We are clearing several areas around the neighborhood of their invasive species — particularly the English ivy and Euonymus that have grown up the trees — in conjunction with the BMCA Parks Committee and with the help of the Master Naturalists of Northern Virginia and the Arlington County staff.  So far, we concentrated on Powhatan Springs Park, including a 2014 Earth Day Clean up, but we have also worked along Rt. 50 near and behind the sound barriers east of Manchester Street.  See map: IvyClearingAreasSep2015.

The County put some professional to work on Powhatan Springs this summer. For the 2015-2016 cold weather clearing season, tentative plans involve: some follow-up work in Powhatan Springs, clearing of invasives from the Rt. 50 shoulder in preparation for our BMCA beautification and restoration project there, and/or join forces with Upton Hill Park for their 2016 Earth Day clean up and invasives clearing.  Once the cooler weather sets in, I will send out invites for clearing dates.  The more the merrier and the more we can accomplish!

Earth Day 2014 Powhatan Springs Cleanup – Anybody need a kitchen sink?

Pearl Harbor Day 2014 Invasive removal at the northeast corner of Manchester Street and Rt. 50 – Did this slither up from Florida?

Resources:
Arlington Master Naturalists: http://armn.org/category/focus-service-projects/english-ivy-removal/
Arlington County Invasive Species Coordinator: https://environment.arlingtonva.us/author/sarcher/
U.S. National Arboretum on Invasives: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/invasives.html