green Team shared all that our town's nature preserve offers!
Events and tours took place throughout the day from 8AM to mid-afternoon.

Including:
  • Birding walks (8AM!) 
  • Nature Photography
  •  Forest Bathing 
  • Forest Health & Invasive Species walk with our experts
  • Native Plants education
  • History tours- it was a neighborhood before it became a park
  •  Nature Classes and Stories​
  • and even a FAIRY HOUSE scavenger hunt!  MORE ABOUT THE FAIRY HOUSE HUNT!
pack a picnic!

FULL SCHEDULE

8:00 AM       BIRDING WALK     -registration needed-

9:00 AM      PHOTOGRAPHY WALK    -registration needed-
9:00 AM      FOREST BATHING    -registration needed-
9:00 AM      NATURE CLASS/STORY TIME FOR KIDS   -registration needed-

10:00 AM     PLANTING NATIVE PLANTS    -registration needed-
10:00 AM      YOGA    -registration needed-
​
11:00 AM     HISTORY TOUR    -registration needed-
11:00 AM     FAMILY NATURE WALK    -registration needed-
​
 -------
10:00 AM
to NOON    NATIVE PLANT SALE PICK UP  
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12:00 NOON      GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS - Tour    -registration 

2:00 PM      NATURE WALK - ADULTS    -registration needed- 

12:30 PM to
​2:00 PM       FAIRY HOUSE SCAVENGER HUNT    -registration needed-



THERE ARE 22 FAIRY HOUSES TO BE DISCOVERED!

​CAN YOU FIND THEM??

​(HERE ARE SOME HINTS)

VOLUNTEER?

We are looking for volunteers to help with this event.  If you could contribute a part of your day to help with activities, please sign up below.

BRIGHTWOOD GEAR


Look Great and Support the Park!
​

Download the Poster!​
Vertical Divider
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NATIVE PLANT SALE PICK UP
10 to Noon

Activities and Informative Booths
​10 AM to 2 PM

NATURE CLASS/STORY TIME FOR KIDS
Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar provides the children with a beautiful and fun introduction to the life cycle of the butterfly. Using the story and pictures of butterflies, the children will learn about the life of a butterfly, the importance of supporting our pollinators with plants and how to plant a feeding source for butterflies. We will walk through the park and find places where we are working hard to nourish the plants that nourish the pollinators.  
LESLIE LEWIS/FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
FOREST BATHING & MEDITATION
What is forest bathing?  This Japanese practice is a process of relaxation; know in Japan as Shinrin Yoko.  The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. Suzanne invites you to join her as she guides you through the forest, providing more insight into how trees communicate and more.   This is mostly a silent walk where we embrace the stillness of the trees, the beauty of the flowers, along with the sounds of resident animals.  This walk will culminate with a brief meditation.  
SUZANNE PINTO/FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
In only 4 years, the newly formed Friends of Brightwood Park have worked to transform the park from an invasive-choked distressed forest to a natural area that is becoming much more healthy.  Learn about our trails project, the classes and and programs that we have worked on and meet the naturalists, botanists, birders and photographers that have help document and inspire the transformation.
FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
PICK UP A FREE TREE!
The Town of Westfield is providing 250 tree saplings to be distributed to people interested in planting new trees to help our towns become more beautiful and more shaded.  

Please stop by!
WESTFIELD TREE PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
WHY ARE THERE DUCKS IN MY YARD?
Climate change has brought increasing rain levels to New Jersey.  More intensive storms are expected.  Learn how green infrastructure can help protect your home.
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
MAKE A PAPER POT & PLANT IT! 
 Children can learn how to make their own paper pot using a press or origami and plant native seeds. Also learn about making a Bird House from a gourd (including the seeds to grow your own gourds).
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM- STUDENT AUXILIARY
POLLINATOR PATHWAY
Learn about how creating a pollinator garden is so important for our native bees and butterflies.  Start a garden plan HERE and "pin" your garden on a Westfield map.
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
Invasives:  Plant THIS; not THAT!
What is the problem with non-native species? Learn about how to identify common invasive plants in your garden, and also at Brightwood and why we have created a strike force to remove them.   Two years into this program, what are we seeing?
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
WATERSHED AMBASSADOR ENVIRONSCAPE 
Tour the Environscape Map to learn about the sources of pollution and other challenges to keep our waters clean and healthy.
WATERSHED AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
The LIBRARY SEED PROJECT
 Children can learn how to make their own paper pot using a press or origami and plant native seeds. Also learn about making a Bird House from a gourd (including the seeds to grow your own gourds).
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM- STUDENT AUXILIARY
DON'T BE FOOLED BY THOSE BIG BROWN EYES - THE PROBLEM WITH WHITE-TAILED DEER
Walt Disney's Bambi has endeared human to deer, creating an over-population in our area five-fold. With few local predators, deer are eating their way through our yards and forest, selecting the native plants that are essential in our ecosystem and helping the ever-increasing spread of invasive species.  Learn the facts on why deer fencing, culling and for goodness sakes, not feeding them, are essential.
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
TOUR THE ENVIRONSCAPE MAP
Learn about sources of pollution and other challenges to keep our waters clean and healthy
WATERSHED AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
...  ALSO  ...
MEET THE FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
DOG WALKING
HIKING
​FISHING