At the Franklin First UMC Main Campus, our invasive clean ups don’t just happen once a year. We strive for 2-3 each year, as many of our wild spaces are inundated with particularly large amounts of bush honeysuckle and Chinese privet! At our “weed wrangles” everyone has an opportunity to use our “Weed Wrenches”; with a little bit of leverage, the beauty of seeing these undesirables come out by the roots is so gratifying!
The best time of year to get rid of invasives is now, before the tick population explodes. Critters such as deer, bunnies and caterpillars do not eat these exotic weeds, so the ticks love to live in these areas. Birds will eat the exotic berries, but they have low nutritional value. These invasives leaf out early, so if birds build nests there, without a full tree canopy for cover, chick survival is lower in these areas, than where native shrubs and trees thrive.
Our creekbank at Berry’s Chapel Branch, is undergoing a Riparian Buffer Restoration, and we are so excited about this! We continue to remove invasive species, but are replanting with native shrubs and trees. If you see orange flags along the creekbanks, please leave them alone – that means native plants are trying to take root there. Scientific research shows that healthy riparian buffers deliver tremendous economic and ecological benefits. Among these benefits are erosion reduction, filtering sediment and pollution, providing shade to moderate water temperatures, and providing habitat and green corridors for our native wildlife.
We’re planting trees this coming Saturday, March 25 … over 200 bare root seedlings! All are welcome and your help is NEEDED! Rain or shine, anytime between 10 and 2. We’ll be planting near Berry’s Chapel Branch as well as below the track adjacent to the Glade. A forester has recommended a reforestation plan here, as this particular area is dying out and being overrun by invasives. When our church family comes together, working alongside on beneficial projects like this, you know our good Lord is smiling down!
All creation is the Lord’s and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. We have 107 acres of property that provides us the opportunity to be good stewards of our natural surroundings!
To God be the Glory!
Kay Matthews
FFUMC and Creation Care ministry team member
