The Bainbridge Island Land Trust and Let’s Pull Together, an Island initiative dedicated to the eradication of Scotch broom, are joining forces to encourage the community to remove invasive plant species from their gardens and landscapes during the month of April.
Each Sunday in April between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Bainbridge residents will be able to dispose of their invasive plant material at the Bainbridge Transfer Station on Vincent Road and the land trust and Let’s Pull Together will cover the cost of disposal. (The typical rate for yard waste disposal is $15 per yard.)
Organizers of the effort note that invasive plants are generally extremely adaptable species that can spread rapidly and displace native plant species which provide shelter, food and other resources for native wildlife and are critical components of healthy ecosystems.
The removal of invasive plants is a high environmental priority for several Island organizations.
A full list of invasives — including Scotch Broom, English holly, English ivy and Himalayan blackberry — that can be disposed of for free during April, along with links to best management practices for removal and control, can be found on the land trust website at www.bi-landtrust.org.
Weed wrenches will be available for daily use during the month of April. Contact Let’s Pull Together coordinator Max Gordinier, stopschotchbroom@gmail.com, to reserve a wrench for larger removal projects.
The Land Trust, Let’s Pull Together and Weed Warriors will be hosting a kick-off work party from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1 at Hilltop, where participants can gain hands-on experience identifying and removing a variety of invasive plants.
To RSVP, contact Sinclair Ball of the land trust at sinclair@bi-landtrust.org.
For more information about these and other events taking place during the month of April, visit www.bi-landtrust.org.
The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and stewarding the diverse natural environment of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all. Let’s Pull Together-Bainbridge Scotch Broom Control is an initiative of Sustainable Bainbridge serving to coordinate community efforts to rid Bainbridge of invasive Scotch broom.
