As part of our support for Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the Friends of Eastern Neck regularly fund and volunteer for various projects around the Refuge. Currently the Friends of Eastern Neck maintain the Butterfly Garden, staff the Bookstore and GIft Shop, and organize Winter Waterfowl walks, trash cleanup events and educational field trips for students.
Gift and Bookstore
The Friends operate the Bookstore and Giftshop. It is stocked with nature-themed articles, serious birding guides and other books, clothing, and educational toys for kids of all ages. Income from sales is used to pay for projects and programs at the Refuge. It is staffed by dedicated volunteers who can answer most questions about the Refuge and lend binoculars to visitors who left theirs at home. Just ask at the desk.
Butterfly Garden
The Butterfly Trail takes you past acres of pollinator habitat, maintained by re-seeding with native wildflowers and rejuvenated by prescribed burning every few years. Towards the end of the trail is the Cape Chester House surrounded by a Butterfly Garden nominated as the best in Maryland. The Butterfly Garden is maintained by a team of over 20 volunteers and is one of The Friends of Eastern Neck signature projects.
The Bayscape Garden demonstrates how Bay-friendly native plants and shrubs are extremely attractive to butterflies, and to visitors! The garden also attracts praying mantises. The habitat was certified as “Bay Wise” in 2007 by the Master Gardeners of Queen Anne’s County. The Garden exemplifies practical and aesthetic alternatives to lawn-dominated landscapes. Loyal volunteers — including several master gardeners — tend the garden, mulch heavily, select plants for butterflies and larva, hand-pull weeds, never use pesticides, rarely spray herbicides, and rarely water (only for new plants).
Preserving the Visitor Center
The Visitor Center, located in a historic hunting lodge, is staffed by volunteers and features exhibits about the habitats and history of the refuge, as well as a gift shop. The lodge requires continuous maintenance and Friends of Eastern Neck provides financial and project management support.
We are very pleased that Friends of Eastern Neck, Inc. has been awarded a $25,000.00 grant from the Bartus Trew Providence Preservation Fund to support our Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge Lodge Window Repair. We thank The National Trust for Historic Preservation for supporting our work of this worthwhile preservation. The repairs will begin in the spring of 2025.
Tubby Cove Boardwalk Extension Completed
Visitors walking to the open observation platform at Tubby Cove will notice an improved crushed-stone path and brand-new boardwalk extension. Thanks to all the volunteers who worked through frigid winter weather to make this happen, including David Holyoke and Jerry Lawrey (pictured), who led the project; Bob Ford; and John Wilwol.
Rock Hall Elementary students field trip to Eastern Neck
The Friends of Eastern Neck organized a field trip for 26 third-graders from Rock Hall Elementary School. Board member David Holyoke, with assistance from fellow board members Bill Burton and Carol Sutera worked with Ray Paterra, the visitor services manager for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Marshlands NWR complex, and Laura Chamberlin, the associate director for civic engagement from the Washington College Center for Environment, to organize this day of fun and learning.
Your new table is ready
The Friends recently purchased and installed a picnic table for use by visitors to the Tubby Cove boardwalk area. The table is made from 100 percent recycled plastic.
