Stop 2: Fir Grove

Endless opportunities for shelter, food, and water.

This fir grove provides a habitat for many types of animals, including small mammals like chipmunks, mice, and squirrels, as well as birds like chickadees and finches.

The needles and cones are important food sources, especially during winter. Deer also browse on the foliage and twigs.

Fir trees provide nesting sites for various birds and cover for raptors like northern spotted owls. Tall branches keep birds away from predators, while nooks and crannies in stumps and nurse logs become home and food for invertebrates, mammals, and amphibians.

Saving a Habitat

This beautiful fir grove was planted at least 100 years ago, creating “Sunshine Park” for the Fairview Training Center. In 2024, the Sustainable Living Center saved this grove from development of a 10,000 square foot apartment complex.

Trees like these provide countless benefits to humans, animals, soil, and water:

• Reduce air pollution

• Conserve water

• Reduce soil erosion

• Reduce noise pollution

• Provide habitat for birds, mammals, rodents, amphibians, invertebrates, and more.

• Produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide from the air, acting as carbon sinks and improving air quality.