Gateway Nature Preserve

Home
United States
Winston-Salem, NC
Gateway Nature Preserve

Nature can thrive in the city! Join us as we work to develop and protect 19 acres as an urban nature preserve.

Along Salem Creek, in dense woods and on an open floodplain off Broad Street, you can find birds, mammals, insects and amphibians who use this site for food and shelter. Nature’s power to survive and thrive in an urban setting is amazing! The Gateway Environmental Initiative (GEI) is working to preserve this site as a nature preserve and environmental center. The proposed Gateway Nature Center wil

l be an ideal setting to learn about nature for school groups, families and nature lovers of all stripes. We are forming partnerships with schools, environmental groups, nonprofit organizations, businesses and governments. Just as the Salem Creek connects our two main water sources, Salem Lake and the Yadkin River, we envision the future Gateway Nature Center as a resource that connects citizens across Winston-Salem to learn about and benefit from nature.

01/30/2026

Join the Kathleen Clay Edwards Library for Owl Prowl on February 2nd, from 6:30-8pm. Discover the world of owls including species of owls, adaptions for night hunting, their behaviors, and the ecological significance of their vocalizations. There will be a guided hike in Price Park listening for owl calls. Dress for weather, wear quiet clothing and sturdy shoes. To register go to https://library.greensboro-nc.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/153491/839?curm=2&cury=2026

01/28/2026

The Gateway Nature Preserve is a 19-acres outdoor space that serves as a haven to a lot of flora in the middle of the city where urban development has invaded a lot of other natural areas. It is a place where you can observe plants up close and learn about their natural habitat. Trillium is a plant species that grows here. These plants produce no true leaves or stems above ground. The “stem” is just an extension of the horizontal rhizome and produces tiny, scalelike leaves (cataphylls). The aboveground plant is technically a flowering scape, and the leaf-like structures are actually bracts subtending the flower. Despite their morphological origins, the bracts have external and internal structure like that of a leaf, function in photosynthesis, and most authors refer to them as leaves. They are truly fascinating and bloom in the early spring.

01/27/2026

Do you love to make a change in your community and spend time outdoors? We’ve got the thing for you! We have our monthly volunteer workday on February 21st, from 10am-12pm. Volunteer work can include w**d removal, invasive species removal, and trash pick up. We'll have the tools needed. Registration is required and the mandatory volunteer waiver included below needs to be signed before the event. Come help us maintain the meadow, forest discovery trail, and other areas around the preserve to continue restoring natural flora and fauna habitat as well as a space for community to enjoy the outdoors. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040445ABA729A6F85-59904724-volunteer #/

01/23/2026

Join Forsyth Audubon for their fourth Monday bird walk at Muddy Creek Greenway- Jamison Park. Expect to see the usual winter resident birds (Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, etc.) and an assortment of sparrows. Jamison Park is the most reliable in-town site for finding White-crowned Sparrows, and this favorite little beauty was seen there on this year’s Christmas Bird Count. Meet with trip leader Ron Morris at Jamison Park for a start time of 8:30 AM on Monday, January 26. Please dress for the weather, and bring water and snacks as needed. There are restroom facilities at Jamison, and the trails are mostly flat and easy to navigate on foot. The Muddy Creek Trail is wide and paved, but there may be some walking on mowed grassy trails in Jamison Park. Forsyth Audubon

01/22/2026

UPCOMING EVENT ALERT! Join Gateway Nature Preserve for a Groundhog Day–themed program focused on learning about groundhogs and the stories and myths surrounding the holiday.
While a groundhog sighting cannot be guaranteed, participants will take a short walk to explore an area where groundhogs burrow, learn about groundhog behavior, and look for signs of winter animal activity. The program will include a brief show-and-tell using groundhog handouts, as well as time to explore groundhog burrows near the pollinator garden.
Weather permitting, children will also participate in a shadow activity inspired by Groundhog Day, tracing their shadows on newsprint to take home.
This program is geared toward children ages 3–8, accompanied by an adult. Please wear warm clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
Meeting location: Gateway Pollinator Garden
1480 S. Broad St. (turn in by the bus shelter)
Register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040445ABA729A6F85-61637106-groundhog #/

