This past weekend the students of Longwood’s Wildlife Society became master gardeners at Hull Springs Farm, a 662-acre farm, found nestled by the bay in Westmoreland County.
The Society is an organization, here at Longwood, dedicated to promoting a love of all things wild and wonderful. Barrett Nicks, a member of the society, encourages newcomers; “we are always in search of motivated students to engage with nature!”
Working together with the help of Liberal Studies director, Pat Lust, the society helped to clear a path in a patch of woods, by the big house, in order to begin what is looking to be a long-term project. This project will become a demonstration garden, which can be utilized by classes that want to get out and soak in some nature, or by anyone looking to escape for a moment.
The Society cleared out a short path winding through beautiful pines, magnolias, azaleas, along with a great deal of other native Virginia plants. They weeded though brambles, and uprooted hazardous stumps, in order to create what will become a leisurely stroll through the woods.
Dr. Lust is hoping that this will become an ongoing collaboration with the Wildlife Society and willing SOLSTICE volunteers, “The work of the Longwood Wildlife Society was such a wonderful way to kick off this project that, in a few years, will be a premier demonstration garden of shade loving plants that are native to the area.”
Our team had a wonderful time taking in the beautiful scenery around the area. While at the farm, the students enjoyed spending time kayaking out on the water, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows on the fire.
Jeff Wagstaff promoted the farm stating, “a trip to Hull Springs Farm is something I would encourage any student, with a love of the outdoors, to undertake; I felt very immersed in the natural world.”
The Wildlife Society, President Caryn Ross, states “Our trip to Hull Springs Farm embodied a lot of what we hope to accomplish with this student chapter: an adventurous time outdoors mixed in with a little hard work and great service to a local Virginia environment.”
If you, or anyone you know, is interested in joining our Wildlife Society at Longwood, find us on Facebook at The Wildlife Society: Longwood or contact the President, Caryn Ross, at caryn.ross@live.longwood.edu.
