Town of Chapel Hill issued the following announcement on Feb. 25.
As part of its Explore More at Pritchard Park initiative, Chapel Hill Public Library will offer a series of fire ecology programs this spring, culminating in a prescribed burn.
These all-ages programs will emphasize the beneficial role fire plays in the healthy function and biodiversity of habitats, as well as in the natural processes of adaptation and ecologic succession.
- A “Before the Burn” fire ecology walk will be held on Saturday, March 5 at 11 a.m.
- The controlled burn will happen sometime between March 7 and March 23, on a weekday, depending on optimal weather conditions. Notice will be given the day prior.
- An “After the Burn” exploratory walk will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 11 a.m.
The prescribed burn, which will cover the grassy hillside above the main entrance traffic circle at the library, will benefit the Pritchard Park ecosystem by reducing the number of invasive species on the slope, rejuvenating native grasses, improving wildlife habitat, and controlling insects. The library conducted a controlled burn in this space once before in the spring of 2018.
“We’re excited to be able to give folks the chance to consider the role fire plays in healthy ecosystems,” said Meeghan Rosen, Assistant Library Director. “We hope people will come join us and see up close what happens before—and after—a fire happens.”
Through the series of fire ecology education events, the library will also provide a forum for the public to learn more about fire’s important ecological role in the environment.
Before the burn, Chapel Hill Public Library will invite all ages to a walking tour of the flora and fauna on the hillside above the traffic circle. N.C. Forest Ranger for Orange County, Justin Bennett, will talk about the role of the Forest Service, the burn plan and safety measures for the hillside, and the value of prescribed burns.
Representatives from area wildlife and environmental organizations will also speak about the animal species and habitats in Pritchard Park, the role of fire in habitat vitality and renewal, and what changes we can expect over time.
“We’ll explore fire and forest ecology, look at how different plants and animals respond to fire, and share the Forest Service’s plan for conducting a prescribed fire outside the library in March,” Rosen said.
An exploratory walk post-fire will look at what happened after the burn, what’s changed, and what to expect in the weeks and months to come.
Chapel Hill Public Library will work in partnership with the North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Botanical Garden, and Chapel Hill Fire, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works departments to conduct the burn and the series. Optimal weather forecasting and site conditions will determine the exact date of the burn.
The library is a certified North Carolina Environmental Education Center and home to the Explore More at Pritchard Park initiative, a collaboration with the Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation department.
Fire department, library, and Town social media channels will provide safety updates leading up to the fire. For more information, contact Library Marketing and Communications Coordinator Hannah Olson at holson@townofchapelhill.org.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Town of Chapel Hill
