October 2022

Through a partnership between the City of Chattanooga, Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, and EPB, city residents and EPB customers can receive up to two free trees per household to plant in their yards. 1,000 native trees will be provided as part of the Free Tree Releaf Program in an effort to enhance the community’s tree canopy so […]

Why is Fall the time of year that you need to be more vigilant while driving? Because it is peak deer activity season, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. “Motorists should be alert and pay close attention to roadsides as we are nearing the annual peak time of year for deer

TennGreen Land Conservancy and partners recently conveyed 838 acres of land to the State of Tennessee for an expansion to Fall Creek Falls State Park. This land, known as the “Mullican” tract, was acquired by TennGreen, The Nature Conservancy, and The Conservation Fund through support from the Open Space Institute and the Lyndhurst Foundation. “This is

2023 Friends Calendars are Here Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the beautiful 2023 Friends of the South Cumberland calendars are now available. Trails and Trilliums Has Exciting 2023 Plans When Trails & Trilliums rolls around next spring (April 21-23), FSC’s 19th Naturalist rally will have three big reasons to celebrate! Ready for Some

The Open Space Institute (OSI) is delighted to announce the third grant and loan round for the Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund. OSI is accepting proposals through December 19th, 2022 for the Western/Central Pennsylvania and Cradle of Southern Appalachia Focus Areas. Through this Fund, OSI provides capital grants to conservation projects within the globally important Appalachian region that

Last month, we shared a zoning change request for a property near Reflection Riding that would have allowed it to be used as a quarry. For several reasons, including the negative impact on the watershed, air quality concerns, and potential disruptions to the peaceful enjoyment of our campus, we opposed this change. We worked with

Southeastern Climbers Coalition, The Friends of the Falls, Noccalula Falls Park, and the City of Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department are thrilled to announce their partnership that will bring rock climbing into the park.  This partnership will work to maintain the already existing beauty of the gorge—particularly the 90-foot waterfall that is the namesake of

After 13 years of bringing you stories of nature, outdoor recreation and conservation, primarily focusing on Chattanooga and the South Cumberland region, the time has come for the Nickajack Naturalist to re-brand and transition to a new chapter. Welcome to its replacement, the Cumberland Naturalist. The Cumberland Naturalist name better reflects an expanded geographical coverage

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and dozens of conservation partners recently celebrated the snail darter’s recovery and removal from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife at Seven Islands Birding State Park. The snail darter is the fifth fish species delisted due to recovery in the country and the first in the eastern