Written by: Jocelyn Phares
In an exciting new community project, Friends of Blackwater is leading an effort to restore the natural beauty of the Blackwater Trail along the North Fork. This botany program removes invasive plant species from the Blackwater Trail and plants native species in their place. Friends of Blackwater partnered with the Monongalia National Forest to create this program. The project is supported by the National Forest Foundation. However, it is the efforts of individual volunteers from the local and surrounding community which are ensuring the Blackwater Trail is restored to its natural glory. For example, on Wednesday April 21st, a group of nine volunteers from Eastern West Virginia Technical & Community College and Garrett College, Maryland joined forces to tackle invasive species along a stretch of the Blackwater Trail near Thomas. The group removed several large Autumn Olive, Tartarian Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose, and Japanese Barbary bushes. The volunteer’s efforts were impressive! Follow Friends of Blackwater on Facebook and Instagram or go to SaveBlackwater.org to learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities on the Blackwater Trail.
“Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.”- Helen Keller