FANN encourages feedback to FDOT: Save the Natives Nursery

Graphic by Lance Legel, ecodash.ai, who also authored a lengthy and impassioned please on behalf of The Natives (download Lance’s letter). 

The Natives Nursery in Davenport, a founding member of FANN and now perhaps the oldest continuously operating native plant nursery in Florida, is under threat by the FDOT Turnpike’s proposed Central Polk Parkway East toll road extension. This road project threatens both the nursery and wild native plants, as described below.
 
YOU can help now by sending a quick email to Jazlyn Heywood, the Project Manager, requesting that FDOT consider only alternatives that eliminate any impact on The Natives Nursery and its adjoining conservation easement.

Jazlyn Heywood, P.E.
Project Manager, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise

jazlyn.heywood@dot.state.fl.us

407-264-3298

PO Box 613069, Ocoee FL 34761-3069
 
MORE DETAILS
You can read more about this road project here: https://floridasturnpike.com/turnpike-projects/featured-projects/central-polk-parkway-east-451419-2/

FDOT is considering four alternative routes for the road, three of which impact The Natives. Botanist Edwin Bridges has also noted the following impacts on native plants and habitat from the routes proposed:

• Goes right through the only remaining population of the critically endangered species, Dicerandra modesta
• Goes through a sloping intact (but small) very species-rich longleaf pine sandhill remnant
• Is very close to the only subtropical mesic calcareous hammock in northern Polk County, which has a large natural population of the extremely rare Pharus lapullaceus

There are numerous conservation and scientific reasons to oppose this toll road mis-alignment, but also economic and cultural. Bok Tower Gardens has also raised concerns about the road project ruining the peace and tranquility of the Gardens by bringing noise, pollution and excess night-time light, as well as impacting a wildlife corridor the Gardens have worked for decades to preserve.

For over 40 years, Bill and Nancy Bissett, founders of The Natives and founding and longtime supporting members of our association, have been incredibly important to the establishment and growth of Florida’s native plant movement and our industry. Their children, Sarah Kiefer and Paul Abel, are managing the business now. So many restoration practices and rare plants have been brought to us by The Natives. Let’s make sure this immensely valuable small family business has a chance to continue into all our futures.