Crow’s Nest: Volunteers plant and clean up

By Daniel Barringer, Preserve Manager.

Photo: Cody Hudgens

Force of Nature volunteers gathered at Crow’s Nest this week to take on two projects at Warwick Woods: First we planted a bunch of trees at the site where a pole barn had been torn down, to better protect and buffer an adjacent intermittent stream. The trees and shrubs had been donated by Octoraro Native Plant Nursery.

We enclosed them inside a “habitat island”—a small fenced area with a 4′ tall fence to protect the young trees from deer. Although deer can easily jump over such a short fence, they are unlikely to jump into such a narrow, enclosed space. A habitat island can be as long as you want, it just can’t be made very wide. Using just one netting fence is more economical than caging each tree individually, as well as cheaper and easier than installing a full 8′ exclosure to protect a planting.

Photo: Cody Hudgens

After we finished the tree planting we moved on to cleanup more of the buildings that have been torn down at the former campground. Here the group poses by the last of the debris from a former picnic pavilion. Several loads of debris had already been hauled away but the many broken boards with nails still have to be picked up and removed, and with many muddy hands and boots we are getting it done. Thank you all for coming out on this beautiful day!