Tucked away among the hustle and bustle of Buckhead is 30 acres of tranquility.

“To have this diversity of environments: woodlands, wetlands, riparian creek areas, and meadows within this small compact area in Buckhead, it is unique,” Melody Harclerode, the Executive Director of the Blue Heron Nature Preserve told us.

The nature preserve’s mission is to create a personal experience with nature through conservation, education, and the arts. One program that helped to achieve that goal was The Art of Nature: Light as a Feather. The seven-week program began in April 2022 and encouraged artists to create alongside nature.

Gavin Bernard was one of the artists who participated. He used molded PVC piping to capture the beauty of a tree he found on the preserve.

“I try to work with already fallen pieces which have already gone through their life cycle and go about really capturing what that life looks like.”

The three-mile Blueway Trail within the preserve gave visitors access to enjoy the artwork.

“It is surprising and you kind of never know what you are going to get. Sometimes, it’s just little hanging sculptures and things. And, then sometimes, there’s a whole setup. So, it’s pretty cool. I haven’t really seen it done like that, as consistently as it is done here,” one visitor told us.

The Art of Nature: Light as a Feather program ended in June. But, the Blue Heron Nature Preserve embraces art throughout the year with several pieces of permanent artwork on the property.

They also have critical conservation efforts underway including a bee apiary and turtle sanctuary. And, they’re making sure to help the next generation learn about this important work through after-school programs and camps.

The Blue Heron Nature Preserve is open every day from dawn until dusk. The trails and parking are free.

The Blue Heron Nature Preserve’s story is part of our Lucie Series, where we shine a light on all of the good and exciting stories in our community. We give away one positive story every month and accept nominations. If you know of a great story that deserves to be heard, fill out the form here: https://luciecontent.com/contact