Cedar Glades Restoration

A hidden gem within the woods are the fragile cedar glades. These unique geographic features are found only in a few sites in Middle Tennessee. The treeless pockets located within the cedar forests contain little soil resting on solid rock. But still, these sunny habitats are home to several highly endangered plants and flowers. Plants like the Tennessee Cornflower have adapted to grow only in the cedar glades and are considered endangered species.

Read more about the cedar glades on the park's website at nps.gov/stri/learn/nature/cedarglades.htm See a slideshow of the flowers found in the cedar glades at Cedar Glades Flowers or a video at Cedar Glades Flowers Video

The cedar glades have been impacted by the tour roads and trails within the woods. These have altered the water flow through the glades. The surrounding red cedars encroach into the glades while non-native plants like Chinese privet and honeysuckle disrupt the sunlight and the available habitat.
While the unique cedar glades plants have adapted to growing in an environment where a thin layer of dirt lies on the rock, it also makes them very vulnerable. Visitors walking into the glades to get up close to the flowers are inadvertently stepping on their fragile roots killing their their ability to get water and nutrients. Because of this, it is important to stay on marked trials and do not enter the glades when you find them.
Plans are in the works to restore the natural water flow by re-routing trails away from the glades and modifying the tour road. The plan also includes the hiring of contractors who specialize in the restoration of cedar glades by removing non-native vegetation and removing cedar trees from the historic range of the glades.
The Friends of Stones River National Battlefield is starting a campaign specifically to assist in preserving and restoring the cedar glades. The goal is to raise $150,000 for the campaign.

Click on the button below to make an online payment with a credit card. Please note that each credit card transaction will incur a 3% processing fee automatically. For tax purposes, this transaction fee is not tax-deductible. Make sure to click the link after completion to print your receipt for your tax files.

Donate to Cedar Glades Campaign

If you wish to pay by check, please mail to:

Friends of Stones River National Battlefield
Post Office Box 4092
Murfreesboro, TN 37129-4092

Please note that it is a donation to the Cedar Glades Campaign and also provide us an email address.