By Mark Wourms
When Bernheim Forest and Arboretum flourishes, both human and natural communities benefit. In 2024, our 95th year, we celebrated grand success by many measurements. Bernheim’s dedicated team instilled curiosity and wonder in over 10,000 students. Special events like RESTORE, CONNECT, and ColorFest provided a sense of community and belonging to thousands of members and guests from across the region and beyond.

We intentionally developed L+A+N+D: an experience of discovery, introducing landscape-scale art and design from all over the world to provoke thoughtful questions about humanity’s place in nature and our responsibility as long-term stewards of the natural systems. Oh! and it added beauty and a touch of whimsy to our landscape. This is how Bernheim helps everyone cherish the natural world.
Donate Now to Protect Wildness at Bernheim

In 2024, with support from the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund and Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund, Bernheim acquired 182 acres of biologically rich forest in the Buffalo Creek tract. This rugged, forested knob includes a significant portion of the headwaters for the drinking water reservoir of Bardstown, Kentucky. Additionally, we began a project to restore one mile of Harrison Fork Creek and initiated the creation of seven acres of ephemeral wetlands. With these efforts, Bernheim now protects and restores 16,324 acres of wildness.
