Author: toad

Our superb park photographer, Marty Hill, whose photo appears here, let me know that the Porpoise Creek logbook was full. April 2 I put in new pages and brought the 100 completed pages – just since September 2024 – home to enjoy.

“BEAUTIFUL” was the big word! We agree, it is a gorgeous spot in Belle Isle, and we enjoyed building it. Here are just a few of the comments.

GB 10/20 “Great idea thanks for the innovation.”

SS 10/22 “Lovely Spot! Cool idea to have this notebook. Suggest hanging a bird & fish identification map or poster.”  [Note: a waterfowl poster is on the way.]

JC 10/25  A “harrier flew over the gulls on the sandbar and scared them off. Thanks to the FOBI members who built this new viewing station!! It’s beautiful!”

TD 11/7 “Northern Flicker – Brown Creeper – Bald Eagle – Squirrels – Gray – Minnows”

N, A & Lola (dog) 11/16  “Sunny, lightly cloudy, crisp, clear views … Lovely spot to rest & enjoy the view! ♥”

K&C 11/21 “Beautiful site for a rest and enjoy the scenery”

M&C 3/7  “Beautiful view! Love being able to participate. Our dog loves it too.”

K&M 3/19  Need “Better traffic signs to various walking trails. Thank you for providing this beautiful area. Parks are important and so are park staff!”

And – as you can see from Matry’s riverside picture – the waterfowl on our creek have a beautiful view also.

Belle Isle welcomes our new Assistant Park Manager, Kristin Ownby. Kristin, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, leaves 23 years as a Buckingham County Virginia public school teacher to pursue her love of all things nature – trees, creeks, bugs, whatever! She especially looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm with young park visitors and their families.

Kristin will also serve as the park’s Volunteer Coordinator, working with all the volunteers that contribute so much to the enjoyment of Belle Isle. WELCOME KRISTIN!

What a great way to start a new year – bright skies, mild weather, and lots of friends – new, old, 2 and 4 legged.

This large crowd gathered New Years Day 2025 to hike along Belle Isle’s Deep Creek trail from the boat landing to the visitor’s center. Rangers Rachel and Nora led the mile long walk along the Rappahannock. Rachel explained the obvious erosion and explained the plans to stem it, as has been done in other areas of the park. At the finish hikers enjoyed some crafts and the Friends of Belle Isle provided cider and cookies.

Happy New Year All!

Rehabilitation of the Porpoise Creek wildlife viewing station at Belle Isle is now complete except for the installation of a waterfowl identification poster.

Looking for ways to improve visitor experience at Belle Isle and inspired by the Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan 2021-2031, in late 2023 the Friends and Jon Steele, Park Manager, considered the possibility of adding a new wildlife viewing station. It would be terrific to have one but we quickly realized that the rigors of regulatory compliance and major construction were a bit too much for a group inexperienced in such matters. Jon called out attention to an ageing photography blind just off the Porpoise Creek Trail on an inlet from the Rappahannock.

The blind, which we were advised was built around 2005, had seen better days. Its enclosed siding left it unattractive to most visitors and it appeared little used. It seemed to cry out for transformation into an open area overlooking the inlet it fronted. A great opportunity to stimulate interest in viewing nature in a beautiful, remote setting and to hopefully draw more people into the park.

Plans were drawn up which included not just the rehabilitation of the blind but additional “tools” for visitors to use – backpacks with binoculars and wildlife identification guides and waterfowl identification signage at the site. And new benches.

An application for funding was presented to the River Counties Community Foundation. A generous grant was received in mid-2024.

Construction began in August with a small crew (it’s a small work area) and, after over 120 volunteer hours, ended in late September. We hired professional roofers – for some reason our crew was not anxious to get into the air. A logbook was created and installed with hope that we can both track usage and get suggestions for better visitor experience.

At the October Friend’s meeting, the backpacks, equipment, and benches were presented by Frances Callaghan, Friends President, to Rachel Howell, the parks education Ranger.

We hope readers will visit the park soon and take some time to watch nature from our “new” station. Tell us about your experience in the logbook. Take along a picnic – the new benches are very comfortable!

The Friends of Belle Isle and the sponsors of Music by the River have provided Belle Isle with a new water bottle filler. Just about everyone carries a water bottle – they are a little hard to fill from a faucet or drinking fountain. Enter the water bottle filler. It’s a specially designed faucet just for filling bottles. Belle Isle has a new one just outside the restrooms at the family picnic area, near the beach and the stage for Music by the River. The new filler also has a foot wash for folks to use coming from the beach to the restrooms or their cars. The filler replaces a drinking fountain damaged in a run-in with a mower.

Do you want to get outside and learn a new skill but need help getting started? Look no further than the Virginia State Parks’ Let’s Go Adventures program.

Let’s Go Adventures features a series of programs at various parks led by expert rangers on camping, kayaking, hiking, fly fishing, orienteering and archery.

When you attend a class, you’ll learn about the basics of the activity, including selecting the proper equipment and how to use it, Leave No Trace Principles, park etiquette and safety guidelines.

Let’s Go Adventures programs are held year-round, giving you the chance to explore different parks and landscapes across Virginia You can check out the 2026 schedule, learn more about the programs and meet instructors at the Virginia Parks site – click HERE.

January 1 at the park was mild and sunny – great for both hikes to kick off 2024. Lots of hikers – both two and four legged – were on hand to make sure the new year was welcomed enthusiastically to the Northern Neck. Cookies, cider, and chats with friends, both old and new, around a campfire were the perfect ending. Come to the park often and have a wonderful 2024 – there is always lots going on!

Put January 1, 2025 at Belle Isle on your calendars now.

Our treasured Park Manager, Katherine “Katie” Shepard has taken a new position with Virginia State Parks as the Chief of Education and Interpretation. Katie will give leadership to programs designed to provide visitors with meaningful and engaging experiences that deepen their understanding and appreciation of the natural, cultural, and historic world. A big job – our Katie can do it!

Katie came to Belle Isle in 2013 as Chief Ranger and in 2019 was appointed Park Manager. She has done a superb job shepherding (pun intended, sorry Katie) Belle Isle through some challenging times. The great displays she designed in the Visitor Center and her hard work in securing a huge National Park Service grant for Belle Isle Manor are just two examples of her excellence.

Our Friends group, and many others, have relied heavily on her guidance – she never seems to tire of going the extra mile. Needless to say, she will be much missed! But we are excited for her. Now all Virginia’s 41 parks will have the benefit of her energy and wisdom.

A large group of friends turned out on December 14th to wish Katie all the best.

GO KATIE!

As part of its Semiquincentennial Grant Program the National Park Service has awarded over $794,000 to aid in the rehabilitation of the Belle Isle Manor House. Our own Katie Shepard, Park Manager, played a huge role in securing the grant. Katie said, “We are excited to receive this significant grant from NPS to support the ongoing preservation of the Belle Isle Manor House. The awarded funds will go toward critical preservation needs including exterior woodwork and masonry repairs, which will ensure the historic resource is protected for generations to come.” 

You can learn more about Belle Isle Manor and how you can help on our “Restoration” page.

If you enjoy quiet time on our local waters, canoeing or kayaking at one of the nearby Virginia State Parks is for you! Belle Isle is part of the Wandering Waters program that can earn you nifty recognition for just doing what you enjoy – hard to beat. Check out this state park site to learn about the program – www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/paddle-quest. Then call Belle Isle to join an upcoming on-the-water program. There is a link in our sidebar to programs at Belle Isle. Come and enjoy the outdoors.