Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is a 245-acre (99 ha) protected area in St. Petersburg, Florida, Pinellas County, Florida.^[1] The preserve is located on the shores of Lake Maggiore in south St. Petersburg. It is operated by St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation and includes more than three miles of trails through a variety of ecosystems.^[2] Facilities include a playground and picnic areas. The preserve is used for school field trips and hosts environmental education programs. It is located at 1101 Country Club Way South.

View of Downtown St. Petersburg from boardwalk over protected wetlands.

A long time resident of St. Petersburg, the late Paul Eppling used recycled metal and scrap metal to make sculptures. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve has seven of his sculptures: Narcissus from Greek mythology in the parking lot, a similar figure in a tree behind the environmental center, a glass-top table inside the environmental center, two large armadillos near Wax Myrtle Pond, a heron near Lake Maggiore Island, and another bird in front of Boyd Hill's bird-of-prey aviary, where they care for injured birds.^[3][4][5]

Ecosystem

Trail through the preserve

• Lake Maggiore
• Swamp - Connected to Lake Maggiore.
• Pine Flatwoods
• Sand Scrub - Sand Scrub has about 2% of its original habitat remaining. In Florida, it is known as one of the most endangered habitats. Rare, sensitive plants grow here.
• Hammock^[6]

References

1. "Boyd Hill Nature Preserve". Florida Hikes. Florida Hikes. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
2. "Boyd Hill Nature Preserve - St. Petersburg, Florida". stpete.org. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
3. https://www.stpeteparksrec.org/pdfs/parks/Boyd-Hill-Trail-Map.pdf
4. https://creativepinellas.org/magazine/exploring-arts-and-nature-at-boyd-hill/
5. https://allthingsruffnerian.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-ingenious-sculptures-of-paul-eppling.html
6. "Boyd Hill Nature Preserve". St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation. City of St. Petersburg. Retrieved February 5, 2020.

External links

• Boyd Hill Nature Preserve website
• Boyd Hill Nature Preserve website St. Pete Parks and Recreation
• A map of the preserve

27.733°N 82.658°W / 27.733; -82.658