This conservation crew is on it! SWC and Wake Audubon continue to rally around a very exciting collaborative project at a little-known gem of a nature park in Fuquay Varina called the Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park. Today, we removed another large trailer load of invasive plants, mostly Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), but also including a couple of burning bushes (Euonymus alatus), which was brought to North America from northeastern Asia in the 1860’s and rapidly outcompetes native plants in our woodlands. Much more still to do in the 28 acres of the park, but previously-hidden natives are emerging and can begin to flourish now, including river cane (Arundinaria gigantea), American strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus), and Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria).
The Town of Fuquay Varina has been very supportive of this project and arranges Public Works staff to provide support to the team each workday and carry away the removed invasives. They are also working with the team on scoping out potential future projects, such as pollinator meadow planting in easement areas and nature trail interpretive signage. Much more ahead!
Please watch for announcements of future workdays ahead, and we hope you’ll join us!
South Wake Conservationists 