On Saturday, the City of Evanston’s North Shore Channel Habitat Project brought together city staff and community volunteers to begin work in Twiggs Park. Volunteers from of the YMCA Camp Echo Alumni network, Twiggs Park Neighbors for Peace Block Club, Twiggs Community Garden, and Evanston TreeKeepers worked with Ladd Arboretum stewards and a city crew led by forester Matt Basile and Rich Richter.
Saturday’s mission was to remove weedy and invasive trees from the land between the outlook and the channel. Utilizing mainly loppers and saws, volunteers helped clear away buckthorn, Norway maple, and bush honeysuckle. Brush went into a chipper, filling almost two trucks with mulch, which will be applied to the area in order to inhibit regrowth.
The result: a view of the North Shore Channel and banks of the Ladd Arboretum has been restored, and the area is one step closer to being ready for replanting in October with native trees and shrubs. The positive attitude and excitement everyone brought to Saturday’s event also made it clear that, although much work remains to be done, the community is committed to restoring and expanding native habitat for the enjoyment of migrating birds, pollinators, and the people of Evanston. — Vince Ziols
Photo courtesy Matt Basile. Vince Ziols, summer intern with the City of Evanston, orients some of the volunteers at the July 15 clearing.
