Volunteer Days: Shrub Thicket Management at the Reserve

Shrub thickets are a type of successional forest that provide important habitats for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Their density and lowness to the ground offer shelter for small- to medium-sized birds and mammals. Over time, taller trees can encroach upon a shrub thicket, creating shade that causes the thicket to disappear along with the important habitat it provides.

From September 29th through October 3rd from 9am-4pm (dates/times flexible each day), we are looking for a few volunteers to help manually remove seedlings, saplings, and trees in order to save an existing shrub thicket of highbush blueberry and cinnamon fern at the Van Scott Nature Reserve. The task involves the navigation of dense brush on mostly level ground. Volunteers must be comfortable using pruners and handsaws provided by the Reserve to remove woody growth.

Interested in volunteering, or have questions? Please email Rachel Morrow at rachel@delawarehighlands.org or call 570-226-3164 ext. 2 or 845-583-1010 ext. 2 to sign up.