Habitat Restoration at Brown's Woods - June 25

465 SE Brown's Woods Drive,West Des Moines IA 50265

25 June, 2022

Description

Volunteer Activity: Spend your morning removing invasive species to restore native woodland habitat at Brown's Woods Park. Volunteers will be taught how to identify invasive species, the proper techniques to remove them, and about the resulting benefits of this important conservation work. Come and go per your desired hours. *These events will be led by Polk County Conservation Volunteer Park Stewards. Learn about Polk County Conservation's Park Stewardship Program here. Why it Matters: Overtime, invasive species such as honeysuckle and Asiatic bittersweet have overtaken Brown’s Woods. Invasive species have outcompeted native species leading to the reduction of local biodiversity, habitat, and local water quality. Recently as part of a timber stand improvement (TSI) project led by Polk County Conservation, 50 acres of invasive species were cleared by a forestry mower at Brown’s Woods. Volunteers at this event will help continue these TSI efforts by clearing invasive species around waterways and other areas the forestry mower could not access. What to Wear: Work gloves, water, boots or shoes that can get dirty. Long pants & closed-toe shoes are recommended. It is advised to dress in layers you can add and remove as you warm up while working. About Stewards of Brown’s Woods Brown’s Woods offers more than four miles of trails to explore and features rolling hills, small streams, and a canopy of trees stretching from Brown's Woods Drive to the Raccoon River in West Des Moines. Its caretakers, the Stewards of Brown’s Woods (SBW) is a volunteer-led effort focused on the conservation of Iowa's largest urban forest. Their mission is to build a diverse community of passionate citizens working together to restore and protect the biodiversity of Brown’s Woods, and to provide the citizens and visitors of Polk County with quality outdoor recreation and conservation education. Partnering with Polk County Conservation, SBW leads volunteers in woodland restoration, seed harvest, native garden care, and trail activities. REGISTRATION: Required DEADLINE: Register by noon the day before COST: Free AGES: 15 & older. Volunteers 14 and younger should be accompanied by a parent/guardian. No experience necessary. Ages 12+ will be permitted use of hand toolsAges 18+ will be permitted use of power tools and equipmentEach event participant will be provided proper personal protective equipment and training as needed.LOCATION DETAILS: Brown’s Woods Park |Directions | Volunteers should meet by the old Brown’s Woods parking lot. EVENT PARTNER: Stewards of Brown's Woods CONTACT: [email protected] Polk County Conservation strives to host inclusive, accessible events and meetings that enable all individuals to participate. If you anticipate needing a modification due to a disability or have questions about accessibility, please contact us at 515-323-5300 or [email protected].