By Gayle Pille
Special to the NKyTribune
Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell recently won an Environmental Excellence Award from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection. The award recognizes those individuals, businesses and organizations that are committed to protecting and improving Kentucky’s environment.
Twenty-five years ago General Manager Tom Honebrink and the Board of Directors of Highland Cemetery decided to do something that would give back to the community and also help nurture wildlife.
The cemetery is comprised of 300 acres, half of which supports grave sites, the other half is all wooded and surrounds the cemetery proper. Located in an urban area, Highland Cemetery is an island of green space amidst urban sprawl.
That spark of an idea 25 years ago has evolved into an extensive system of nature trails for the public to enjoy. There are nine nature trails covering about four miles, with a link to a local Ft. Mitchell neighborhood and another link to a series of trails built in adjoining Ft. Wright. The trails are all named after local wildlife with an educational plaque about the particular wildlife posted on each trail. Local historical facts about the area are also highlighted with signage.
They are some of the best maintained trails in Northern Kentucky. One local church group that hikes the nature trails regularly refers to the woodlands as “The Enchanted Forest.” The trails have also been written up in the book Hiking Kentucky by Darcy and Robert Folzenlogen and in the Sierra Club’s hiking guide.
In addition, the cemetery has an extensive Eastern Bluebird/Tree Swallow nest box program. Twenty-plus years ago an Eastern Bluebird or Tree Swallow was rarely seen in urban Ft. Mitchell. Now the cemetery consistently hosts Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, House Wrens, Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadees in their nest boxes. The boxes are all dutifully monitored by local volunteers. Other boxes had been placed for bats, squirrels, nocturnal flying squirrels and owls.
Highland Cemetery hosts nature programs for the community to enjoy at least twice a year. The cemetery pays all expenses and the programs are always free of charge to the public. Some of the presenters have been Raptor Rehab of Kentucky, The Cincinnati Museum Center, Critters in the Classroom, the Cincinnati Zoo and others. These programs have been a huge success and always pack the house. Their next program on Owls is scheduled for Thursday, October 22nd from 6:30 to 7:30.
A couple of no mow zones for wildlife have been created with native grasses and wildflowers having been planted in those areas. The cemetery also maintains a feeding station for birds and small mammals.
“Highland Cemetery has been a wonderful neighbor to the Northern Kentucky community,” said Linda Altevers of Erlanger who volunteers and frequently walks the nature trails. “We’re so lucky it’s here.”
Awesome!