By Suzanne Stewart, The Pocahontas Times
MARLINTON, W.Va. — December 2024 was the 50th anniversary of Cranberry Glades Botanical Area being named a National Natural Landmark, but because it’s difficult to do much of anything at the area in the winter, the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center and U.S. Forest Service staff decided to wait until summer to celebrate the anniversary.
Last Friday, Rosanna Springston led two tours on the Glades boardwalk, sharing the history of the area, as well as her vast knowledge of the many unique flora and fauna that call the Glades home.
The area has been drawing botanical experts and enthusiasts for more than 100 years, but it wasn’t until the late 1930s that there was a push to protect the area.
“In the thirties, this was kind of an almost impossible to get to place, but there was biological interest,” Springston said. “At that time, a movement started to try and get some protection for it. They recognized the uniqueness of the area and didn’t want to lose it.”
Read more: https://pocahontastimes.com/celebrating-50-years-as-a-national-natural-landmark/
