Community Spaces, Natural PlacesFebruary 2008 |
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The Community Spaces, Natural Places were free workshops and field training events for residents of Pennsylvania in the White Clay Creek. The event was sponsored by the White Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic River Program, in partnership with London Grove, London Britain, Franklin, and New Garden Townships. The workshop presentations, led by local horticulture and watershed experts, provided informative take-home resource materials. WHY COMMUNITY SPACES, NATURAL PLACES?Rationale: Eighty to ninety percent of the open space in the White Clay Creek watershed is privately owned. Much of that is owned by homeowners, either individually, or jointly through designated homeowner associations. Stream health and water quality are being impacted by stormwater runoff and its pollutants associated with many common landscaping practices. In addition habitat loss, the proliferation of invasive species, and ecosystem degradation are widely recognized in our region as major factors in the decline of native plant and animal populations. Most residents have little knowledge of the importance of habitat restoration or possess the needed expertise to deal with restoring or managing natural landscapes. This program was an outreach to homeowner groups to encourage native landscaping for their individual and community-managed open spaces. The workshop helped communities create plans for the design and management of their open space to eliminate the cost of mowing and maintaining turf grass while helping to beautify the community, protect drinking water supply, restore wildlife habitat, and reduce the spread of invasive plants. Overview workshops were offered to provide information on the outstanding resources of White Clay Creek Watershed, a National Wild and Scenic River. Homeowners also learned how they can help protect those resources and:
FIELD TRAINING
WORKSHOP AGENDA
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Two field training events were offered follwoing the workshop to train residents to identify invasive plants and techniquies for mangaging them. Mary Ellen Taylor, Landscape Designer, and Glenn Zelluck, White Clay Creek State Park Grounds Management Foreman led the two events at the future London Britain Township Park and the White Clay Creek State Park Chambers House Nature Center. .