DECATUR – Covering nearly 200 acres, Fairview Park is Decatur’s oldest public park and is home to hundreds of plant species and other wildlife. But that biodiversity is being threatened by an outsider – amur honeysuckle. Make a difference this fall. Keep Fairview Park beautiful by volunteering with the Macon County Master Gardeners at Honeysuckle Sweep, an invasive plant removal day.
Volunteers will meet at the Fairview Park Pool parking lot at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 20. A rain date will be November 10. They will work in teams with certified herbicide applicators to cut and haul honeysuckle branches. Dress accordingly. Volunteers should bring gloves and, if available, pruners and loppers. This is a great opportunity for school service hours. Large groups are welcome.
Amur honeysuckle is an invasive plant that threatens local ecosystems. This bushy shrub will quickly overtake an area, blocking sunlight so native flowers, trees and other plants, which wildlife rely on, cannot grow. If left untreated, amur honeysuckle will soon become the only plant in an area.
No registration is required. For more information, please contact Vasthi with the Macon County Extension Office at vasthis@illinois.edu or (217) 877-6042. This event is possible through a partnership between University of Illinois Extension in Macon County, the Decatur Park District and the Macon County Conservation District.
The Macon County Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by Illinois Extension. Master Gardeners fulfill their mission of Helping Others Learn to Grow by volunteering their time and horticulture skills through community gardening projects and educational outreach. Learn more on their Facebook page.
Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please call (217) 877-6042. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs.