Southeast Raleigh Elementary 4th/5th Grade Rooftop Garden, 10/2/26 Unfortunately our fears came true, and the drought and heat of late summer prevented the survival of much of our fall crop of vegetables. However, we viewed this as a learning opportunity and devised a strategy for salvaging plants and making the best of the fall growing … More When faced with adversity we “Adapt and Improvise!”
Despite threat of rain, 10 volunteers of The Audubon Society and South Wake Conservationists, along with 4 employees for the town of Fuquay-Varina, participated in an invasive removal at Carol H. Johnson Environmental Education Park in Fuquay-Varina. Fortunately, the 60-degree temperature was perfect to remove it. Our main mission was to remove Japanese Stilt Grass … More An Invasive Removal Is A Great Way To Spend the Fall Solstice this 9/23/26!
Despite the intense humidity and drought-hardened soil, volunteers tackled three major projects at Inwood Wildlife Gardens: building a hibernaculum, planting native species around “Brass Frog Pond,” and mulching the pollinator garden path. The ground was so tough that even the tractor’s bucket needed help from volunteers wielding pickaxes! By day’s end, we had installed 125 native … More What a day at Inwood Wildlife Garden!
After a few months and cleanouts, we have learned much about the trap and where it is located. It’s on a highly used trail that connects to the Raleigh Greenway. So, if it’s full, the park will hear about it. The problem is, it can go weeks empty, particularly during the drought, and then a … More Anatomy of a Trash Trap Clean out.
The Big Sweep event was on 9/5/26. As usual Big Sweep does a great job getting volunteers and organizing teams, with plenty of bags, vests and pickers. During Walnut Creek Center’s Mud Day festival volunteers from Carolina Wetlands removed over 222 pounds so all effforts were to areas around the Raleigh Greenway. The weather was … More Double Header at Walnut Creek Wetland Center! With two events within seven days SWC helped remove close to 800 pounds of trash with The Big Sweep on 9/5/26 and pulled approximately 2500 square feet of Japanese Hops on 9/13/26. Well done team!
SWC is partners with Wake Audubon’s ongoing project to conserve and support the natural heritage of a unique nature park in Fuquay Varina, the Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park. The NC Natural Heritage Progam lists portions of this site as 7 out of 10 for natural diversity, which is exceptional for a suburban/urban location! … More Please Join South Wake Conservationists and The Audubon Society for another season of invasive removal at Carol H. Johnson Environmental Education Park located at 301 Wagstaff Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC, September 23, 9:00 to 11:00am.
Even with 97 degree heat, we were at maximum capacity on the rooftop of Southeast Elementary when 20 eager 4th grade gardeners, and 22 excited and veteran 5th grade gardeners, arrived to be guided by our five intrepid South Wake Conservationists leaders in two separate gardening sessions. The students were attentive, well behaved and worked … More The day was hot, but the energy was high, literally! September 11, 2026.
As a low-lying wetland, this site absorbs all the invasive seeds flowing from the Walnut Creek water shed, a significant area of Raleigh and Wake County. Normally, we would be restoring a high ground section with native cane, but at this time construction of an improvement to the park is preventing this work. This will … More Second weekend at Walnut Creek Wetlands Center! On September 13, 2026, we will be removing invasives from 9:00am to 11:00am
Join NC Wildlife Federation’s South Wake Conservationists Chapter for a volunteer work day at our shade pollinator garden at Bass Lake Park! We’ll be getting the garden ready for the cooler months with a mix of seasonal maintenance and new planting. Volunteer activities will include: No special experience is needed. We’ll have tools available to … More Bass Lake Shade Pollinator Garden Work Day – Sun 10/18/26 10am-Noon
Join NC Wildlife Federation’s South Wake Conservationists Chapter and the stewards of Inwood Wildlife Garden for a hands-on volunteer day as we build our first-ever hibernaculum! Wait… what’s a hibernaculum? A hibernaculum is a protective shelter or refuge that wildlife uses to survive the winter dormancy period. Typically constructed using natural materials such as rocks, … More Build a Hibernaculum at Inwood Wildlife Garden! Volunteers needed Sat. 9/19 10am-1pm