Saturday along the RecPath

 Saturday was a good morning along the RecPath.  We met at Shelton Intermediate School, discussed cutting brush and invasive species and headed out.  Some went down to Pine Lake and worked W..  Some headed East from Constitution Boulevard.  The trails were very busy and we ran into a lot of very happy customers.

These guys were great and obviously having a lot of fun.  I think we might have some future trails volunteers here by the look of their checking out the power tools.  There were a lot, lot, lot of families out enjoying the RecPath on Saturday.  It was nice to see.

There was a big patch of Japanese knotweed growing along the East side of Meadow Street that was crowding the RecPath.  Above is a photo near the start of the work party.  I say "was" because it's not there anymore.

It's a lot clearing now.  Trouble is, Japanese knotweed is a VERY persistent invasive species, and it can only be controlled with a lot of repeated cutting and/or herbicide.  We cut what we can, but the City should probably put a bounty on the stuff.  

Along with other invasives like garlic mustard, mugwort, and burning bush.  We could really use neighbors to try to cut this stuff along roadsides where they see it.

One reason the invasive species need to be cut back is to allow native species like Jack-in-the-pulpet, or Cinnamon fern to survive.

 

The Wheeler St. access by the Senior Center & Police Station was cleared out, as was the RecPath to Constitution Blvd., and the Shelton Intermediate School trail. 

All in all it was a productive, and surprisingly hot morning.  It got up to 90 degrees later in the day.  Much too early in the year for that stuff.

So thanks from the Shelton Trails Committee to all our volunteers: Ellen, Betsey, Ralph, Ralph, Bob, Terry, Mark, & Bill.