Excerpted from Frank Renshaw’s report to DCR.

Four MBNAP stewards and two VCR staff members participated in a Japanese Honeysuckle Pull session at the Preserve on Nov. 17th.

Removal was limited to the main trail near the Preserve entrance. The removed debris was loaded in a DCR pickup and hauled to the Northampton County Landfill for disposal. The honeysuckle pull was a daunting task – physically hard work and what seemed like unlimited growth and spread of the invasive along the trail. The work party kept at it, and some progress was made as can be seen in the attached photographs.

The Preserve main trail is in good shape – clear with the exception of two tree branches and some dried stalks of goldenrod. The new signage at the Preserve is a great improvement – both for safety and access control:

Wildlife observations were limited during the walk, possibly due to the strong breeze – 2 great egrets and 2 white ibis over/in the marsh, heard-only and identified by Merlin app: cardinal, Carolina wren and crow.

Many thanks to Mimi Stitt, Kathy Sturgis, and Brian Murray for volunteering, and DCR’s Will and Jennifer for coordinating the honeysuckle pull .