Visitors are invited to celebrate the International Day of Forests at Carvers Creek State Park, known as the crown jewel of the Sandhills. The park protects the Longleaf Pine ecosystem, which once covered 90 million acres but now occupies only 3% of its original range. These trees depend on regular, low-intensity prescribed burns to stay healthy.
Guests can look for the white-banded “Candle” Trees that mark nesting sites for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker, spot rare species like the Pine Barrens treefrog and yellow pitcher plant, and explore the Rockefeller Loop or the 4-mile Longleaf Pine Trail. The park also features Long Valley Farm, a popular spot for birdwatching and learning about forest restoration…