Heartwood will close for Prescribed Burn!

– IMPORTANT NOTICE –

Heartwood Preserve will be closed to all visitors

all day TUESDAY JUNE 29th

and until noon WEDNESDAY JUNE 30th, 2021

for a Prescribed Burn.

Our longleaf pine flatwoods ecosystem depends on the regular occurrence of fire. We are planning a Prescribed Burn TUESDAY 6/29. During the Burn, we will be closed to all visitors. No one except staff and crew is permitted to enter. This is for the safety of all. We will re-open by noon on WEDNESDAY. All activities will take the utmost care to not disturb our burial sites. This burn in particular will be for the NATURE PRESERVE Area. None of the cemetery area will be burned this year.

Planning for our Prescribed Burn depends on weather conditions and other factors. We usually don’t know until the day before if we will burn, so your patience and flexibility are greatly appreciated. Weather also changes and can cause us to postpone last minute. If we don’t burn Tuesday due to weather, we will try again the week of July 5. Please check our Facebook page or give us a call to get the most up-to-date information on our closings. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

• Reduces the amount of “fuel” (branches, twigs, leaves) that can make fires burn too intensely
• Converts organic matter into nutrients and minerals to be absorbed by the living plants
• Stimulates new growth following the burn, providing food for wildlife
• Maintains an open understory, exposing the soil to allow seeds to germinate, spurring new trees, shrubs and wildflowers.