Crow’s Nest: Thorns and vines volunteers

By Daniel Barringer, Preserve Manager.

Here’s an “after” picture of the crew that came yesterday and selectively cut back the multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, and invasive vines in our Deep Woods section of Crow’s Nest Preserve. The volunteers look relatively unscathed and still had good humor. Score: volunteers 1, multiflora rose 0.

Cutting back the vines and multiflora rose gives the tree canopy a better chance of shading out the invasive plants since most invasives will leaf out before the canopy. Left unmanaged, these invasive plants overtake swaths of woods and outcompete a diversity of native species which otherwise would naturally grow there. Having large numbers of volunteers selectively cut back the plants that we don’t want is the first step in restoration and has proven remarkably effective. Plus, it is good fun to have a bunch of dedicated people to talk with and share a beautiful day. Thank you all!