Preservation and Progress

Friends of Rye Nature Center loves our beautiful nature preserve, and we work hard to make it the best that it can be. Keep reading to learn about recent and upcoming improvements to the Nature Center.  

New Deer Exclosure  

Healthy ecosystems need native biodiversity to thrive. That includes a diverse array of native plants, which support the ecosystem that has adapted to support and be supported by them. A significant threat to native biodiversity throughout the American Northeast is the white-tailed deer, which damages forests by consuming excessive amounts of native plants. To protect the Nature Center’s forest from white-tailed deer, FRNC has built a deer exclosure: a fenced area that deer cannot enter. Our conservation team has also set up metal tubing around vulnerable trees and shrubs to protect them from deer. 

The deer exclosure allows the forest to regenerate a healthier canopy, understory, shrub layer, and forest floor. Take a look at the improvements in these pictures or visit the Nature Center yourself to see the impact in person. 

Tree ID

This fall, FRNC will install a series of signs to teach visitors how to identify local trees. These signs will include descriptions of identifying features, images of leaves, and a quiz where you can put your new knowledge to the test.

New Trail Map  

The Nature Center is getting a new trail map! Over time, our trails have faded, and roaming deer have created new ones. To make the trails clearer for all visitors, FNRC is installing new trail markers and making our map more user friendly. The trails themselves will not change. The new maps and markers will help keep our existing trails straightforward and easy to follow. 

The tree ID signage and new trail map and markers were made possible through a grant from Con Edison, a long-time FRNC community partner.