We’ve planted over 150 native trees along the Ashokan Rail Trail—now it’s time to help them thrive! Join us on August 4th for a hands-on volunteer workday at the Ashokan Rail Trail where we’ll tackle invasive species that threaten their survival.

Working alongside the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership Director, John Thompson, you’ll learn how to ID invasive plants, remove them, and document them through IMapInvasives. Our hopes are to tackle removing the invasive plants such as Barberry, Bittersweet, and Multiflora Rose that are taking away key nutrients, sunlight, and water that our native plants need to survive.

This is a very hands-on and sometimes physically demanding event. We will be working in an area off the trail with dense patches of poison ivy, thorn bushes, and old farm debris that can make it hazardous, as well as working with heavy tools such as pickmatics, loppers, and shovels. We ask that you take these factors into consideration when signing up for this event and wear the proper clothing and shoes. We recommend rubber or waterproof boots, long sleeves, and pants. We also HIGHLY recommend using bug spray and sunscreen, as there are many ticks in the area we are working in. We will have bug spray and one extra pair of rubber boots on hand if anyone needs.

Water, snack bars will be provided. There will be a safety demonstration on how to properly use the tools we will be working with.

We will meet at the Ashokan Station trailhead at 9 am, have a quick orientation, and walk 5 minutes down the trail to the worksite. We will be working till 12 pm, but feel free to leave earlier if needed.

Foster Native Tree Resilience: Invasive Plant Removal and ID Training

Help Native Trees thrive removing Invasive Plants along the Ashokan Rail Trail