This past Saturday the Friends of Short Springs held their last Work Day for 2024. A group of a dozen volunteers from the Friends of Short Springs and the Tullahoma community helped with various trail maintenance projects within the State Natural Area.

They also had an informational station to pass along to hikers the idea of “Leave No Trace,” which encourages responsible stewardship of the park. Equipped with shovels and mattocks, one team ditched a trail to help with runoff and prevent erosion; another team worked to improve a section of trail next to a tree fall. The goal of one of the teams was to deter the use of what is called a “social trail.”

Social trails are often shortcuts that visitors make off a main trail; these social trails cause erosion, damage the native vegetation and wildflowers, and can lead other visitors astray into potentially dangerous situations. 

The Friends has set its 2025 workdays for March 8, May 3, Sept. 20, and Nov. 8. Follow the group at www.facebook.com/FriendsofShortSprings.