Lop buckthorn brush and enjoy a supporter social hour at Vermillion Falls Park
The waterfall at Vermillion Falls Park (Photo by Tom Reiter for FMR)
Vermillion Falls Park features a stunning waterfall and striking limestone gorges. It's also home to unique plants such as kittentails, a state-threatened oak savanna species, and walking fern, which grows on moss-covered rocks in the park's moist forest.
From 6-8 p.m. at this event, volunteers will lop small, seedling-sized buckthorn (3 feet and shorter) in an effort to exhaust the buckthorn seed bank and allow more light to reach native grass seedlings. We've been managing buckthorn in this work area for several years, and establishing grasses is the next step in the restoration process to prevent re-invasion. We may take on other tasks at this event, including prairie maintenance, if we find the buckthorn seedling cover is not as vigorous as anticipated.
Volunteers are also invited to join us at an FMR supporter social hour at the Vermillion Falls Park picnic pavilion starting at 4:30 p.m., just before our volunteer event kicks off. The social hour will feature light refreshments and opportunities to meet FMR staff and other supporters. Social hour guests can opt to take a short interpretive walk on the paved trail with FMR Ecologist Leah Weston to learn more about our restoration efforts at Vermillion Falls Park and what makes this site special.
All are welcome, but capacity for both the social hour and the volunteer event is limited, and registration is required. As always, we will provide all tools and training for volunteers, and volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and comfort level.
Accessibility
Volunteers will access work areas via a short paved pedestrian and bike trail. During the event, volunteers will traverse sloped terrain off the trail and may have to walk through tall grasses or wooded areas with some fallen logs, branches and dense vegetation. Lopping and hauling buckthorn is a medium-to-higher-intensity activity. Volunteers are encouraged to take breaks and work at their own pace. Portable restrooms are available at the Vermillion Falls Park parking lot.
Ready to register?
Please use the form below to register. You can opt to register for only the supporter social from 4:30-6 p.m., only the volunteer event from 6-8 p.m., or both events. If you have questions or concerns, contact us at volunteer@fmr.org or 651.477.0925.
If you're under 18 and interested in volunteering without the company of your parent or guardian, please take a moment and have them fill out this brief minor permission form before the event.
Can't make it?
To receive notices of future volunteer events, contact us at volunteer@fmr.org or sign up for our enewsletter. You can always visit our events calendar for our most up-to-date listing of upcoming events.
The City of Hastings, the Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Hastings Environmental Protectors and donors like you!