Nov. 6 in Centre Wellington began as a beautiful autumn morning for the people who attended the identifying and removing invasive plants workshop.
It was held outdoors on a section of the Elora Cararact Trailway beside First Line east in Fergus.
The workshop was hosted by the Elora Cataract Trailway Association and organized by Communitrees, a local volunteer group that has been planting native trees and shrubs along the trailway over the last three years.
Workshop leader and local resident, Kelsye Coulter explained the serious threat that introduced invasive plants like buckthorn pose to the regions native trees and woodlands.
Couler said it is now understood by scientists as well as an increasing number of citizens that the survival of our native tree canopy requires more than planting great native trees.
These trees are under threat by a relatively new invasive plant that is likely seen every day and yet most citizens have no recognition she said.
Coulter is a biologist and has taken an interest in invasive plants since discovering so many of them emerging and growing on her family’s property.
She and her husband are long-time residents on a large rural property in Fergus
Common buckthorn is a shrub that grows so densely it is replacing native trees and it is now common throughout the Grand River watershed.
It affects soil quality, as well (an allelopathic property) making it much harder for other native tree species to survive.
The threat to local woodlands and hedgerows is already quite observable, officials state.
The easiest and therefore best time to recognize buckthorn is late autumn. It stays green while the majority of the native plants have lost their foliage.
This ‘recognize and remove’ workshop held in November gave participants a great opportunity to learn to spot this damaging shrub.
The female buckthorn is often covered in dark berries in November. Correctly removing these female shrubs can therefore slow down the spread of buckthorn.
Coulter gave an important warning in her workshop – do no harm. If you don’t know how to remove an invasive plant correctly, it’s best to find out first.
More harm can be done if you go ahead and remove it without understanding the reason certain methods must be used.
Participants reported that the Communitrees workshop led by Couler was very thorough and that she had an easy manner, making the invasive plant information very understandable.
She welcomed all questions and provided so many hands-on opportunities, that people felt confident in being able to identify and remove the invasive plant. Attendees even had a chance to use the extractigator for somewhat larger shrubs.
For more information about taking part in Communitrees invasive removal activities, email Kelsye Coulter at kcoulter@gallusimmunotech.com.
Also, see the website for the Invasive Species Council of Ontario at www.invadingspecies.com.
