Invasive plant management at Wilcox Conservation Area, Saturday 4/30, 10:00-Noon

Join us for an invasive plant management activity at Wilcox Conservation Area! This project applies research on two invasive plant species – garlic mustard and Japanese barberry – to plant management at Wilcox Conservation Area, a city-owned 150-acre open space property in western Middletown. The dense forest canopy supports many native plant species, including spring ephemerals, which are threatened by expanding and new populations of invasive plants. We’ll start by taking a short walk to ID some natives. Then teams will remove and quantify plants of the two target species from study plots, and in some cases, replant with natives and/or amend the soil. Revisiting these plots next spring will generate data that can be used to determine best management practices and apply them to Wilcox and Middletown’s many other open space properties.  

This is a collaborative project between University of New Haven (Independent Study by Nora Doonan) and the City of Middletown (Land Use Department and Commission on Conservation and Agriculture), with supplies from Middlesex Community College and volunteers from UNH, Wesleyan University, the Commission and the public. For more information, to RSVP and/or inquire about carpooling from UNH or Wesleyan, contact Dr. Kate Miller at kmiller@newhaven.edu or kmiller02@wesleyan.edu.  

Directions: 

Wilcox Conservation Area, Middletown. From its intersection with Interstate 91, take Country Club Road west 0.5 miles to Atkins Street. Go north on Atkins Street. Continue on Atkins Street for 0.7 miles and turn left on Footit Dr. Go ~ 0.5 miles down Footit (up and over a hill, toward the end, parking on right or along road past pull-out).  

To wear/bring

Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended. There will be gloves and tools available (unless you'd like to bring your gloves and trowel!)