Free-A-Tree Vine Cutting
Saw Mill River Coalition and
New York State Department of Transportation
Continue with “Free-A-Tree” project
in their battle against invasive vines
Vine Cutting Season will kick off again Sunday, November 8th
from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Meet at the usual spot on Farragut Ave. off the
Saw Mill Parkway. See "Free-A-Tree Schedule" for directions and additional information. Hope to see you there!
Future Vine-Cuttings (Same time, same place, different days):
Saturday, November 21st
Rain Date: Sunday, November 22
Sunday, December 6
Rain Date: Sunday, December 13
Saturday, January 9
Rain Date: Saturday, January 16
The Saw Mill River Coalition and the New York State Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, plan to continue to build on the initial success of their Free-A-Tree project, which supports volunteers in their efforts to remove the invasive vines that are strangling trees and shrubbery along the Saw Mill River.
Fast-growing, tenacious vines (see subheading on specific vines) are among the worst of the foreign plants that threaten to overwhelm local habitats. Oriental bittersweet and porcelainberry, the two most common invaders, crowd out native plants and slowly strangle trees in their upward spiral, eventually shrouding tree canopies from the sun and creating a blanket over under-story plants and shrubs. This significantly diminishes the value of wildlife habitat, in terms of food sources and nesting areas, and has a negative impact upon the number of species that use the river corridor. The Saw Mill River Coalition* and the DOT instituted this vine removal pilot project in November 2005 to rescue native vegetation, restore the stream buffer, and preserve the area’s biodiversity.
To volunteer or for more information please email free-a-tree@hotmail.com or call 914-375-2151. We will keep you informed about our activities in the winter and spring.
Among the community organizations who have participated are the Ardsley High School students, Hastings High School Environmental Club, College of Mount Saint Vincent students, Pleasantville Garden Club, Saw Mill River RATz, Bronx River Vine Cutters, Federated Conservationists of Westchester, Westchester Environmental Student Council, Hudson River Audubon Society, and many others.
*The Saw Mill River Coalition, a program of Groundwork Yonkers, is an alliance of municipalities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and others dedicated to revitalizing and protecting the Saw Mill River.
