This is a three acre natural area on the north fork of the Loxahatchee River. Although the preserve is small there are three native ecosystems located here: pine trees and saw palmettos in the scrubby flatwoods, live oaks and cabbage palms in the mesic hammock, and red, black, and white mangroves and buttonwood in the mangrove swamp along the river. Mangroves are important because they help reduce erosion and they filter pollutants out of the water. Sixty species of native South Florida plants have been recorded here including common and giant wild pine air plants. Thirty-nine species of native South Florida animals have been documented including American redstart, Florida prairie warbler, osprey, swallow-tailed kite, west Indian manatee, and the endangered gopher tortoise. I had a very pleasant walk here. There are several well marked natural earth trails that take you from the road along the neighborhood down to the river. Along the way I saw a lot of birds and a gopher tortoise. This preserve is supposedly only accessible to pedestrians or those canoeing or kayaking but I found I was able to just park on the side of the road and didn't have any problem. read more