01/21/2026

Our volunteer workdays are in full swing, and we have one coming up every month. Join us for the next one on February 21st, from 10am-12pm. We are working to make our 19-acres preserve a place where wildlife can thrive and the community can learn and make a difference preserving and restoring nature. Join us! Register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040445ABA729A6F85-60788546-winter

01/20/2026

Join the NC Cooperative Extension at Kathleen Clay Edwards Library in Greensboro on January 31st, from 10am-4:30pm for their Project Learning Tree Workshop ($10). Registration deadline is on January 23rd at 5pm. Join other Guilford County educators as we explore Greensboro's tree canopy and learn about the benefits of trees in creating sustainable and resilient communities. Using Project Learning Tree's curriculum, workshop participants will be actively engaged in learning about trees including form and function, identification, measurement, and the ecosystem services they provide. Workshop participants will also learn how they can use the free i-Tree program on their school campus for engaging lessons about trees and tree benefits. See the full description and registration at https://forsyth.ces.ncsu.edu/event/5263240819/project-learning-tree-workshop-trees-in-our-community/ NC State Extension Project Learning Tree

01/16/2026

Looking for meaningful ways to engage with native plants beyond your own yard? Wild Ones’s upcoming webinar features Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plant, and Esther Bonney, youth organizer and founder of Nurture Natives. Drawing on their work in education, storytelling, and youth leadership, they will explore how people of all ages can take part in the native plant movement through shared learning, relationships, and local action. Join the conversation on January 21st, at 7pm. Register at https://wildones.org/conversation-with-robin-wall-kimmerer-esther-bonney/ Wild Ones

01/15/2026

Join Gateway Nature Preserve for a Groundhog Day–themed program focused on learning about groundhogs and the stories and myths surrounding the holiday.
While a groundhog sighting cannot be guaranteed, participants will take a short walk to explore an area where groundhogs burrow, learn about groundhog behavior, and look for signs of winter animal activity. The program will include a brief show-and-tell using groundhog handouts, as well as time to explore groundhog burrows near the pollinator garden.
Weather permitting, children will also participate in a shadow activity inspired by Groundhog Day, tracing their shadows on newsprint to take home.
This program is geared toward children ages 3–8, accompanied by an adult. Please wear warm clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
Meeting location: Gateway Pollinator Garden
1480 S. Broad St. (turn in by the bus shelter)
Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040445ABA729A6F85-61637106-groundhog #/

01/14/2026

Join Yadkin River Keeper for a Know Your Watershed presentation at the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center (316 Hiddenite Church Rd.) on Thursday, January 15 from 5:30-7pm. Nicole will be presenting on the South Yadkin River watershed restoration plan and sharing ways to better protect the water quality of our local waterways. This event is free, and please register at https://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/events/2026/1/15/know-your-watershed. YRK will provide snacks and drinks for attendees. We hope to see you there! Yadkin Riverkeeper

01/13/2026

If you’re looking to make a difference in your community, we got just the thing for you! Join Gateway Nature Preserve for our January volunteer workday this Saturday the 17th, from 10am-12pm. Come help us maintain different areas of the preserve by removing invasive species and cleaning up. Register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040445ABA729A6F85-60788546-winter

01/09/2026

Join Forsyth Audubon tomorrow for their second Saturday outing, from 9-11am at Salem Lake Marina. Join Bernie Carr for a morning full of bird watching. Forsyth Audubon

Address

1490 S. Broad Street
Winston-Salem, NC
27127

Website

http://www.gatewaynaturepreserve.org/, https://linktr.ee/gatewaynaturepreserve

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Gateway Nature Preserve posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Gateway Nature Preserve:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Winston-Salem?