Project to lessen erosion in Woods
An effort to reduce storm water runoff in Hitchcock Woods is under way.
Representatives with Woolpert Inc. and Willing Construction were out on Park Avenue this week, beginning the City of Aiken’s Green Infrastructure Project.
The project is expected to greatly lessen the amount of storm water drained into Hitchcock’s Sand River canyon. The problem has plagued the City for decades, causing significant erosion in Hitchcock Woods. The City has contracted with the H.G. Reynolds construction company for the project.
Workers will install bioretention ponds and rain gardens in parkways and place pervious concrete and asphalt in downtown streets, all of which will absorb larger amounts of rainfall, officials said.
City Public Works Director Larry Morris said work will initially be done along Park Avenue, Barnwell Avenue, Union Street and near the Newberry Street Festival Site. A soil mixture that will treat water, improving its quality, will also be installed in parkways, he said. Full Details….
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City looks to reverse erosion in Sand River
Erosion in the Sand River at Hitchcock Woods that was caused by storm water runoff from downtown development has been an issue the City of Aiken has faced for decades.
Officials are hoping that a new “green infrastructure project” that is currently being developed will help to alleviate the problem and eventually restore Sand River.
The City was recently awarded a $3.3 million federal stimulus grant from the Department of Health and Environmental Control to begin the work, which involves taking a more environmentally friendly approach to ease erosion in the forest.
Dr. Gene Eidson, director of the Center for Watershed Excellence at Clemson University, is working with the City on the project, along with DHEC, the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Woolpert Inc.
Eidson recently talked with City Council members about the undertaking, which will involve installing rain gardens, bio swales and pervious pavement – which absorbs storm water – in downtown streets and parkways. Officials hope the measures will lessen the amount of storm water and pollutants that run into Hitchcock Woods.
Larry Morris, director of the City’s Public Works Administration and Engineering department, is optimistic about the proposal.
“The City has been working on trying to solve this problem for many, many, many years,” Morris said. “Any water that we can remove from Sand River certainly will help.” More details.
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Flowers of the woods.
Ever wonder exactly what the beautiful bloom you see while you run, walk or ride through Hitchcock Woods might be?
Now the guessing game is over as one local resident’s passion for the woods has led to a pocket guide dedicated to the wildflowers of the woods.
“Trailside Wildflowers of the Hitchcock Woods” includes photographs and descriptions of more than 220 species found within Hitchcock Woods. Author and photographer Kenneth Perrine, Ph.D. compiled the material for the book over a period of many years. The research has been an ongoing project for Perrine’s curiosity and passion for nature.
“The book was conceived as an educational resource for use by those who know and love the woods, people who, like me, would like to know the identity of plants and flowers they see in the woods,” said Perrine. “This was envisioned as a community service, a tool for those who ride, run, and walk in the woods and who might like to know what they are seeing. I love the woods and the flowers.”
Organized by color, the 160 page book includes photographs as well as commentary including scientific and common names of genera and species, botanical families, blooming dates and location of shots. The idea for the book began in 1998 and once Perrine discovered he had collected more than 100 different species for his own enjoyment, he knew it was time to move forward with the book.
“My goal everywhere I go is to know what I am looking at; the photos came secondary as a tool for research,” said Perrine.
He visits the woods typically five days a week and often twice each day; the first time to run or walk and the second with his camera.
Perrine fell in love with Hitchcock Woods first as a runner in the 1980s. Full story.
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Riders successful in Show in the Woods
Several riders enjoyed success the opening day of the 93rd edition of the Aiken Horse Show in the Hitchcock Woods.
Jane McDonald MacLeod and Casey Hodges’ Capitol Z, whose barn name is Henry, won the $1,000 Aiken Horse Show Open Hunter Classic and also placed first in one of the Open Hunter Over Fences divisions.
“It was quite an achievement because I just started riding him Tuesday,” said MacLeod. “He’s an 8-year-old Holsteiner who was imported from Belgium. I’ve hunted him a few times, and he’s done hunter and show jumping classes. I’ve hunted him and dragged him once. I’ve also taken him cross country schooling.”
Daybreak Farm’s Stephanie Von Bidder picked up where she left off last year with The Senator on Friday. The two teamed to win the Corey Family Trophy as the 2008 Open Hunter Champion and won the Open Hunter Under Saddle Class on Friday.
“He was here last year and did really well,” said Von Bidder. “We sold him to a gal from Connecticut, and she’s been showing him all year in the adults (classes), and he did really well. He’s back with me for a little while.”
This is the third Aiken Horse Show in the Woods for Von Bidder. The show’s unique qualities make the event fun, she said.
“It’s different, and it’s in a really beautiful setting,” said Von Bidder. “It sort of draws back to the hunter derbies that they’re now doing at the horse shows. It’s a lot of fun. I’m doing five classes today, and I have my kids going tomorrow – Haley Anderson and her brother Crawford, and they’re going to do the Junior divisions.”
Taylor Myers had a busy day, showing in seven classes and will show in one of the Ladies Sidesaddle classes today. It will be a challenge for Myers who hasn’t ridden sidesaddle in more then two decades.
Myers placed eighth in the 2009 Carolina District Field Hunter Championships in Rougemont, N.C., which was hosted by the Red Mountain Hounds. Myers will be competing in the family class. Her daughters competed Friday, and her husband will compete today.
In addition to the family class, the children’s classes, Sidesaddle classes and Junior classes will be today.
“I was representing the Aiken Hounds, and my dear friend, the Aiken Hounds joint Master of Fox Hounds Lellie Ward, accompanied me,” said Myers. “It was really fun. There were three phases, a flat phase, a live hunt from their kennels (two hours of live hunting), and there were 13 obstacles that we jumped, fences, and I had to open and close a gate while I was mounted on the horse. Lellie got me ready for the event.”
Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.
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Horse show showcases Hitchcock Woods.
The 93rd edition of the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods will be held April 3-5 and will once again showcase one of Aiken’s treasures – Hitchcock Woods.
The event has a dual purpose; in addition to featuring outstanding horses and horsemen in an idyllic setting, the show serves as a fundraiser for the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, which owns, manages and maintains the 2,100 acres that compose one of Aiken’s most unique resources. The Hitchcock Woods Fo undation is a private, not-for-profit organization.
It’s an event steeped in rich tradition, and spectators will have a chance to enjoy a horse show that has retained its charm and character, evoking images of years past as the exhibitors pay homage to the powerful legacy left by Louise Eustis Hitchcock.
The Aiken Horse Show in the Woods’ director is Gail Balding King, and the assistant director is Linda Knox McLean. This year’s show’s honorary chairmen will be Molly and Peter Gray.
More Details.
Making a home for the barred owl.
Three of us representing local stores – Ron Brenneman, of Birds & Butterflies, Roger Brock and Tom Hill, both of Aiken Outdoors – went into Hitchcock Woods on Sunday afternoon, March 8 to check our three owl nest boxes, clean them out, put in clean cedar chips and do any maintenance to the boxes as required.
It was a beautiful day as we hiked into the woods.
You never know what you will see in the Woods and that proved to be true on our visit. Shortly after we entered, we saw a baby feral pig cross the path, probably trying to catch up with its mother.
Hitchcock Woods is a perfect place for owl boxes with its nearly 2,000 acres of woods and trails for animals of all kinds.
Aiken Outdoors placed these three owl boxes in Hitchcock Woods in 2004 hoping to attract barred owls. Barred owls (Strix varia) are rather large owls with an average adult length of 17 inches and wingspan of 44 inches and the owl gets its name “barred” from the vertical and horizontal stripes or streaks on the chest and abdomen. More
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