Bridge to the Barrens Blog

Sunset in the Long Island Pine Barrens
Top 5 Favorite Pine Barrens Hiking Spots
Bridge to the Barrens

Top 5 Favorite Pine Barrens Hiking Spots

This week on our blog, I’m spilling the beans on some of my favorite Long Island Pine Barrens hiking spots! ...
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Climate Change Impacts Happening on Long Island
Bridge to the Barrens

Climate Change Impacts Happening on Long Island

Once upon a time, many of us dismissed the idea of human-caused climate change as a miniscule issue, or some...
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Backyard Birding for Beginners
Bridge to the Barrens

Backyard Birding for Beginners

One of my favorite ways to spend a morning is to wake up, pour myself a cup of coffee and...
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The North American Marsupial 
Bridge to the Barrens

The North American Marsupial 

The North American Marsupial    Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) or commonly known as opossums, regularly visit many of our backyards...
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Don’t Make These Common Summer Time Mistakes
Bridge to the Barrens

Don’t Make These Common Summer Time Mistakes

Naturally, the warm weather lures us outside after being cooped up all winter. Perhaps you’ve already found yourself having some...
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Summer Water Woes
Bridge to the Barrens

Summer Water Woes

Ahhh, summer! Warm weather, sandals, trips to the beach, barbeques and…. harmful algae blooms? Unfortunately, Long Island summers are also...
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It’s Cicada Season on the East Coast
Bridge to the Barrens

It’s Cicada Season on the East Coast

  In 2004, the largest cicada population, Brood X, emerged from the ground and filled our trees. 17 years later...
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Fire Keeps the “Pine” in “Pine Barrens”
Bridge to the Barrens

Fire Keeps the “Pine” in “Pine Barrens”

The Long Island Pine Barrens is a fire-dependent ecosystem, meaning that the health of the ecosystem depends on consistent wildfire. ...
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4 Native Plants to Add to Your Gardens
Bridge to the Barrens

4 Native Plants to Add to Your Gardens

Tis’ the season for gardening.   The Spring season creates a perfect setting to begin planning your home landscaping. If...
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The Power of Forest Bathing
Bridge to the Barrens

The Power of Forest Bathing

The benefits of spending time in nature are well-documented.  In fact, we’ve covered this very topic on our blog before...
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Earth Day 2021
Bridge to the Barrens

Earth Day 2021

This year, the Earth Day Network announced that the 2021 theme for Earth Day is “Restore Our Earth.” Unknown to...
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Staying Connected to Nature
Bridge to the Barrens

Staying Connected to Nature

As the world slowly begins to return to normal, many of us will feel the stressors of our old life...
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Hummingbirds Have Arrived
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Hummingbirds Have Arrived

Hummingbirds are back!   Spring signifies rebirth, as flowers begin to bloom and the natural scenery turns vibrant green. With...
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Tick-Safe Hiking
Bridge to the Barrens

Tick-Safe Hiking

It’s no secret that Long Island is a hot-spot for ticks and tickborne illness.  Long Island has the highest rate...
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How Environmentally Friendly is your Closet?
Bridge to the Barrens

How Environmentally Friendly is your Closet?

WHAT'S IN YOUR CLOSET? The fast fashion industry has become wildly popular and with that, a mass consumption of clothing...
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Leave No Trace
Bridge to the Barrens

Leave No Trace

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been enjoying Long Island’s great outdoors more than ever.  With most attractions closed...
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Invaders of Long Island
Bridge to the Barrens

Invaders of Long Island

Long Island sees no shortage in unique plant and animal species that inhabit the Pine Barrens. These species all carryout...
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Long Island’s Coastal Plain Ponds
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Long Island’s Coastal Plain Ponds

Long Island’s Central Pine Barrens boast the greatest diversity of plants and animals anywhere in New York State.  What does...
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The DOs and DONTS of Recycling
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The DOs and DONTS of Recycling

The slogan, Reduce Reuse and Recycle, has been around for decades, and by now many Americans have grown up with...
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“Exceedingly poor indeed” – George Washington on the Long Island Pine Barrens
Bridge to the Barrens

“Exceedingly poor indeed” – George Washington on the Long Island Pine Barrens

The Long Island Pine Barrens is a beautiful natural escape full of unique geological features and plant and animal species,...
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Cover photo: Steve Young