Can We Partner With Fish?By Angelou Ezeilo, board member

We call them FISH, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and I’m hoping to make another match in nature. Let me explain.

I am a nature lover, building a future for more diverse young people to work outdoors in conservation jobs. The South Fork Conservancy loves my work with a foundation I began, Greening Youth. We work with FISH to get diverse interns into projects in beautiful wildlife refuges. They research & protect endangered birds, turtles and reptiles. Now I’m helping the South Fork Conservancy begin partnering with Greening Youth and FISH to find urban wildlife refuge challenges along the creek. Should be a natural!

New Trail CelebratedA ribbon cutting for the Cheshire Farm Trail revealed a new walk for urban nature lovers on September 29. Partners snipped a kudzu ribbon to let 75 supporters explore the new Cheshire Farm Trail and bridges.

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Joseph and Curtis Cheshire lead the crowd down the trail.

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A Hero Of The South ForkThis fall, we honor a quiet hero in our back yard. In September, Cox Conserves chose Bob Scott as a finalist for the Cox Conserves Hero Award.

“I was completely surprised,” Bob says. I had no idea - they left a voice mail and at first I thought it was a sales call. I had to listen to it twice before it really registered!”

We call Bob our trail ranger- he and his faithful lawnmower and dogs are a constant presence maintaining the Confluence Trail.

A sweaty-gloved Bob Scott maintains the Confluence Trail

SFC Board Member Angelou Ezeilo

Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church’s Good Neighbor Day brought Donna Toulme and Steve Rushing (pictured) to the Confluence. With a dozen others, they rescued year old Oconee azaleas, sassafras, chestnut and sumac from overbearing kudzu vines. Another year of life, thanks to our good neighbor volunteers.

Like A Good Neighbor...

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Standing in the shadow of the soaring new GA 400 ramp, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the City of Atlanta, The South Fork Conservancy, Lindridge-Martin Manor Neighborhood Association and the Lindbergh LaVista Corridor Coalition celebrated the unusual partnership that built this half-mile million dollar Cheshire Farm Trail beside a once-neglected creek.

The soft-surfaced path edges the creek, ushering walkers across the North Fork of Peachtree Creek on a remarkable bridge. Trail work, which won a prize from Atlanta’s Urban Design Awards in June, began as a way to avoid a noisy fight. Instead of expected opposition to new flyover ramps connecting I-85 and Georgia 400, the Georgia DOT wanted innovative ideas to make the construction acceptable to the neighbors.

“We all wanted better access to green space. This is public land with a once- invisible creek running right through

it,” says Lindridge Martin Manor Neighborhood President Roxanne Sullivan.

The Cheshire Farm trail, located between Cheshire Bridge Road and Lindbergh Drive, gives neighbors an outdoor space to stroll, walk their dogs and catch up with each other. The trail is the result of efforts by the neighborhood, GDOT, and members of the South Fork Conservancy to turn off-limits green space into a community asset.

“What I found so exciting about this event was the number of people who showed up from all over the city representing so many different neighborhoods,” notes LLCC President Henry Batten. “It was almost like a family reunion.”

“We did not want an ordinary ribbon-cutting,”says Conservancy director Sally Sears. “So we pulled long strands of kudzu and tied them across the bridge. Cutting kudzu to allow people access is what the trail does for the creek. Plus, it was fun!”

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Loren Bartlett agrees. “It was exciting to see the finished trail being enjoyed by so many people of all ages,” says Loren Bartlett, Project Manager at GDOT. “Our contractor, Archer Western, did a wonderful job building a trail and bridge that really meets the needs of the communities along the route. I hope that this will benefit the neighborhood for years to come.

