An offer had been made and accepted for the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Slatington, to purchase 1.6 acres of land in East Penn Township, contiguous to the 756 acres presently part of the Center.

On June 22, as part of Volunteer Recognition Day, a bus took the volunteers to see improvements done on the site.

The Nature Center's board initially discussed whether or not to buy the land for $17,000, the price requested by landowner Doug Gause.

The center received a grant for the purchase price.

Ron Kline was in favor of the purchase and said it would not only permit another trailhead but provide a place for an arboretum.

The present trailhead for the Lehigh and New England Trail does not have adequate parking, which the new site would, and a trail connects the two.

Kline said after the decision was made to buy the land, many trees and shrubs were purchased from Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery, Orefield. A committee decided what would be used and volunteers did the planting.

Nature Center Director Dan Kunkle explained there are many organizations for which volunteers are important, but volunteers are the Nature Center.

The Lehigh Gap Nature Center sign, which waited for a place to be erected for six years, was finally placed on the new land. Approximately 130 trees and shrubs were planted.

Kunkle said the shrubs are hard to identify and signs will be placed. Many of the shrubs are berry-producing for wildlife food.

Caretakers are needed to keep the new plantings from being overwhelmed by other plants that have been growing there.

Gause liked rocks and piled many of them into cairns used as focal points for the plants. He lined up boulders, which the Nature Center returned to a more natural position. Some can be used for seating.

Nature Center board member Bill Mineo said the Lenape Indians revered snakes and the trails loop and circle around like a snake trail, but also so the largest number of plants can be seen up close.

Kunkle said the arboretum is something new for people who want to become involved with the Nature Center. The arboretum, which provides a useful trailhead in Carbon County, is three miles from the Nature Center Osprey House. There is a bikeable trail to reach the site rather than taking a three-mile hike. There is also a parking lot. To reach the arboretum, cross the Lehigh River near Bowmanstown and turn immediately onto Riverview. At the stop sign turn left onto a dirt road. Take an immediate right and the first left. The address is 226 VanMan Lane.