Two Opportunities to Enjoy Conservation Foundation’s Myakka Headwaters Preserve

May 12, 2023 – Osprey

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is delighted to announce two upcoming events at their forever-protected Myakka Headwaters Preserve – an Artists’ Day on Friday, May 19, and a morning of education and exploration on Saturday, May 20. The self-guided Artists’ Day takes place from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm. Participants will be provided a trail map upon entry and need to bring their own supplies for the medium of their choice. The May 20 event takes place from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and will include guided preserve tours and lunch on the land. Conservation Foundation representatives will be onsite during both events to answer questions about the property and the organization’s vital work. 

“Our Myakka Headwaters Preserve is a gorgeous slice of natural Florida and the perfect place to spend a morning soaking up the many benefits that nature provides to our mind, body, and soul,” notes Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “We look forward to hosting these events which are designed to get more people out on the land, connected with nature.”

The not-for-profit land trust’s 432-acre Myakka Headwaters Preserve – where seven creeks converge to form the Myakka River – is an exceptional part of Myakka and the greater Florida ecosystem. The property contains numerous diverse landscapes, including floodplain forests, marshland, longleaf pine flatwoods, and oak hammocks. Fields of wildflowers host pollinators of all shapes and sizes, and fern-lined streambanks rise just a foot or two above the clear-flowing water, which supports submerged aquatic vegetation unable to grow in the sunlight-blocked blackwaters found elsewhere in the Myakka River.

Since purchasing the preserve’s first 363 acres in 2020, Conservation Foundation has been diligent in its efforts to restore the shoreline, strengthen the health of the river, and support the wildlife who call this special place home. In 2022 they conserved an additional 69 acres at the southern end of the original property. Volunteers have planted thousands of native trees and wildflowers along the shoreline and throughout the 432 acres over the past several months as part of the organization’s ongoing Myakka Restoration initiative. 

Experience this stunning landscape firsthand on May 19 and/or 20. Both events are free and open to the public though registration is required. To learn more and sign up, visit conservationfoundation.com/events.