On International Day of Forests, here are 6 in the Wilmington area to enjoy

International Day of Forests will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 21. The UN General Assembly proclaimed in 2012 the day as the International Day of Forests to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.

Here are just a few area forests and nature preserves to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.

Ev-Henwood, 6150 Rock Creek Road, Leland

Lillie Reiter and a volunteer planting longleaf pine trees at Ev-Henwood.

Ev-Henwood, a lesser-known forest owned and managed by the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is a 174-acre preserve in Brunswick County. There are a number of trails on the property, and efforts continue to re-establish the longleaf pine forest. Efforts at conservation were also made possible through the Coastal Land Trust before being transferred to UNCW.

There are two self-guided learning trails, the David Sieren Learning Trail and the Troy Henry Learning Trail. The trails are comprised of several trails with plant identification labels and learning stations which interpret and explain some of the natural features of Ev-Henwood. Each trail takes about two hours.

The woods are dominated by oaks and hickories, with loblolly pines. The lowlands along the blackwater Town Creek and its branches have a canopy of various combinations of bald cypress, black gum, tulip tree, red maple, swamp chestnut oak and other floodplain species.

The fields are maintained to provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. The ponds are man-made and both were developed in low areas prior to acquisition of Ev-Henwood by UNCW in 1991. At least one alligator reportedly resides in the large pond, which is usually covered with a layer of duckweeds which are small aquatic flowering plants.

Ev-Henwood is open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, free to the public.

For more information, visit http://uncw.edu/physicalplant/arboretum/ev-henwood/.

Carolina Beach State Park

Participants run the course during the Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon and 5K in 2019.

Carolina Beach State Park is home to the Venus flytrap, a unique carnivorous plant. The park is also known for habitats like Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot dune that once served as a navigational marker for river pilots. It has three limesink ponds that each feature a unique plant community. The park’s marina provides access to the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway, making the area popular for boaters and anglers.

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The trails are relatively flat, which makes hiking easy. View the variety of distinct habitats, which offer a diversity of plant and animal life. Activities also include biking, paddling, fishing, and of course picnicking.

For more information, https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/carolina-beach-state-park.

Halyburton Park, 4099 S. 17th St., Wilmington

People walk around the Gary Shell Cross City Trail at Halyburton Park.

Another gem to visit is Halyburton Park. The 60-acre park is 70 percent undeveloped, offering several inter-looping trails, which allow walkers to wander through the woods. The majority of the preserve consists of gently rolling sandhills, a habitat which is rarely found in the coastal Carolinas. The park also offered nature trails, picnic shelters, playground, and a 1.3 paved handicap accessible path that circles the perimeter of the park.

More:Year of the trail: To celebrate, here are 6 Brunswick places to walk, bike or paddle

Abbey Nature Preserve, Pender County

The Abbey Nature Preserve is in Scotts Hill.

The Abbey Nature Preserve is protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement held by the Coastal Land Trust. This property was part of a larger tract of land, much of which has been sold and is being developed into a new subdivision. Abbey Preserve is located just north of the New Hanover-Pender county line in Scotts Hill.

It consists of trails that were once part of the “old farm road” leading straight down to the Intracoastal Waterway and traversed for two centuries by the enslaved community of what was referred to as Poplar Grove Plantation. This community and their descendants are part of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor designated by the National Park Service.

The Abbey Nature Preserve has two tracts totaling 63 acres under the stewardship of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust. Details: https://coastallandtrust.org/lands/abbey-nature-preserve/.

Brunswick Nature Park, 2601 River Road, Winnabow

The Brunswick Nature Park is roughly the same size as Central Park in New York City.

The Coastal Land Trust purchased this large tract of land (912 acres, roughly the size of Central Park in New York City) and gave it to Brunswick County in 2004 to create a public nature park.

There are several trails in Brunswick Nature Park.

The Brunswick Nature Park is located on River Road in Town Creek Township, about 10 miles from Leland. There’s a dynamic mix of vegetation, wildlife, ecosystems, vistas, wetlands and waterways. Bring the family and pets to hike the walking trails, biking trails, horse trails, and viewing platforms at scenic overlooks. Enjoy a kayak/canoe launch site and a picnic pavilion perfect for a family gathering.

Moores Creek National Battlefield, Currie

Moores Creek National Battlefield is a battlefield managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The battle was fought between about 1,000 Patriots and about 1,600 Loyalists. The battle was the first decisive Patriot victory of the American Revolution.

Cypress trees

The National Park Service protects the entire 88 acres of Moores Creek National Battlefield, where visitors can find both longleaf and loblolly pine trees. The park is also home to a cypress swamp with several large cypress trees. The park has been in the process of planting new loblolly and longleaf pine trees to help restore the landscape back to its 1776 appearance.

The park is located at 40 Patriots Hall Drive in Currie. The park grounds are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. dail. The visitor center is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: On International Day of Forests, here are 6 in Wilmington NC to enjoy