Ribbon cutting number two! From left to right: Home Depot Lindbergh Store Manager David Sharpton, APD Lieutenant Jeff Baxter, Director of

Sustainability Denise Quarles, Commissioner of City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation Amy Phuong, Home Depot Regional Manager Jabarr Bean, Atlanta Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Center Forward Planning’s

Heather Alhadeff. Photo courtesy of Eric Bowles’ Photography

From Left to Right: SFC Board Chairman Bob Kerr, SFC Executive Director Sally Sears, Councilman Alex Wan, Sustainability Director

Denise Quarles, Dept of Parks and Rec Commissioner Amy Phuong. Photo courtesy of Eric Bowles’ Photography

Chestnut Tales Flourish And Grow

Wonderful news winged its way into South Fork mailboxes when author Sally Walker asked to include our Chestnut project in a new book. The Illinois-based author of a variety of childrens’ books chooses topics blending science, history, mystery, all wrapped up in good story.

“I just love learning about subjects that include these elements,” says Sally. “I especially love American Chestnut trees because they were my father’s favorite tree. He told me a lot about them when I was a young girl.”Sally initially found Martin Cipollini, a Berry College Scientist working with the American Chestnut Foundation.

“He asked me if I knew the work the South Fork Conservancy was doing in classrooms around Atlanta and immediately suggested I get in touch.” remembers Sally. We connected the writer with Thomas Rudolph, a fifth grader at the time of our early classroom seed planting projects at Morningside Elementary. He tracked his chestnut seed all the way to the Confluence trail where the seedling was planted last November.

WABE’s Myke Johns with Thomas Rudolph at “Chestnut Camp”

With a working title of CHAMPION: The Comeback Tale of the American Chestnut Tree, Sally Walker hopes this book will inspire children to look closely at nature and take part in restoring it. She hopes to publish October 2015.

“I am hoping that the book will show that people from all walks of life and of all ages can affect forests in a positive

way,” says Sally. “So many things people do negatively affect our environment. It’s important to emphasize that we can also make beneficial contributions.”

Other books written by Sally Walker include: Written in Bone; Secrets of a Civil War Submarine; and Blizzard of Glass. You can see all of her books on sallymwalker.com.

Clipper Crisis Calmed By Celia Lismore

The morning of the Cheshire Farm Ribbon Cutting dawned cool and clear. ‘Yesssss,” I thought, “it’s going to be great.” Then I gave myself a little mental high five.

As I sat back, beaming at the remarkable crowd gathered before the Kudzu ribbon a couple of hours later, Sally began her speech. I did a quick head count of ribbon cutting participants- South Fork Conservancy, DOT’s Loren Bartlett, LLCC’s Henry Batten, Councilman Wan, Commissioner Phuong, Atlanta’s Denise Quarles, Home Dep-

Oh… no. Home Depot isn’t here.

You may wonder why their presence was so essential? First of all, their strapping managers add a Herculean element to any event. And they were bringing clippers to cut the Kudzu ribbon. So, no Home Depot = no clippers! It’s a pity no one happened to take a picture of me at that moment- I bet my look of horror was priceless.

I quickly dialed manager Karl Reynold’s number- he immediately picked up.

“Hey Celia, is the ribbon cutting still happening? We’re here but can’t see anyone else.”

Well, considering I was also “here” and surrounded by 75 people, there had clearly been a lapse in communication. “Karl where is ‘here?’” My heart sank- they were on Lindbergh Drive, the OTHER end of the trail. Right where they did the most work making the trail easy to find and well-cleared!

I quickly gave him new directions and they were on their way.

Oh, did I mention traffic was terrible that day? It took the Home Depot crew 20 minutes to drive around the corner.Right on cue, Sally, who was unaware of this development suddenly said, “And now Home Depot, who is supplying the clippers for cutting is-“

“On their way! They are on their way,” I yelled running toward our table, where there was one set of trusty Felco pruners. But waiting was going to be a bad idea. The crowd was restive. The Sierra Club’s member offered his personal pruners. We clipped!

When the Kudzu finally fell to the ground, I turned to see our favorite orange-aproned men running down the path with buckets full of shiny engraved loppers.

People surged onto the bridge, and down the trail. But the newly arrived loppers gave us a rare do-over. The skinny bridge was not enough room for everyone we wanted in the ribbon cutting. City Council president Ceasar Mitchell seized the shiny loppers, I pulled some new kudzu and we had another cutting. Take a look below. All you need to see is the shining smiles.

