Village Nature Series 2025

Written By: Lance Hardin - Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust | Issue: April 2025

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is delighted to once again partner with the Village Green to provide the Village Nature lecture series in 2025.

And many thanks to the Cedar Creek Club for their continued sponsorship of the series!

On April 29, we’ll kick off the season with Topher Stevens of the Birders of the Tuckaseegee and Wild Remembering for “Tuning into the Language of the Forest: an Introduction to Birding by Ear” – a presentation followed by a bird walk. We’ll learn the secret language of the forest and the tools we need to start identifying local birds by their songs and calls.

And then on May 27 the series will feature Jennifer Bryson Bauer of Landslide Consultants for a discussion of “Landslides in WNC” with a focus on the types of landslides we see occurring in Western North Carolina, including stories from landslides triggered by Hurricane Helene.

On June 25, Callie D. Moore, Western Regional Director of MountainTrue, will present “A Tale of Three Watersheds” to instruct about watersheds and about the three watersheds that drain the Cashiers area of the Highlands Plateau.

Joyce Pearson of Monarch Watch will present on July 30 regarding Monarch Butterfly Conservation in Western North Carolina, including pollinator waystations, habitat establishment, and restoration.

Bryan Heller of Piano Mountain will provide a treat on August 19 with “Experience the Mountains: The Four Seasons,” a live piano musical journey through the four seasons of the North Carolina mountains, featuring all original video and music created, composed, and performed by Bryan Heller.

On September 30, the series will conclude with Raven Sterling, the “Head Tree Hugger” at Raven Invasive Plant Management, for a presentation on “Mindful Management of Common Invasive Plants.” Raven will share successes in mechanical removal and management of common invasive plants.

For more information, please go to hcltnc.org.