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Looking for some outdoor exercise? Volunteer to join Charles Newsom tackling invasive plant removal. To contact Charles, complete the form at this link. NPSOT members and non-members are welcome.
Working as a volunteer, chapter member Charles Newsom leads projects in local parks, preserves and recreation areas that help land managers deal with invasive plants by figuring out what can be done and then leading teams to do it. If you’ve ever been to Berry Springs Park and Preserve in Georgetown, or Miller Springs Nature Center in Belton, you’ve enjoyed a couple of examples among the public spaces that benefit from Charles’ volunteerism.
Current and upcoming project locations include preserves owned by the Texas Land Conservancy (2.4 acre Berry Creek Preserve and 6 acre preserve along the San Gabriel River), Georgetown’s Garey Park, and Williamson County’s Berry Springs Park & Preserve.
The project at Berry Creek Preserve, owned by the Texas Land Conservancy (TLC), can use volunteers now. TLC’s Berry Creek Preserve is in Georgetown just off Shell Spur Road.
Mindful of safety concerns for social distancing, Charles says any number of volunteers from 1 to 6 would be safe working at Berry Creek Preserve. The work site is adjacent to the parking area so it’s a short walk and easy for you to stop at any time. You will need to complete a TLC release form in advance.
If you need tools, Charles can provide 4 pairs of loppers and 2 hand saws. You need gloves and closed toe shoes. Long pants are best. Tights should be avoided as there are scratchy branches everywhere. Everyone should bring their own water, and bring a hat since not all work is in the shade.
Charles described the project:
“It is an area of 2.4 acres and is adjacent to Berry Creek. It is forested and rocky in spots. It is also fairly pristine. I have already removed about 70% of the invasives and will finish the rest (the largest trees) when it is cooler.
It has a significant number of downed Ashe junipers that make exploring the area difficult as well as creating eyesores. Volunteers could saw off and/or lopper off the many small limbs on each tree and I could cut up the trunks. We could make a nice pile of cut pieces and then all of it could then be used for firewood or for woodworking.
The trees are not very large so we don’t have that to deal with. They are also well-separated so one person per tree at any given time would nicely space out the work. It is probably less than a dozen trees but it would open up the area quite nicely.
The last step would be in putting in a trail. The trail-making consists of minor brush clearing (easy) using hand clippers or loppers and removing any trip hazards such as small rocks. “
Charles also shared the following about this preserve: “There is little poison ivy (I have not seen any yet) to worry about.” That’s welcome news!
Contact Charles (contact link at the top of this article) for more information about any of his projects.
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