Fickett Hammock Preserve

Fickett Hammock is northwest of Brooksville on Centralia Road just west of Citrus Way. The preserve is home to forested hardwood hammock with some flatwoods and sandhill, seasonally flowing streams, and saw palmetto thickets. Interesting trees include hickory, dogwood, hop hornbeam, ironwood, American holly, and swamp chestnut oak.

Features and Recreation:

2.3 mile mile-looped hiking trail starts at the paved parking lot
Passes a seasonal stream through oak hammocks, hickory groves, and Sparkleberry thickets.

Preserve Resources:

What are the current projects you have going on with ESL?

The County is currently working on permitting a Gopher Tortoise recipient site at Lake Townsen Preserve along with continued habitat management/restoration at Chinsegut Hill, Cypress Lakes Preserve, and Fickett Hammock. ESL also assisted in the habitat plantings around the observation pier at Bayport Park.

Is anything new happening at Fickett Hammock?

ESL has plans to construct a pavilion with picnic tables at the entrance to Fickett Hammock.

What is the best way for the public to help the program?

Volunteering is a great way to give back to our community. The County frequently works with volunteer groups on various projects. If you would like to volunteer or have a group (school, non-profit, etc.) with an idea/project that would better our preserves, we would love to discuss this with you.

What are the best practices for this specific preserve?

Fickett Hammock Preserve, named for local naturalist and FWC biologist Steven Fickett, is situated on Brooksville Ridge and is part of the greater Annutteliga Hammock. Fickett Hammock Preserve contains an unusual example of an upland hardwood forest natural community (though partially convergent with mesic hammock) near the southern range limit of this community type, as well as fire-excluded mesic flatwoods on the eastern side of the preserve and a couple acres of sandhill (also fire-excluded) on the southwestern corner of the preserve. Biological surveys of Fickett Hammock have been limited, but two imperiled plants and gopher tortoise have been documented on-site; additional species of conservation concern may be present. Other imperiled species have been documented nearby.

Are there species that call Fickkett Hammock home that we may not see at other preserves?

Three state-imperiled species (Pecluma dispersa, Pecluma ptilota var. bourgeauana, and Clitoria fragrans) and the gopher tortoise, have been confirmed within the preserve boundaries. Another plant observed at Fickett Hammock is the common atamasco-lily (Zephyranthes atamasco).

And anything else you want to add!?

The desired outcome for the management of Fickett Hammock Preserve is for all natural communities restored to or maintained in high-quality condition, both for their habitat values for native species and for an improved visitor experience.

Learn more about Fickett Hammock