Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge - Fort Worth, TX - Preservation and Protection

The Forth Worth Nature Center and Refuge is located in Fort Worth, Texas. It is located at 9601 Fossil Ridge Road in Fort Worth, TX. Fort Worth is located in the north of Texas and is the seventeenth largest city in the USA. The center is located in the northern part of Fort Worth, off of Jacksonboro Highway, near Lake Worth. Lake Worth is a reservoir that was built in 1914.

The mission statement of the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge states their desire to educate the community in the protection and preservation of natural areas, particularly those in North Central Texas. The Refuge is over 3,600 acres in size and stretches between the Fort Worth (Grand) Prairie and the Western Cross Timbers. These two ecosystems form the emphasis of the Center's focus. The land itself is a combination of prairie and savannah. The West Fork of the Trinity River cuts through the Refuge. The West Fork is one of four forks of the Trinity River. The West Fork flows through the city of Fort Worth as well as Lake Worth.

Savannahs, which have sparse tree cover, and prairies, which have no tree cover, make up the Refuge property. As such, the grassland ecosystem encompassed by the Refuge includes a variety of ecologically important grasses. These include: little bluestem (a perennial grass which is blue in the spring), Indian grass (the official state grass of SC and OK), and dropseed (which flowers in late summer). Post oak trees, which are native to Texas, is the most common tree on the Refuge. There are some samples which are over 300 years old on the property. Bur oaks, large trees which grow in the open, are also common to the area.

There are paved roads which lead to over 20 miles of hiking trails. Most of the trails are between 2 and 3.5 miles in length. Prairie Trail is a 1.13 mile trail in open prairie that is connected to Oak Motte and Wild Plum Trails. Wild Plum is a shorter trail, about a half-mile, that wends its way through wild plum thickets. Oak Motte is over 2 miles long and meanders through clusters of oak trees.

Along these trails, wildlife is prevalent. Bald eagles, turkeys, black vultures, and osprey are all common sites along the water. White-tailed deer and prairie dogs are also commonly spotted.

The Nature Center and Refuge has a vast array of programs and features throughout the year. A detailed calendar of events is available on their website. Some events and programs include: Naturalist-led Nature Walks, Canoe Tours, and photography workshops. There are frequent workshops that involve visitors in projects, such as the building Kitchen Worm Bins or Bird Feeders. Seasonal-themed events also take place.

Although city-owned, the Refuge has over a dozen volunteer opportunities. These range from trail guides and canoe leaders, to visitor center hosts and greenhouse seed propagators. Financial support to the Nature Center and Refuge is also provided by two non-profit organizations.

The grounds are open every day excepting Christmas and Thanksgiving. The hours are divided between summer hours (May - September): M - F 8am - 7pm, Sat. and Sun. 7am - 7pm; and winter hours (October -April): M-Sun. 8am - 5pm. The Hardwicke Interpretive Center is open Mon.-Sat.: 9 am-4:30 pm and Sunday 12 - 4:30 pm. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children under age 17, and $3 for seniors. Additional information can be found by calling: 817-392-7410 or through their website at www.fwnc.org