State parks offer hands-on workdays on invasive plant removal

 

In recognition of national Invasive Species Awareness Week, three state parks will offer invasive plant “workdays” this coming Saturday, Jan. 9.  The workdays will be held at White Clay Creek State Park, Cape Henlopen State Park and Killens Pond State Park from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 

The Environmental Stewardship Program of DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation will host all three events.

 

Volunteers will participate in the removal of autumn olive, oriental bittersweet and other invasive plant species that invade the understory of forest habitat throughout Delaware’s parks.  Environmental Stewardship Program staff will assist with identification of invasive as well as native plants during the workdays.

 

Volunteers should wear old/work clothes and sneakers or boots.  Gloves and hand tools will be provided, but volunteers may bring their own hand saws, pruners, and/or loppers.

 

All three workdays will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 9 at:

 

White Clay Creek State Park: Meet at parking lot at the bottom of Wedgewood Road. For more information contact Linda Rossell at Linda.Rossell@state.de.us.

 

Cape Henlopen State Park: Meet at parking lot across from the main campground fee booth. For more information contact Ashley Kroon at 302-242-6004 or Ashley.Kroon@state.de.us.

 

Killens Pond State Park: Meet at the Sports Complex parking lot. For more information contact Ashley Kroon at 302-242-6004 or Ashley.Kroon@state.de.us.

 

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Jan. 10 - 14) is a national effort to bring attention to the impacts of invasive plants.