Home Depot’s kudzu ribbon cutters

Smiles post-ribbon cutting number 2. From left to right: Home Depot Lindbergh Store Manager David Sharpton, Store supervisor Karl Reynolds, Lieutenant Jeff Baxter APD, SFC Executive Director Sally Sears, Atlanta Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Home Depot

Regional Manager Jabarr Bean, and Home Depot’s Marty Harris

“...affect forests in a positive way...”

New Trail Celebrated (cont)

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A YeAr Of GrOwthThis year, the South Fork Conservancy built trails, nurtured existing partnerships and forged new ones, increased awareness of our vision, and welcomed new supporters to the fold. These moving parts, these amazing people and organizations invested in this work, have connected to form a movement.

Cheshire Farm Trail construction underway in late 2013

Winter snow transforms the trails into a quiet sanctuary

Mark Stoakes and Tony Powers teach eager Morningside Elementary 5th graders how to plant a Chestnut seed.

A tour with Hands On Atlanta’s Chris Yueh created a partnership which resulted in highly effective volunteer days.

South Fork trail plans won TWO Urban Design Awards in 2014

Board Member Warner McConaughey paints the South Fork Chevron on our first trailhead sign (Go see it on the Meadow Trail)

Increased trail tours have brought hundreds of new pairs of feet to the trails

Completed chevron on the Meadow trailhead sign.

In 2014, 800 volunteer hours removed invasive plants, cleared litter and debris, and restored native plants.

Our new maps depict our vision for the future and

make way finding fun and easy.

September’s ribbon cutting displayed the great strength of our community, government, and non-profit partnerships

Step by step, inch by inch, our vision is becoming a tangible reality. 2014 showed increasing momentum for our vision of re-connecting people and creeks in the heart of the city. Awareness and support across the watershed is rewarding the Conservancy with invigorated volunteers and dollars.

* 200 volunteers* 700 hours of trail restoration

* 4 key stretches of trail along the Confluence

Please keep saying yes to our goal of a nationally recognized model of green space in our community

Become a member today and get first news of progress on our trails.

Fall 2013

It’s hard to put a year in perspective, but we decided to give it a try

(c) Eric Bowles - Bowles Images

SCAD’s Of Good IdeasGregor Turk’s sculpture class from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) paced beneath the hulking I-85 overpass on the Confluence trail, seeing a brighter future for this sometimes forbidding area. The students’ idea? Paint some of the columns linking them to the nearby creek. Use Georgia clay as paint base; then stencil images of water, native leaves and insects.

The idea took off. Students took it to neighborhood trail users, the local planning unit NPU F. Support grew quickly.

Today, a year after Gregor Turks’ class examined the underpass, property owner Georgia DOT is saying yes to the project. Now, all that stands between the students and their concrete canvas is fundraising. A few thousand dollars needed for supplies, oversight and equipment.

A gift of money will turn a sometime scary space into a treat to visit!

Do you want to help bring these plans to life? Donate today or email celia@southforkconservancy.org.

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I sat down for lunch with Bebe, Curtis, and Joe Cheshire, hungering for family stories. I left well fed.

“When I heard about what you all were doing down there on Peachtree Creek, I got so excited,” says Bebe. “If I had a million dollars, I’d use it to clean up Peachtree Creek.”

Bebe grew up with and married into the family that gave its name to Cheshire Bridge Road. She taught history at Georgia State University, and appreciates the significance of the creeks around her lifetime home.

“The creek was my backyard- the boys would swing on vines down by the banks,” remembers Bebe. She kept a watchful eye on the rowdy boys, particularly Curtis Cheshire and her future husband, Joseph.

“Our mother forbid us from playing in the creek, so we had to sneak down there,” recalls Curtis Cheshire. “But she always found out. We asked her how she knew and all shewould say was that ‘A bird told me.’ This bird mystified us for years until she admitted our dirty socks gave us away.”

They are the great, great grandsons of War of 1812 Captain Hezekiah Cheshire, first settler in the great forks of the headwaters of Peachtree Creek. Captain Cheshire’s son Napoleon built his home on a knoll overlooking the North Fork, where today’s trailhead stands. His daughters Cora and Carrie Mae lived there well into the 20th century.

