Lochiel Creek Virginia E. Haines County ... - Ocean County · Club, Blueflag Iris, Swamp Azalea,...
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Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders Virginia E. Haines Chairwoman of Parks and Recreation John P. Kelly Gerry P. Little Gary Quinn Joseph H. Vicari Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation Michael T. Mangum, Director Mary Jane Bavais, Assistant Director Administrative Offices 1198 Bandon Road Toms River, NJ 08753 1-877-OC-PARKS Fax: 1-732-270-9464 www.oceancountyparks.org Prepared and Printed by the Ocean County Printing & Graphic Arts Department Printed January 2019 About Lochiel Creek County Park Lochiel Creek County Park opened in 2014 and is the hidden gem that covers over 177 acres of forests and wetlands. Its unique name dates back hundreds of years to the original landowners who had an estate in Scotland of the same name. The park is located along the westbound side of Barnegat Boulevard in Barnegat Township. As you enter the park, the roads wind among pines and blueberries into a quiet and pristine setting. One of the most convenient features of the park is its accessibility to the Barnegat Branch Trail. The parking area serves as a trailhead where visitors can access 6.5 contiguous miles of the Barnegat Branch Trail. A short connector trail leads from the parking area at Lochiel Creek County Park to the inter- section of Barnegat Boulevard and the Barnegat Branch Trail. We hope that you enjoy your visit to this stunning natural area, and take advantage of all the park has to offer! The property on which the park is located was slated to be developed into residential housing. The site was identified as a high priority for protection because of a large population of rare plants that are federally and state listed as protected. The prop- erties that make up the park were acquired by Ocean County in 2002, 2004, and 2008. Amenities include a comfort station with restrooms, ample parking and a 1.75 mile marked nature trail. The trail highlights the park’s diversity as it meanders through rolling hills; relic sand dunes from a time when the area was a prehistoric beach. The trail also crosses the park’s namesake Lochiel Creek, which flows through an Atlantic White Cedar swamp rich with strange carnivorous plants and beautiful native orchids. The diversity of wild- flowers and wildlife within the park provide for a stunning walk no matter what time of year you visit. The Atlantic White Cedar swamps that border Lochiel Creek harbor a diversity of wildlife. A short walk along the blazed hiking trail reveals hummocks where American Cranberry, Golden Club, Blueflag Iris, Swamp Azalea, and Sweet- bay Magnolia grow alongside these unique plants: Green Wood Orchid Beginning in late July, look for the greenish- white flowers of this inconspicuous plant. The flower stalk ex- tends from a single long leaf to about six inches above the carpet of Spagnum Moss. Spatulate-leaved Sundew This deminutive plant is easily spotted in wet areas thanks to the glistening “dew” on its leaves. It gets its en- ergy from the sun, but absorbs vital nutrients from insects trapped and digested by the sticky dew. Pink Lady Slipper This native pink orchid can be best seen in May to the middle of June when in full bloom. The orchid shaped like a moccasin or ladies slipper thrives in the acidic soil of the Pine Bar- rens and grown in small colonies. Native Plants You May See www.oceancountyparks.org Ocean County Parks and Recreation Lochiel Creek County Park Barnegat Boulevard North, NJ 08005 C.P. 151 http://www.facebook.com/OceanCountyParks
Transcript of Lochiel Creek Virginia E. Haines County ... - Ocean County · Club, Blueflag Iris, Swamp Azalea,...
Ocean CountyBoard of Chosen Freeholders
Virginia E. HainesChairwoman of Parks and Recreation
John P. KellyGerry P. LittleGary Quinn
Joseph H. Vicari
Ocean County Department of Parks and RecreationMichael T. Mangum, Director
Mary Jane Bavais, Assistant Director
Administrative Offices1198 Bandon RoadToms River, NJ 087531-877-OC-PARKSFax: 1-732-270-9464
www.oceancountyparks.org
Prepared and Printed by the Ocean County Printing & Graphic Arts DepartmentPrinted January 2019
About Lochiel CreekCounty Park
Lochiel Creek County Park opened in2014 and is the hidden gem that coversover 177 acres of forests and wetlands.Its unique name dates back hundreds ofyears to the original landowners who hadan estate in Scotland of the same name.The park is located along the westboundside of Barnegat Boulevard in BarnegatTownship. As you enter the park, theroads wind among pines and blueberriesinto a quiet and pristine setting.
One of the most convenient features ofthe park is i ts accessibil i ty to theBarnegat Branch Trail. The parking areaserves as a trailhead where visitors canaccess 6.5 contiguous miles of theBarnegat Branch Trail. A short connectortrail leads from the parking area atLochiel Creek County Park to the inter-section of Barnegat Boulevard and theBarnegat Branch Trail.
We hope that you enjoy your visit to thisstunning natural area, and take advantageof all the park has to offer!
The property on which the park is locatedwas slated to be developed into residentialhousing. The site was identified as a highpriority for protection because of a largepopulation of rare plants that are federallyand state listed as protected. The prop-erties that make up the park were acquiredby Ocean County in 2002, 2004, and2008.Amenities include a comfort station withrestrooms, ample parking and a 1.75 milemarked nature trail. The trail highlightsthe park’s diversity as it meanders throughrolling hills; relic sand dunes from a timewhen the area was a prehistoric beach.The trail also crosses the park’s namesakeLochiel Creek, which flows through anAtlantic White Cedar swamp rich withstrange carnivorous plants and beautifulnative orchids. The diversity of wild-flowers and wildlife within the parkprovide for a stunning walk no matterwhat time of year you visit.
The Atlantic White Cedar swamps that borderLochiel Creek harbor a diversity of wildlife. Ashort walk along the blazed hiking trail revealshummocks where American Cranberry, GoldenClub, Blueflag Iris, Swamp Azalea, and Sweet-bay Magnolia grow alongside these uniqueplants:
Green Wood OrchidBeginning in late July,look for the greenish-white flowers of thisinconspicuous plant.The flower stalk ex-tends from a singlelong leaf to about sixinches above the carpetof Spagnum Moss.
Spatulate-leavedSundew
This deminutive plantis easily spotted in wetareas thanks to theglistening “dew” on itsleaves. It gets its en-ergy from the sun, butabsorbs vital nutrientsfrom insects trappedand digested by thesticky dew.
Pink Lady SlipperThis native pink orchidcan be best seen inMay to the middle ofJ u n e w h e n i n f u l lbloom. The orchidshaped like a moccasino r l a d i e s s l i p p e rthrives in the acidicsoil of the Pine Bar-rens and grown insmall colonies.
Native Plants You May See
www.oceancountyparks.org
Ocean County Parks andRecreationLochiel CreekCounty ParkBarnegat Boulevard North,NJ 08005
C.P. 151
http://www.facebook.com/OceanCountyParks
