Slideshow: A member of Earth Corps demonstrates to volunteers the proper method of removing invasive English ivy from trees. The restoration project cleared more that 3,000 square feet of ivy from the Dumas Bay Preserve on December 5. Click on the image for more photographs from the event.
On a clear and cold Saturday morning, volunteers from around Federal Way descended upon the Dumas Bay Preserve.
While most of America sipped its morning coffee in the comfort of the warm indoors, this group of environmental stewards picked up hand trowels and limb shears to help give back to their community's green spaces.
Their task: Help save the trees and forest floor of the Dumas Bay Preserve from its most invasive enemy, English ivy.
In an effort spearheaded by the Friends of the Hylebos (www.hylebos.org) and Seattle-based Earth Corps, these volunteers helped stop the spread of this invasive species in one of the last remaining public urban forests in Federal Way.
Recent surveys by the Friends found that the Dumas Bay Preserve is 25%-100% invaded by Ivy. If left untreated, the ivy will eventually kill the trees, replacing a beautiful, green forest with an ivy desert.
Earth Corps, a group of restoration specialists, taught volunteers how to coil the removed vines and build compost piles on the forest floor that keep the vines from re-rooting.
Earth Corps told the Federal Way News that the team of volunteers help clear over 3,000 square feet of ivy during the five-hour project.
Those interested in volunteering in future ivy pulls or other restoration projects are encouraged to contact Lili Allala at 253-874-2005 or lili@hylebos.org or Chris Carrel at 253-874-2005 or chinook@hylebos.org.
