By Carolyn Coene
FAIR HAVEN – The Harding Bird Sanctuary in the borough is feathering its nest. Fair Haven Garden Club president Nancy Bosco outlined recent work at the woodland preserve on Harding Road and noted the collaborative efforts of the garden club and the borough’s Department of Public Works (DPW) in restoring the habitat.
The garden club is a community of gardening enthusiasts dedicated to maintaining the Harding Bird Sanctuary that protects native bird and wildlife species. The land was donated by the Harding family in 1950. Peaceful trails wind through woodlands, meadows and wetlands, spanning more than 40 acres. Along the way, visitors can take in the sights and songs of a wide variety of bird species.
In July 2024, Mayor Joshua Halpern established a committee to lead the rehabilitation of the sanctuary. By late September, the committee completed Phase 1 as part of its National Public Lands Day effort. DPW crews cleared the land and installed a large planting bed at the park’s entrance.
Garden club members donated nearly $800 to purchase 100 native ferns, grasses and plants to fill this bed. So far, 300 spring bulbs have been planted, and additional bulbs will be added at the entrance.
Scout Troop 125, under the direction of Dan Ramirez, with his assistant, daughter Kayla, has focused on building birdhouses – 10 so far. Nine of those are marked with ribbon to guide the construction of additional houses deeper in the sanctuary. The family of late garden club member Betty Mallon has funded this project up to $500.
Phase 2 of the project is now underway. Funding for this stage comes from a $2,500 donation from the garden club, a $1,500 grant from the Audubon Society, and private contributions from two residents. As of Nov. 12, the DPW has planted 112 trees and shrubs in the sanctuary. Deer fencing was installed around individual trees and larger clustered areas due to the high deer population, with up to 40 deer spotted.
The final phase is expected to take place in the spring, pending approval of a “Plant America” grant. If awarded, the funding will support the addition of bushes and ground cover to the tree area.
“The project was only possible through the diligence and hard work of council woman Elizabeth Koch, borough administrator Christopher York, code enforcement officer Joe Mule, and the DPW team,” Bosco said.
“We owe a great deal of gratitude to both the garden club as well as to Nicolas Poruchynsky and his DPW team,” Koch said. “Everyone needs to see what they have managed to accomplish… and it’s just the beginning.”
The article originally appeared in the December 4 – 10, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
