RED BUCKEYE IN THE BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FOREST
It all started when…A forest is threatened!
In 2016, when the City of Grenada found itself in need of large funds to remain fiscally responsible, a citywide timber harvest seemed the only answer.
Learning of the impending harvest, Friends of Chakchiuma Swamp (FCS) had an idea and approached the council with a creative solution. The City stood firm by their financial goals and timber sale but gave the FCS a green light to put their idea into action.
In 2017, an amazing benefactor loaned FCS $300,000 to win the bid buying time for FCS to make their idea a reality. In return, FCS acquired a long-term land lease and a new name for the public portion of Chakchiuma Swamp – Lee Tartt Nature Preserve.
what is lee tartt nature preserve?
Lee Tartt Nature Preserve is a special place in the heart of downtown Grenada.
Lee Tartt is a Grenada hero whose actions changed many lives for the better. In 2016 he lost his life in the line of duty for the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Lee’s love of nature is a testament to our values.
The dominant feature is Chakchiuma Swamp - a complex of oxbow lakes, bottomland hardwood forest and open meadows adjacent to the Yalobusha River and public boat ramp.
It is located on North Main St just 5 minutes from the square. It is home to more than 10,000 trees. Open every day. Always free.
BE A FOREST FRIEND
Buy a tree. Secure a forest. Invest in conservation.
Our songbirds, owls, woodpeckers, ducks, turtles, bats, butterflies and hundreds of other plants and critters are counting on it!
THE IDEA: SAVE IT ONE TREE AT A TIME!!
If each tree were connected to a person in exchange for it’s commercial value the trees could generate the desired revue leaving the forest intact! Instead of a timber sale for harvesting it’s a sale for saving.
Here’s how it works –
In the Forest Industry the timber value of every tree is based on its species, diameter at breast height (DBH) and height. Our trees are measured, geolocated and tagged by forestry students and range in value from $25 - $150.
Your donation spares the life of a specific tree which is connected to your name or someone you love.
1. Select donation amount…
to secure the forest and invest in conservation.
2. a tagged & numbered tree…
will be matched with the name of your choosing and memorialized onsite
3. Your donation will be MATCHED!!
$5 FOR EVERY $10 WE RAISE!!
4. 100% of the donation amount…
will be used to repay the loan that purchased the trees