“Oh they were just the cutest old maids there ever could be,” remembers BeBe. Other family members built where the Colonnade Restaurant is today. Bridges connecting the homes gave the name to Cheshire Bridge Road. They were among the earliest members of the Rock Spring Presbyterian Church. Many of their fellow Presbyterians joined the Cheshires at the ribbon cutting, and took particular delight in seeing the Cheshires lead the way across the newly opened bridge.

The Cheshires at the Ribbon Cutting. From left to right:

Curtis Cheshire, Joseph Cheshire, Barbara Cheshire

Napoleon Cheshire’s Farm House (which used to stand across the street from the Cheshire Farm Trailhead on

Cheshire Bridge Road)

The Cheshire Family: History Lives On

I have a routine. Every day when I get home and get changed, my dogs and I rush outside for a round of fetch and a treasure hunt on the Confluence trail. While we’ve all been busy enjoying the cooler days of Autumn, the insect life has been working hard on the trail ensuring we’ll have a colorful season and

a brilliant spring. And, those treasures?? Much easier to find in the Autumn when the vivid hues of summer are fading to a softer more mature palate providing just the right back drop for the jewels popping up along the trail these days.

In recent days, I’ve come across eye poppingly gorgeous clumps of Goldenrod so heavy they bend the stalks supporting them. Check out this dazzling display resting softly on a fallen log just waiting to be discovered and appreciated!

Just a few steps ahead I stumbled upon some very busy bees at work pollinating late summer Ageratum, preparing it for next year’s stunning entrance. Doesn’t the purple remind you of an early Autumn sunset?

And, if you’re worried there might not be any flowers for you to see, the trees always provide

a cornucopia of delightful secrets for you to find. I just LOVE Autumn.... Not only do

our trees provide beauty and grace, they also shelter some of the most delicate and hard-working inhabitants of the trail.

So grab your gear...whatever that is (kids, dogs, cameras...) and go treasure hunting while Autumn is still working hard to make it worth your while!

Happy Hunting!

Donna’s

Corner

Summer’s End OnThe South ForkDonna Davis is a

resident of Cedar Chase on the Confluence Trail Bee enjoying Ageratum

Golden Rod in its glorious bloom

Randy McDow’s sons Eston and Liam, who live near Lakeside High School, explored the Confluence Trail in March, 2014

Eston and Liam on the Cheshire Farm Trail, six months later in October, 2014. We love watching them grow with our trails.

These beautiful installations will usher walkers to the Confluence

Before and After: A Volunteer Victory

The before and after pictures of the Meadow Trail say it all. Hands On Atlanta sent us enthusiastic CBRE volunteers while Home Depot at Lindbergh lent us their managers for leadership and heavy machinery to get the job done. And don’t forget Trees Atlanta- Brian Williams guided the overall restoration effort. This really was partnership at its best!

Before on the Meadow Trail

After on the Meadow Trail

The current I-85 overpass

By Celia Lismore

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NONPROFIT ORG U.S POSTAGE PAID

ATLANTA, GAPERMIT NO. 3151

South Fork ConservancyPost Office Box 5433Atlanta, GA 31107

Help Us Restore the South Fork of Peachtree Creek

Board Of Directors

Bob Kerr (Chairman)Debra EdelsonDavid EldridgeAngelou Ezeilo

Billy HallDave Kaufman

Warner McConaugheyChris Nelson

Ruthie NortonAnthony PowersSusan Stainback

Claire SterkSam WilliamsJoni Winston

Membership Options

Individual Membership: $35Family Membership: $100

Creek Ranger: $500Confluence Club: $1000

To join, send a check today or go to southforkconservancy.org and

click on the “donate” tab

Want to share in the South Fork Conservancy’s vision?

* Walk the trails and take your neighbors along.

*Speak up about the benefits of ac-cess to public green space via con-

nected trails.* Join a guided tour, or put 9

friends together and let us set one up for you.

* Volunteer to be a Chestnut Champion.

* Adopt a Tree on the Trail.