Help create healthier habitats for Oakland County Parks

Help restore park land and understory for native spring flowers during Stewardship Day from 10 a.m.-noon April 23 at Wint Nature Center in Independence Oaks County Park, Clarkston. The focus will be hand pulling garlic mustard and motherwort. Join Natural Resources staff to learn what to look for and how to assist with efforts to pull the invasive garlic mustard and other invasive species in our parks.

You'll gain hands-on experience working on invasive species and habitat improvements while learning more about what OCCISMA and Oakland County Parks does to restore natural communities, why we manage invasive species, how we work to prevent future invasives and what we can do to reduce their impacts.

Other Stewardship Days are scheduled as follows:

• April 29 from 10 a.m.-noon at Lyon Oaks County Park in Wixom. The focus will be pulling garlic mustard.
• May 13 from 10 a.m.-noon at Waterford Oaks County Park. The focus will be pulling garlic mustard.
• May 27 from 10 a.m.-noon at Oak Park Woods in Oak Park. The focus will be pulling woody winter creeper and garlic mustard.
• June 2 from 10 a.m.-noon at Turtle Woods in Troy. The focus will be brush clearing and pulling periwinkle and garlic mustard.
• June 16 from 10 a.m.-noon at Oak Park Woods in Oak Park. The focus will be pulling woody winter creeper.

Please register online so organizers know how many volunteers to expect. Email Patrick Canniff at canniffp@oakgov.com with any questions about the events.

Details:

• Participants should expect to be off-trail on uneven ground
• Dress appropriately for the weather
• Bring a water bottle and boots/shoes that you don't mind getting muddy

Register Today!