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Halyburton Park

A 60-acre park, Halyburton is 70% undeveloped. The majority of the preserve consists of gently rolling sandhills, a habitat which is rarely found in the coastal Carolinas. There is also a 1.3-mile paved handicap accessible path that circles the perimeter of the park and connects to the Gary Shell Cross City Trail.

Halyburton Park also features a Nature and Events Center, which hosts school programs, workshops for adults and kids and special events.

Apiary

A memorandum of understanding, coordinated by New Hanover County Beekeepers Association vice president Sandie Cecelski, was established April 8, 2022 between the City of Wilmington and the NHCBA to construct and maintain an apiary at Halyburton Park, provide honey bee-related programs and a meeting location for NHCBA.
The apiary was constructed by Eagle Scout candidate Ryan Sproull in June 2022. Hive queen castles and hive stands were constructed by Eagle Scout candidate Oliver Anguish. Hive boxes were painted by Robert Holst and Cathy Poulos.
Bees were provided by Susan Warwick and a wild hive rescued by the Wilmington tree crew and NHCBA.

Key Partners in the project include New Hanover County Beekeepers Association, City of Wilmington Recreation Division, City of Wilmington Parks, Landscaping and Forestry, Scouts Ryan Sproull and Oliver Anquish, Artist Robert Holst and Cathy Poulos.

Solitary Bee Hotel Information

Bee Hotels can be placed at your property to help improve habitat for solitary bees. About 30 percent of the 5,000 native bee species in North America build nests in a variety of above ground cavities or tunnels. By providing them with nesting resources people can help conserve their populations.

Solitary bee hotels are approximately 6-feet W x 12-feet H x 6-feet D and can be mounted on a post, trees or fence.

Longleaf Pine Restoration Work

The Parks and Recreation Department is beginning work on longleaf pine restoration on 45 acres at Halyburton Park, a recognized NC Natural Heritage site. Restoration work includes 45 acres of contractual controlled burning, wiregrass planting, and mid-story control under mature longleaf pine.

Longleaf restoration work began in February 2024 using the following methods:

Mid-story Hardwood Reduction

The Parks and Recreation Department Tree Crew will begin work to remove mid-story oaks to reduce competition with longleaf pines, understory grasses and herbaceous plants. In the absence of fire, hardwood species like turkey oaks can reduce the number of longleaf pines and groundcover in the forest.

Wiregrass Planting

Wiregrass will be planted in the understory. This grass is an important component of the longleaf pine forest and assists with carrying the fire during a controlled burn. It is also a fire dependent species needing fire to flower and produce seed.

Controlled Burning

The city contracted with the NC Forest Service to conduct a controlled burn in February 2024. Frequent fires through controlled burns are conducted every two to three years to maintain the open, park like setting. Longleaf seeds need bare mineral soil to grow and develop. This also benefits many wildlife species that are dependent on an open pine forest.