One-Day Volunteer Opportunity To
Eradicate Honeysuckle Growth In Kirkwood Park

Kirkwood, Missouri -- Friday, February 16, 2007 -- Introduced into the United States in 1918 from Asia, bush honeysuckle has been known to smother native plants in woodlands throughout the eastern United States. Dense, strangling growths of bush honeysuckle can impact desirable vegetation by decreasing light availability within the habitat, depleting soil moisture and nutrients, or by choking out the understory growth.

In Kirkwood Park, the rampant spread of this attractive, yet invasive and exotic, plant has been increasing in recent years. Kirkwood's park staff has been combating the growth over the last three years with the help of volunteers, and through this year’s efforts the overgrowth will be removed from the last section of timber.  Additional efforts can then be directed toward curbing re-growth from stumps.

Following the success of volunteer-based eradication events held five times in the last two years, the Kirkwood Parks Department has scheduled another one-day eradication of the honeysuckle plant from Kirkwood Park on Saturday, March 17, from 9 a.m. to Noon.  Volunteers are asked to meet at the Rifle Pistol Range off Rifle Range Road in Kirkwood Park on March 17, wearing comfortable clothes. Staff asks volunteers to bring their own gloves. All other work tools will be provided. Snack and drinks also will be provided. The March 17 event will focus on clearing the remaining honeysuckle growth in the park. A rain date of April 14 is scheduled; however, in the absence of rain on March 17, the April 14 date will be utilized to bring volunteers back to help clear out the remaining honeysuckle stumps. A rain date of April 21 is scheduled if weather is uncooperative on the 14^th.

Negative effects of bush honeysuckle invasion include stifling of understory growth, inhibition of regeneration in woody and herbaceous plants, and alteration of habitats used by native wildlife.

“The impact our volunteers have made in the past two years has been amazing,” commented Parks Superintendent Curt Carron. “With the continued help of volunteers, we can really begin to rejuvenate our forest floor in Kirkwood Park.” For more information, contact Carron at 822-5897.

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