Events
Friends of Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail Meeting Schedule
The Friends meet at the Upper Piedmont Research Station office at the intersection of Wentworth Street and Salem Church Road, 1944 Wentworth Street, Reidsville, (GPS coordinates 36.37958, -79.694541). Meetings are generally held the last Thursday of the month at either noon (quarterly) or 7:00 p.m. Notice of the next meeting time and place will be posted at the trailhead in the bulletin board or the kiosk. The meeting schedule for 2017 is as follows:
Thursday September 28, 2017 7:00 PM
Thursday October 26, 2017 12 noon
Thursday November 16, 2017 7:00 PM
DECEMBER 2017-no meeting
NEWS
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Chinqua-Penn Trail Designated National
Recreation Trail
U. S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has named Rockingham County’s Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail as a National Recreation Trail, one of ten trails so honored in 2015. The designation is given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Some 1200 trails nationwide have received this label since Congress authorized the program in 1968. Our 1.7-mile loop winds through old-growth forest, skirts two ponds, and follows the fence lines of pastures where a prized historic Black Angus herd grazes. Crops are tested in fields alongside farm roads once used as carriage trails by Betsy and Jeff Penn. Elegant stone structures, remains of the Penns’ lavish lifestyle built in the 1920s and 1930s, provide points of historical interest along the trail. As part of the North Carolina Birding Trail, the Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail attracts over 150 species of birds requiring a variety of habitats. Many of the birds are pictured here on our website of Friends of Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail. The trail, enjoyed by hundreds of people and leashed dogs each week, has been featured by physicians’ offices and health centers for its health and fitness benefits and is used for nature study by Scouts, school groups, youth groups, and 4-H campers. The Friends of Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail invite the public to a ceremony celebrating the National Recreation Trail designation. It will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21 (rain date Thursday, July 23) at the trailhead (GPS 36.382734, -79.703128) just west of 2138 Wentworth Street, Reidsville, NC. A representative of North Carolina State Parks will be on hand to present Secretary Jewell’s plaque to Dr. Joseph French, Manager of the Upper Piedmont Research Station. All are invited to walk the trail after the brief program. |
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BUTTERFLY GARDEN
Butterflies conjure up images of sunshine, the warmth and colour of flowery meadows, and summer gardens teaming with life. Thanks to the Rockingham Naturalist Club, Mike Vaughan and Milton Hundley, have planted a beautiful butterfly garden on the Chinqua-Penn Trail! You can see it just across from the Spring House, in a 14’ x 4’ fenced area that will be teaming with bright flowers pretty soon. Butterflies are attracted to brightly colored, fragrant flowers and feed on nectar produced by the flowers. As the butterflies travel from one flower to another, they pollinate the plants, resulting in further development of plant species. Numerous plants rely on pollinators, such as butterflies, for reproduction.The flowers planted in our garden include three varieties of Ageratum (lavender blue flowers), Butterfly Weeds (brilliant orange), single petal Zinnias (mixed colors) and non-invasive Butterfly Bushes (peach and light blue). Landscape cloth has been laid down around the plantings to let water through and then retain the water. A thin layer of pine needles was arranged on top. We can expect 30 to 40 species to visit our garden. Species will include : Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail, Great Spangled Fritillary, Fritillary, Little Common Blues, American Ladies, Painted Ladies and Monarchs. Butterfly habitats provide intriguing natural settings through the colorful appeal of the flowers and insects. This aesthetic draws human interest, which can result in a greater awareness of the environment and a better understanding of our role in preserving natural habitats. 
Bird Club had an outing June 7 ,2015 at the trail.
Martin Wall, one of our own, led a group of birders around for an enjoyable morning of birdwatching. They recorded 44 species in 3 1/2 hours. Two highlights are pictured here, the brilliant Blue Grosbeak was singing away on the wire, and the tiny Grasshopper Sparrow came out of the tall grass to sing his distinctive buzzy song. Thanks, Lou Scrabec (PBC), for these great pictures of birds enjoying Chinqua-Penn Trail! |
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Painted Slates - Check them out at Round About Way on 3847 NC 87 just outside Reidsville near where Barnes Street, Holiday Loop, and NC 87 intersect!
Spring House Repairs
Si Rothrock of Reidsville Building and Restoration and his helpers have completed repairs to the the Spring House roof to prevent it falling in. This entailed removing the slate shingles, cutting out all rotten boards, and filling in with a new layer of freshly cured oak boards. They covered the boards with a thick synthetic felt to protect the wood from the elements. Even though the project is completed, we are still raising money to pay off all costs incurred. We are selling Painted Slates, Bamboo and Bluebird houses. And, our 2nd annual Run with the Cows 5K in September 2015 will also help with these costs.
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Research Station Office
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