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Invasive Species Awareness Week volunteers wanted for Honeysuckle Harvest at Kenneglenn Nature Preserve

Jul 7, 2017 | Events

In honor of Invasive Species Awareness Week, on Thursday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Western New York Land Conservancy is partnering with the Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) to remove Tartarian Honeysuckle from the Kenneglenn Nature Preserve in Wales.

Tartarian Honeysuckle is an invasive shrub that was introduced to the United States from Asia. Here in Western New York, where it has no natural controls, its leaves appear early in the spring and remain into late fall, giving it a competitive advantage over native plants. The implications of an invasive plant infestation are wide reaching, from impacts to native woodland plants to insects and birds.

According to Jajean Rose-Burney, expert birder and Land Conservancy deputy executive director, “Some studies show that, unlike native plants, honeysuckle berries are not the high fat, nutrient-rich food that migratory birds need to make their long flights. The native plants that migratory birds need disappear when honeysuckle takes over.”

PRISM and the Land Conservancy have been working hard over the last few years to control the honeysuckle infestation at Kenneglenn, but volunteers are needed to get the job done. PRISM staff will train all volunteers how to identify and remove honeysuckle. Tools and lunch will be provided.

Advanced registration is requested at www.2017honeysuckleharvest.eventbrite.com. For more information, please call the Western New York Land Conservancy at (716) 687-1225.

The Western New York Land Conservancy is a regional, not-for-profit land trust that permanently protects land with significant conservation value in Western New York for future generations. The Land Conservancy envisions a future in which meadows, forests, farmlands, wildlife habitat and scenic beauty are cherished and protected as part of the landscape and character of Western New York. The Land Conservancy is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and is one of 1,700 land trusts nationwide, including 90 in New York State. Land trusts have protected 40 million acres over the last 20 years. For more information on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities or the mission of the Western New York Land Conservancy, please call (716) 687-1225 or visit www.wnylc.org.

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