During June, the Leadership Team and members of the Wild Ones Appalachian Foothills Seedling Chapter completed two field trips.
Washington Works Nature Trails
On June 7 the group met with Dave Johnson, a dedicated volunteer and Chemours retiree, at the Washington Works Nature Trails for a guided tour. Dave reviewed the history of this reclamation site that now includes over two miles of trails through forested areas, wetlands and open meadows. He discussed strategies for seeding areas and using controlled burns as a means of clearing invasive plants. Dave also shared plans for further developing and maintaining the Nature Trails with the focus of providing community education especially with the addition of an outdoor classroom/shelter house. He relayed how the volunteer efforts of Chemours employees and organizations including the Boy Scout of America have made this project a success. Our group was impressed by how an industrial area can be reclaimed and become a site filled with native plants and pollinators. We encourage you to visit the Washington Works Nature Trails located at 7849 Dupont Road in Washington, WV; it’s a beautiful place.
United Plant Savers
On June 27 the Leadership Team visited the United Plants Savers Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation whose mission is to protect native medicinal plants, fungi and their habitats. The group met with Sanctuary Steward, Chip Carroll, who reviewed the history and evolution of this Botanical Sanctuary including the reclamation of a strip mining area and development of a pollinator prairie. During our tour of the grounds near the sanctuary center Chip discussed a variety of native plants nurtured on the property that includes hiking trails, a heart shaped pond and large greenhouse. Chip also shared the center’s focus on education as well as plans to continue developing lodging and build an event center. Once again, our group was inspired how a site can become a beautiful setting filled with native plants and pollinators while supporting wildlife. This is another place we encourage you to visit and hike; it is located at 35703 Loop Road, Rutland, Ohio.