In 2020, despite a 3.5 month break for COVID-19 concerns, over 60 volunteers contributed a total of 350+ hours in the woods. Progress is being made that has been amazing to those who have spent several years volunteering.
Because this is such a unique habitat, when we remove invasive plants, native plants start popping up. This would not happen in heavily disturbed areas. Because of the rain this summer, fungi of all kinds were prolific. This variety of species would not be seen in other wood- lots in our area. If you have just spent an hour or two working in Stadium Woods, you have helped to free the natives.
My Goals for 2021:
- Keep removing non-native invasive plants with the help of as many volunteers possible in Stadium Woods and Depot Park.
- Establish list of invasive plants for local governments to not plant as part of their buildings and grounds policy.
- Ask landowners in the community to allow members of the New River Valley Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society as well as Master Naturalist to allow us to collect divisions, cuttings and seeds of local plants on their private property to establish stock plants to use in future restorations, such as Stadium Woods, Huckleberry Trail, Depot Park, Heritage Park.
- Encourage removal of invasive plants and planting of natives by visiting homeowners property and identifying invasive plants and following up with suggestions of natives to plant in their place.
Anywhere you work to remove invasive plants, even your yard, helps our parks and natural habitats. So cut down that Callery Pear and cut that English ivy, winter creeper and Asiatic bittersweet out of your trees.