Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, college students, and neighborhood homeowners pulled invasive plants every Saturday and Sunday in October primarily pachysandra, from a section of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail off Miller Heights Road in Oakton. Invasive plants are non-native, aggressive plants that cause ecological or economic harm and degrade our natural ecosystem.
Approximately 5,000 square feet of an invasive plant on the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail
According to www.connectionnewspapers.com, "Ninety-nine volunteers worked 210 hours to remove 85 bags of invasive plants from the parkland. The goal was to replace the pachysandra with native plants and trees. Volunteers planted white wood aster, hairy bush clover, American alumroot, trailing bush clover, dwarf cinquefoil, pussytoes, arrowleaf violet, common woodrush, Pennsylvania sedge, bluestem, goldenrod, arrowwood viburnum, witch hazel, hazelnut trees, ironwood trees, and redbud trees.
A scout created this plan for this project in order to earn the BSA Hornaday Badge. This award was created by Dr. William T. Hornaday, who was a conservationist and is a prestigious award that requires a Scout to lead a conservation project, complete several merit badges, and meet rank requirements. By successfully completing this project, the scouts are one step closer to earning the Boy Scout Hornaday Badge."
Maryam N. is a Senior Writer at Nesbitt Realty. She is an expert on Fairfax County. Maryam has also worked previously as a geologist. She is a foodie and enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants.
