BEDFORD — Community members are invited to roll up their sleeves next week to help save the mature trees at Otis Park from aggressive, tree-strangling vines.
A local “Weed Wrangle” event is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Volunteers will meet in front of the Otis Park Golf Course, located at 607 Tunnelton Road.
Many of the large, established trees on the golf course are currently being smothered by wintercreeper—an invasive vine that forms a thick ground cover and aggressively climbs tree trunks. If left unmanaged, the vines can heavily degrade and eventually kill the trees.
The hands-on event will give participants a chance to learn how to identify wintercreeper, understand the ecological damage it causes, and master removal techniques that homeowners can also apply to yards or woodlots.
What Volunteers Need to Know
- What to Bring: Volunteers are encouraged to bring garden gloves and loppers if they have them.
- What to Wear: Long pants, long sleeves, socks, and sturdy shoes are required for safety and protection while working outdoors.
- Hydration: While cold water will be provided on-site, participants are welcome to bring their own water as well.
The event is co-sponsored by the Bedford Parks Department and Lawrence County Keep Invasives in Check, a local organization dedicated to promoting the awareness, identification, control, and prevention of invasive plant species.
For questions or additional information, residents can contact the Lawrence County SWCD at 812-279-8117, ext. 3.
