Help us restore our local ecosystems!
Feeling helpless in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss? Roll up your sleeves and join our effort to restore the local landscape!
Invasive plants threaten the biodiversity of our forests and wetlands: they outcompete native plant species for scarce resources, and in doing so, they disrupt ecosystems that have developed over millennia.
Join us at WRL’s Fitch Woodlands property to help us clear the understory of invasive honeysuckle, barberry and multiflora rose. All ages welcome, but minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. We will provide all training and equipment, no experience necessary.
For questions, email programs@rurallands.org.
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Rural Lands is hosting monthly invasive species removal days from April – October. Each workday will be on a different Rural Lands property in Williamstown.
You will learn:
- About the variety of habitats found in Williamstown
- How to ID invasive plants and about their disruptive roles in ecosystems
- The importance of preserving native plant communities
Directions: From downtown Williamstown (Spring St. area), take the 3rd exit off the rotary towards Rt. 7/Cold Spring Rd. In 0.7 miles, turn right onto Bee Hill Rd. (a dirt road).
Parking: There are two parking spots at the Fitch Woodlands trailhead, which is a dirt parking lot off of Bee Hill. There are additional pullouts along Bee Hill Rd., farther up the road uphill from the Fitch Trail Parking. At the top of Sheep Hill there is a small dirt parking lot that can fit 3-4 cars. Extra parking is also available at the Sheep Hill offices (671 Cold Spring Rd.) and there is a 5-10 minute walk up to the Fitch Woodlands trailhead.
What to bring: Long sleeves and pants made of thicker material such as canvas (rose thorns will tear through lighter materials!), long socks, sturdy shoes/boots that can get dirty and torn, thick work or gardening gloves if you have them (we have some to borrow!).