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Lummis Ponds Preserve


Lummis Pond Preseve © Dwight Hiscano
Lummis Ponds Preseve
© Dwight Hiscano

Why You Should Visit
Inland from Bayshores beaches and marshes, stands of age-old maple, oak, magnolia and holly trees can still be found. Called the Cumberland Forest, these trees pre-date European settlement. Numerous rare animals and plants including federally endangered swamp pink (Hellonias bullata) thrive in the forests, abandoned farm fields and wetlands here.

Location
Lawrence Township, Cumberland County

Directions

coming soon!

Hours
The preserve is open from dawn until dusk.

Visitation Guidelines

  • Please limit fishing and walking along the beach during shorebird migration season (mid-May through June)
  • Littering and dumping are prohibited.
  • No collecting or trapping.
    Motorized vehicles are prohibited.
  • No swimming, camping, fires, or alcoholic beverages.

Trails
Informal trails wind through the woodlands and former farm fields.

What to See: Plants
Several state and federally rare plants are found here including swamp pink (Hellonias bullata), scarlet bluet (Enallagma pictum) and mountain laurel.

What to See: Animals
Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla Chrysoscelis) and barred owl (Strix varia) have been sighted at the preserve. Scores of migratory birds including a wide variety of waterfowl and other raptors such as bald eagles also feed and nest in the preserve’s forests, wetlands and abandoned farm fields.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Spanning more than 1,000 acres, Lummis Ponds Preserve lies near old-growth woodlands in the Cumberland Forest. A mosaic of thick shrubs, towering sweet gums and oaks and abandoned farm fields, the preserve is a haven for some of our state’s most threatened plants and animals. Thousands of birds pass through the Bayshores, nesting and feeding in these dense woods during their long migrations. One of New Jersey’s most viable stands of federally endangered swamp pink (Helonias bullata) relies on the pristine wetlands found at the preserve for its survival.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy is using science to turn old farm fields into productive forests. Forest restoration and protection helps fish and other aquatic life in affected streams, safeguards swamp pink, and increases the streamside forest canopy for migratory birds. Intact forests also benefit neighboring human communities by providing improved water quality and clean air.