Henry's Nature Center
Volunteer on Saturday, August 31st, from 9-12 to learn, have fun with others, spread mulch, and eradicate invasive species.
The Land
Originally Eastern Cherokee land, then homesteaded, this 20.67 acres is a gift to the Saluda Community from the descendants of R.H. Moody, Bradley Foundation, Polk County Community Foundation, and Saluda Community Land Trust.
The land is composed of dry hillsides and ridges that have thin, rocky and acidic soils. The forest type is Oak-Hickory Complex and includes a section of pine. Look for black, red, white, and scarlet oaks and pignut, bitternut, and mockernut hickory trees.
Flowering dogwood, serviceberry and hophorn trees grow in the understory while wild blueberry, witch hazel, and maple leaf viburnum shrubs grow below them in the shrub layer. In the springtime, wildflowers have a short season and include Lady's Slipper, Wake Robin and Catesby's Trillium.
Rob and Roberta Cart donated funds in memory of their son, Henry Robinson Cart (1989-2006) to create an environmental education site for the community. They would like "everyone, especially children, to feel comfortable in the woods."
The nature center provides an outdoor classroom for local schools, trails for health, recreation, and identification and preservation of flora and fauna.
The History
This nature center seeks to preserve the site's agrarian and railroad history. Two turn-of-the-century homes were built here next to the tracks for easy access. Robert Henry Moody and Sarah Elizabeth Pace Moody and their descendants farmed the land and worked for the Southern Railway Company. See the stone steps of their homestead, stroll down Moody Lane, and imagine a bygone era.
Get Involved
We're getting closer to the grand opening of Henry’s Nature Center. Here's how you can help:
• Donate. Make checks out to Saluda Community Land Trust and designate for Henry’s Nature Center.
• Donate bags of Professional Landscape Planting Mix from SiteOne. (1604 Old Spartanburg Rd. Hendersonville, NC 28792-6423) Or deliver other mulch to the area near the pavilion. Contact Kate at 828-606-9315 to make arrangements for drop-off.
• Donate native plants. You can buy them at Raymond’s Garden Center or share from your own garden. We will be planting again when the weather cools off. Right now we are potting up smaller plants into gallon pots to increase size and establish good roots.
• Bring a watering can and use the rain barrel water to water plants that are marked, especially smaller, newly established ones.
• Join the Landscape Team. Contact Kate so we can add you to our text notifications. Regularly scheduled workdays are 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 9-12, subject to change according to weather or other factors.
• Bring a wet towel on your trail hikes so you can clean off the educational signs:
DeKay Way - 3 signs: MIGRATORY BIRDS, GREAT HORNED OWL and OAK TREE
Spring Box Spur - 1 sign: FROGS AND TOADS
Pine Passage - 1 sign: ANIMAL SCAT
Moody Way - 1 sign: POLLINATORS
Pavilion Area -2 signs: NATIVE PLANTS and INVASIVE SPECIES
Let's work together to further develop and maintain this beautiful 20-acre nature park.