Share these talking points with neighbors, the council, and anyone who will listen. 

The importance of preserving the 17-acre Mims Forest in Holly Springs—not just as open space, but as a mature, contiguous forest ecosystem that cannot be replaced once it is altered:

This forest is more than trees. It is a living system—a continuous canopy that regulates temperature, stores carbon, filters air, and supports a web of life that depends on it remaining intact. When a forest like this is fragmented—even partially—it begins to lose those functions. Edges dry out. Invasive species move in. Wildlife disappears. What remains is no longer the same ecosystem.

The spring-fed creeks running through this property are equally critical. These are not decorative features. They are naturally functioning waterways, shaped over time to support clean water, aquatic life, and downstream ecosystems. Dredging, rerouting, or engineering these creeks disrupts sediment flow, increases erosion, and degrades water quality—not just here, but beyond this site.

Replacing even a portion of this forest with turf grass, artificial surfaces, lighting, and constructed walkways introduces a cascade of impacts:

Turf grass and artificial grass do not provide habitat. They do not support insects, birds, or native biodiversity. They increase runoff, reduce groundwater recharge, and contribute to higher surface temperatures.

Artificial lighting disrupts nocturnal wildlife, altering feeding, breeding, and migration patterns. Many species simply cannot survive in illuminated environments.

Fragmented walkways and cleared areas break apart the contiguous canopy, which is essential for species that require uninterrupted habitat. Once that continuity is lost, it cannot be easily restored.

And importantly, restoration is not preservation. We often hear that areas can be restored later—but a mature forest and established creek system represent decades, even centuries, of natural development. You cannot recreate that complexity on demand. You cannot fast-forward time to rebuild what is removed.

This is why we must adopt a nature-positive approach—one that prioritizes protecting existing ecosystems rather than replacing them with simplified, human-designed substitutes. True stewardship means recognizing when land is already doing exactly what it should be doing—and choosing to leave it intact.

In a rapidly growing region like ours, spaces like Mims Forest are not just valuable—they are irreplaceable. They provide resilience against heat, flooding, and biodiversity loss. They connect us to the natural systems that sustain our community.

Preserving this forest as a whole—its canopy, its creeks, and its habitat—is not about stopping progress. It is about choosing the right kind of progress—one that respects and protects the natural assets we cannot rebuild once they are gone.