To say it’s been an exciting 12 months at Moritani would be an understatement. Thanks to your help, the Preserve In the Heart of Winslow has received so much extraordinary care and – it’s Valentine’s Day, so yes, we’ll say it – love!

Your support through the Parks & Trails Foundation funded intensive, weeklong work sessions by EarthCorps and Student Conservation Corps, who concentrated on restoring the park’s east boundary. These teams worked with Bainbridge Metro Parks to revive an area that not long ago was overrun by vines and invasives, but this spring will be newly abloom. Visit the park and see!

Some 350 volunteers of all ages turned out through the year, offering 400-plus person-hours of spirited work at the Preserve. Volunteers planted 90 hardy native shrubs and trees (funded with your support), established new “habitat piles” of fallen sticks for the forest’s littlest critters, and spread many, many yards of mulch.

It was a true community effort: Nature Ninjas, Nature Nuts, Eagle Harbor Community Church, Madrona School, Montessori Country School, Island School, Bainbridge Island Montessori School, Hyla School, FITUS, Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Committee and the City of Bainbridge Island – all participated in the restoration effort.

Your generous financial support makes all of this possible, and we thank you.

Help keep it going! February is the month to show your love for Moritani Preserve by renewing your generous gift. Help us reach our $20,000 goal for another year of amazing restoration and stewardship. We also welcome your gifts of time at the monthly Moritani Work Party, 10 a.m. to noon every third Thursday (except August and December). Please spread the word!

Moritani Preserve is in the Heart of Winslow – it’s in all of our hearts. Make a Valentine’s gift today, to this special place we treasure and share.