Editor’s note: This press release was provided by EcoPel. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.
Thanks to over twenty community members who joined the Pelham Vine Squad Kick-Off at the Town of Pelham Library on Saturday, November 2, invasive plants are no longer free to overtake Pelham’s natural areas, home gardens, and public landscapes. This initiative, led by the Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel) in partnership with New York State Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program and Mario Bulfamante & Sons Landscaping, has equipped volunteers with the skills to tackle invasive plants head-on.
During a brief workshop, participants gathered inside the Library to learn from Haven Colgate, founder of the Hastings Vine Squad and Chair of the Hastings-on-Hudson Conservation Commission, and Anna Simonsen-Meehan, initiator of the Pelham Vine Squad. They taught attendees how to identify common invasive plants and introduced special tools for their removal and management.
Armed with newfound knowledge, tools, and a safety briefing, volunteers took their efforts outdoors.They crossed the street to start work on a .25 acre plot of public land at an ecologically and culturally significant intersection of the Hutchinson River where Pelham, Pelham Manor, and Mt. Vernon meet, and hundreds of residents and school children pass every day.
Why does the Pelham Vine Squad want to manage invasive plant species? The Pelhams are part of the Hutchinson River and Long Island Sound watershed and their health depends on the actions of residents. Invasive plants:
- Displace native plants reducing biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
- Weaken water infiltration, contributing to stormwater pollution and flooding.
- Raise municipal and homeowner landscape care costs and devalue property.
- Destroy recreational opportunities.
Once invasive species management takes hold, the goal will be to restore the land to a healthy ecosystem and mitigate the effects of climate change by planting native plants. As Colgate noted during the presentation, community-led efforts like this not only save trees and restore nature, but also build community resilience, provide exercise and fresh air for volunteers, combat eco despair, and are a lot of fun.
The Pelham Vine Squad will hold its first volunteer opportunity Saturday, November 16th, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (meet by Pelham Library parking lot) and will meet approximately every other Saturday. For more information and to share ideas, email: [email protected]
The Pelham Vine Squad is made possible with the support from the Junior League of Pelham Community Grants.
The Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel), established in 2013, is a grassroots, not-for-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to providing environmental information and education to the Pelham community. EcoPel raises awareness about sustainable practices that protect our environment, and also provides resources and mobilizes the community to support environmental initiatives and policies locally and globally. Over the past decade EcoPel has served as a trusted umbrella body for interested groups and individuals within the villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor with environmental goals. We have supported community trash cleanups, food scrap recycling, healthy yard leaf management practices, bicycle safety awareness campaigns, pollinator garden tours, native plant garden workshops, and ecosystem restoration in parks, schools, and along public right of ways. Learn more about EcoPel on Instagram: @ecopelny or at ecopel.org
