By Bernheim
As Bernheim closes its 96th year, we do so with gratitude and momentum. This year was shaped by steady work across the forest and moments of wonder that reminded us why this place matters. From caring for living collections to expanding protected lands, welcoming artists, and creating spaces for play and learning, 2025 reflected Bernheim’s ongoing commitment to connecting people with nature. Together, these efforts strengthened the forest today while helping ensure its future.
Caring for the Living Collection
This year marked important progress in how Bernheim cares for and grows its living collections. Our oak collection earned national accreditation, recognizing the depth of care, research, and long-term stewardship invested in these keystone species. Support from Heaven Hill helped expand Bernheim’s nursery capacity, allowing our horticulture team to grow more plants on site for restoration, landscapes, and future projects. These milestones reinforce the role horticulture plays in sustaining healthy forests for generations to come.
Art in the Forest
Arts in Nature continued to thrive in 2025, led by our Artist-in-Residence program, which now spans 45 years. New and ongoing installations invited visitors to experience the forest through creativity, curiosity, and reflection, while national and regional recognition affirmed the program’s impact. From an award-winning L+A+N+D installation to deeply personal works like Heart of the Forest, art remained a powerful bridge between people and the landscape. Together, these moments honored Bernheim’s long-standing belief that art and nature belong side by side.
Protecting and Connecting Natural Lands
Protecting and connecting natural landscapes remained a central focus this year. Bernheim expanded our wildlife corridors through a new 821-acre conservation easement, strengthening habitat connectivity for wildlife and safeguarding ecologically significant land. This work reflects a long-term commitment to conservation that reaches beyond Bernheim’s boundaries. Each acre protected brings us closer to a more resilient and connected landscape.
Play, Imagination, and Discovery
Play took center stage in new and meaningful ways throughout 2025. The opening of Bernheim’s Treehouse provided a welcoming space for visitors to engage in imagination, exploration, and connection with nature. Bernheim also hosted the IPA USA Conference, reinforcing the idea that play is essential at every stage of life. Through partnerships that supported nature-based play, Bernheim continued to champion joyful, inclusive experiences rooted in the outdoors.
Learning Through Observation and Experience
Education and interpretation continued to invite curiosity and a deeper understanding of the natural world. Projects like Chronolog allowed visitors to witness wetland change over time, turning shared observation into a living learning experience. This citizen science initiative encourages visitors of all ages to slow down, notice patterns, and build a stronger connection to the land.
Volunteers and Community Support
Bernheim’s work is strengthened by the many people who give their time, talents, and care to the forest. Initiatives like the Volunteer Tool Library removed barriers to participation, making it easier for volunteers to support conservation and restoration efforts. Bernheim’s cohort of Volunteer Naturalists inspired wonder and curiosity in visitors of all ages through interpretative programs and events. This year’s volunteer impact reflected the shared responsibility that keeps the forest thriving.
Welcoming Visitors to the Forest
Bernheim continued to grow as a destination for exploration and inspiration. Being featured in Southern Living’s 25 Places to Go in the South in 2025 highlighted the forest’s national significance and sense of place. Each visit, whether planned or spontaneous, deepened connections between people and the landscape.
Looking Ahead
In the life of a forest, 96 years is both a long time and just the beginning. As Bernheim looks toward its centennial, we remain grounded in stewardship, collaboration, and care for the land and all who find meaning here. The work of 2025 reminds us that progress happens through many hands and shared commitment. With your continued support, the forest will keep growing, evolving, and inspiring for years to come.