Fernbank Begins Restoration of Forest, Self-Guided Tour Access Limited
Decatur Metro | July 5, 2012
Photo courtesy of Trance Mist via Flickr
Michelle points to this release by Fernbank Natural History Museum…
ATLANTA—Fernbank Museum of Natural History celebrates its 20th anniversary in October and is going back to its roots—Fernbank Forest. Fernbank, Inc., which today operates as the not-for-profit Fernbank Museum of Natural History, was established to preserve and protect the forest as a “school in the woods for nature study.” Echoing the intent of its founders in the 1930s, Fernbank Museum is conducting a stewardship and master plan for Fernbank Forest and the entire Museum campus.
As the Museum and its team of ecologists, biologists, landscape architects and other experts assess the Forest, meet with stakeholders, and develop a plan for its future, self-guided tours will be temporarily suspended. However, Fernbank Museum will offer a number of guided opportunities to explore the beauty of Fernbank Forest during this time.
The Master Plan will address the imminent threat that non-native, invasive species are posing to the future of this 65-acre urban old-growth Piedmont forest, the largest of its kind in the United States. The Master Plan will also establish a long-term stewardship plan to ensure the Forest is healthy and accessible for generations to come. Full plans for the Forest will not be available until the Master Planning process is complete, but Fernbank Museum’s first priority is to restore the health of Fernbank Forest and preserve the native ecosystem. The Master Planning process will contemplate programs that allow visitors full access to the Forest through self-guided tours and instructor-led programs to foster an even greater appreciation of the natural world.
Timing for the development of the Master Plan comes at the conclusion of a 48-year lease to the DeKalb County School System. Management of Fernbank Forest will return to Fernbank Museum of Natural History on July 1.
“Fernbank Forest was the inspiration for Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and as we celebrate the Museum’s 20th anniversary, we are excited to offer our visitors a new connection between the many wonders of the museum experience and the infinite wonders of the natural world,” said Fernbank Museum’s President and CEO, Susan Neugent. “For the safety of our visitors and the integrity of our research, we will temporarily limit visitation to Fernbank Forest.”
The entrance to Fernbank Forest off Heaton Park Drive will close on July 1, and self-guided tours will be temporarily suspended as research and restoration work are conducted. However, Fernbank Museum will offer various programs guided by its education team and partners to allow visitors to experience Fernbank Forest and the woodland areas directly behind the Museum. While ecological restoration work is being completed, free self-guided tours are available in Fernbank Museum’s nearby Deepdene and Dellwood Parks along Ponce de Leon Avenue. Visit fernbankmuseum.org/forest for more information.
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The restoration and improvements to Deepdene Park make it one of the absolutely best parks in the area. Maybe Fernbank can save some money and use the plans those experts developed.
Hmm, their website (http://fernbankmuseum.org/explore-exhibits/permanent-features/fernbank-forest/special-outdoor-programming/) says “All programs are included with Museum admission and are FREE for Fernbank members.” … I would guess a lot more people would buy annual memberships ($95 for 2 adults + 2 kids) if they got access to a private, managed forest. Could be like state parks where you have to check in/out with the warden but otherwise are free to meander during park hours.
They recommend Deepdene, Elwood (which Fernbank owns and co-owns, respectively) and other parks along Ponce for anyone who doesn’t want to pay. That’s a nice move; they can’t be accused of locking down all the pretty trees behind a pay wall.
The museum’s lease on the land expires soon, and they’re on record hating the county. So they suddenly talk about their big plans for the land.
It’s a negotiating posture. And this is not going to end well. DeKalb County Schools are desperate for cash. I smell a developer coming in.
So much for the intent of the original donors?
Fernbank, Inc. owns the forest and leased it to the county schools. The school system’s desperate need for cash has absolutely no bearing on this.
When did developers start having money again?
So – the beautiful forest that has been free and accessible to all will now require a $66 museum admission fee for a family of four? It’s the museum’s right, of course, since they own the forest – but sad for the families that won’t be going there.
Am I not reading this correctly on the Fernbank site? It says that GUIDED access is free for members, and that self-guided access will return soon. I read good-old, self-guided forest strolls to be free.
I would not expect restored access any time soon. There will be much time taken to “study” (read: search for big grants or sponsors to pay for) potential restoration work. I don’t understand why they can’t continue some free access during a time of “study”. This is probably more a demonstration of taking control and keeping the science center out. And once it’s been closed for a good long while, when the “new and improved” forest reopens as pay component of the museum, the transition to a fee-based forest won’t seem as sudden. Improvements will take the form of enhancements that they can charge more money for… a canopy walk, even zip lines would be no surprise. Fun, but certainly not the founder’s intent for that forest.
There is not currently a team of “ecologists, biologists, landscape architects and other experts” on staff who would be capable of doing a proper assessment of the forest. So I assume consultants will have to be brought in or new folks hired… and that will take more time. Incidentally, several long-term, highly qualified fernbank science center instructors recently learned they will not have their contracts renewed for next year.
So sorry about the highly qualified Fernbank Science Center instructors not having their contracts renewed. They weren’t offered positions elsewhere in the school system? I would think that highly qualified science instructors could be vital in a system that is struggling in so many ways. Maybe CSD should go snatch them up! Can any of them teach math?