Greystone Nature Preserve

Greystone Nature Preserve is a not-for-profit organization which supports nature flora and fauna on 72 acres of the Portage Escarpment in Chautauqua County.  Beside fostering native growth, tress and many wildlife plants have been added to the landscape.  Greystone also has an experiential environmental education program which features sustainable life styles.  The all grounds work and educational programing are done by Diane Clark and Bill Moran and a goodly number of student volunteers.  This couple was employed at the Cassadaga Job Corps Center for eight years as Outdoor Adventure Instructors.  They founded Greystone Nature Preserve based on their passion for introducing the natural world to youngsters.  Their lesson have a home style quality of a "ma "and "pa" tour.  

    Preserving 72 acres requires yearly removal of wild grape, honeysuckle, and garlic mustard plus regular creek and woods maintenance.  Many wild life producing plants have been planted, recently two mulberry trees and 11 hazel nut trees. A medicinal wild plant trail is being maintained.  An extensive blue bird trail is functioning on the property with 27 houses in operation.  A literary Grove is under development through SUNY Fredonia.  We have planted over three hundred various trees and maintain three meadows, a labyrinth  and several miles of hedge row.

       Teaching our style, requires much preparation.   Our desire is to have our visitors experience as many natural phenomena as possible.  We also arrange time for reflection and contemplation.  All the senses are employed in an average visit.  Food from the organic gardens is featured at each visit and music in many forms is also a part of the instruction.