Established in 1939 by Arthur D. Norcross, about 75 acres of Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary are open to the public.
Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary in WalkesIt encompasses about 8,000 acres in Wales but many people outside the immediate area are not aware of the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary.
A private non-profit sanctuary, the property is an ideal spot to see native plants, and occasionally native wildlife, while enjoying the outdoors.
Established in 1939 by Arthur D. Norcross, about 75 acres of Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary are open to the public. The property, which has about 2.5 miles of trails, consists of wooded hills, lakes and streams.
A boardwalk goes over a swampy area and around a small pond along the walking trails, and there are a number of habitat gardens.
“We have gardens representing a meadow, woodlands and a wildflower garden,” said Leslie Duthie, horticulturist and plant propagator at Norcross. “The pond is a very gravely pond, so we refer to it as a coastal kettle pond. It’s a re-creation of that kind of habitat.”
Gardens include a rose garden and an herb garden. Other native plants growing at Norcross are a valuable food source for birds and animals.
“We really have a wonderful collection of native wildflowers and plants,” Duthie said. “There’s something blooming from April to November so there’s always something to see. We have a wide diversity of plant material that would be hardy in this area and native to northeastern North America.”
It’s also a great place to take children because the gardens aren’t formal.
“There are plenty of things for kids to see,” Duthie said. “A lot of the walk is through a sort of New England woodland. It’s a great place for kids to come and explore the trails.”
Sanctuary staff offers a variety of programs for school groups and scout groups, plus a winter lecture series and spring programs. Topics include birds, vernal pools, butterflies and wildflowers, animal tracking, edible landscapes, organic lawns and twig identification. The free lecture series, geared toward adults, offers an hour-long introduction of a particular topic.
There are two museums on the property.
“The visitor’s center has displays about what you might see in the sanctuary, or educational staff will do different displays on wildlife or plant life,” Duthie said.
A second museum sits along the trails.
Questions about gardening, plants or wildlife are encouraged at Norcross.
“If people have questions about wildlife or gardening, they can contact us,” Duthie said. “People are encouraged to come to our programs, which are all free.”
The trails open in spring. Trails are of moderate difficulty, and are narrow, so they cannot currently accommodate strollers or wheelchairs. Dogs are not allowed. With damage from last October’s storm, Duthie said she is hopeful the trails will be open by May 1.
The sanctuary is curre
ntly open Tuesday through Saturday, and closed on Sunday. It will be open on Mondays from Memorial Day through the fall.
For more information on Norcross and its programs, visit www.norcrossws.org or call (413) 267-9654.