The sight of a large swath of grasslands on fire is enough to send any nature lover into a panic, especially in the wake of California’s destructive wildfires and the burn ban that was in effect during a record dry spell this past November. In a county park on Maryland’s Eastern Shore last week, the fire that spread across the grassland was planned, intentional, and beneficial in the long term.
At Pirates Wharf Park, a Wicomico County park that opened in 2023 along the winding Wicomico River, the Lower Shore Land Trust worked together with several partners on a prescribed burn. Lower Shore Land Trust Americorps Program Specialist Brooke Orr gives this account of the planned fire.
On March 11th, a key step in the ongoing habitat restoration efforts at Pirates Wharf Park took place as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted a prescribed burn across sections of the park’s grassland. This carefully planned and controlled burn is part of a larger collaborative effort between Wicomico County Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Department, the Lower Shore Land Trust, and ShoreRivers, all working together to revitalize the unique grassland habitat along the Wicomico River through the Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network.
Here’s video of the burn:
Prescribed burns are a vital tool in grassland management. By reducing invasive species, clearing away dead vegetation, and enriching the soil, these burns create the ideal conditions for native plants to thrive. This latest burn at Pirates Wharf Park lays the groundwork for an exciting next phase—a native seed planting scheduled for later this month.
The upcoming planting, led by the Lower Shore Land Trust in partnership with Wicomico County Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Department, will focus on establishing a biologically diverse meadow filled with native pollinator flowers and grasses. This effort aims to create a vibrant habitat that supports a variety of native species, from butterflies and bees to birds and small mammals, reinforcing the park’s role as an ecological gem along the Wicomico River.
By fostering these grassland habitats, the partnership is not only enhancing the park’s natural beauty but also strengthening its ecological resilience. Native meadows play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, improving soil health, and providing critical food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.
Visitors to Pirates Wharf Park will soon have the opportunity to experience the transformation firsthand as the newly planted meadow takes root and blossoms over the coming seasons. The Lower Shore Land Trust, along with its partners, remains committed to conservation efforts that protect and restore the Lower Shore’s natural landscapes.
Pirates Wharf Park includes a 2.1-mile walking loop, a woodland-themed playground, and a large pavilion. The county hopes to add a boat ramp, soft launch area, and fishing pier in the future. The county doesn’t quite know how Pirate’s Wharf got its name, perhaps during the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Wars or during Prohibition, when bootleggers would smuggle alcohol up and down the shores.
Either way, its expanded native plantings will soon make for a beautiful waterfront hike. Get more information about the Lower Shore Land Trust’s ongoing conservation projects here.
