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Opportunity Details
MLK Day of Service - Shelby Park Enhancement - Invasive Removal
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a wonderful time to serve your community! Join us as we spend time in the woods together, chatting and restoring the ecological health of your public lands! At this volunteer opportunity, we will be removing invasive plants to restore ecosystems that have been overwhelmed by these species.
What will volunteers be doing at this event?
Volunteers will be removing invasive plant species from the forest surrounding the Community Center in an area known as Beech Grove Hill. This process may be relatively strenuous but is quite an enjoyable service!
What is the community impact of this event?
First, we must ask, what is an invasive species? It is a species which is introduced to habitats where it is not native and harms the environment, human health, or the economy. In Shelby Park and Bottoms, a few species in particular have spread and pose a serious threat to the health of the park’s ecosystems (and natural beauty).
Invasive species reduce biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. In addition, they make our forests much less beautiful. By removing invasive plants, we open up the forest and provide an opportunity for native species to move back into the space. In the long term, this will ensure that our forests can continue to host a wide variety of mature trees, native shrubs, and the animals that benefit from healthy, native Middle Tennessee forest.
Accessibility:
We will meet at the Shelby Park Community Center and walk a short distance to Beech Grove Hill (the forest between the Community Center and Lake Sevier). We will be carrying heavy tools over uneven ground. We will begin on primitive trails but quickly venture off-trail to begin removal. Restrooms are located inside the community center, which opens at 10am. Portable restrooms are located downhill from our worksite.
What to bring?
I would recommend bringing your own water bottle. Water, gloves, snacks, and all needed tools will be provided. Because we will be walking through the woods, please wear pants and close-toed shoes.
What’s next?
If you sign up for this event, you will receive a reminder email a few days before the event with specific instructions regarding parking and any other necessary information. Any questions? Feel free to send me an email at cayty@friendsofshelby.org. We hope to see you out there!
Founded in 2008, Friends of Shelby is a private, nonprofit organization working to preserve, enhance, and promote Shelby Park and Bottoms for everyone to appreciate and protect. We work to protect the natural and historical integrity of the area by supporting appropriate recreational activities, maintaining and enhancing its features, promoting programs that inspire appreciation and conservation of the Park and Bottoms, and advocating for a level playing field for the various user groups.
Environment & Sustainability
Age Minimum (with Adult): 12+, Minimum Age:16+, Court Ordered Volunteer - Allowed
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Signup Questions
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