HELPING BI WOODS AND OTHER NATURAL AREAS?

Friends of Birch Island Woods encourages people to participate in the stewardship of public natural areas. Any project on any public parkland, however, must first by authorized by the pertinent government agency or department.

FBIW can help your group or neighbors join an exiting program or devise a new project to help native Minnesota plants, trees and shrubs in Birch Island Woods or other Eden Prairie parks and conservation areas recover from garlic mustard and buckthorn. Buckthorn pulls (a branch of it is pictured to the right) are worthy and fun ways to become involved. Read on.

HABITAT RESTORATION, BUCKTHORN AND TRAIL PROJECTS IN EDEN PRAIRIE INCLUDING THE BIRCH ISLAND AREA

The EP Parks Department considers proposals for buckthorn, garlic mustard and litter removal in its parks and conservation areas including Birch Island Woods. Opportunities for wood chip trail construction, native plant replacement are few.

For suggestions and guidelines on how to get a project going contact:

• EP Parks Manager Stuart Fox: 952-949-8300 sfox@edenprairie.org
• FBIW President, Jeff Strate: 952-949-8980 bukumi@infionline.net
• City Guidelines for buckthorn control on city land

To volunteer for the Wetland Health Evaluation Project contact

EP Envirnnmental Coordinator Leslie Stovring
952-949-8300 sstovring@edenprairie.org

Friends of Birch Island Woods runs City authorized buckthorn, garlic mustard, litter removal and native plant replacement projects in the woods and Birch Island Park. Individuals and groups are encouraged to participate. See the events calendar or call Jeff Strate at 952-949-8980 for upcoming projects.

BUCKTHORN AND NATIVE PLANT SEMINARS AND BUCKTHORN & GARLIC MUSTARD PULLS

FBIW's buckthorn and native plant seminars and its buckthorn, honeysuckle & garlic mustard abatement workshops and pulls are based at Eden Wood Lodge next to Birch Island Woods and Glen Lake Golf Center. Check the events calendar for current and future programs and driving directions

Our first Buckthorn 101 Seminar in February 15, 2002 featured Master gardener and horticultural consultant Janet Larson and EP Forestry’s Jeff Cordes.

Larson provided a full house of 72 attendees a slide show primer on the invader’s history and spread in America (scary stuff) explaining why it does so well in Minnesota. Later the knowledgeable buckthorn buster and her equally qualified and impassioned cohort Jeff Cordes talked about buckthorn identification and chemical and mechanical removal techniques

After a java, bagel and Danish break, the duo, to a Gershwin march provided by MC Jeff Strate, headed into buckthorn infested areas of the Birch Island Woods for on-site buckthorn identification tips and more Q and A time.

The event was the first of a series workshops and seminars for residents of the southwest suburbs including those who will become part of the city certified, buckthorn removal forays into the Birch Island Woods Conservation Area.

Click here to our Buckthorn section.

Click here to our Garlic Mustard section.