Practice “socially-distant stewardship” at Melvin C Hazen Park bamboo cleanups this month

Rock Creek Conservancy is in what it calls “socially-distant stewardship mode.” That doesn’t mean its work has stopped. This month, the group is inviting volunteers to help attack a stand of invasive bamboo in the western section of Melvin C Hazen Park.

“Bamboo is an aggressive invasive plant that can overtake wildlife habitats and out-compete native plant species,” the Conservancy says. And this bamboo is growing in a “mini-oasis” – one of five spots where Rock Creek Conservancy is focusing its invasives removal and native species restoration work.

The mini-oasis in the western part of Melvin C Hazen Park. (image courtesy of Rock Creek Conservancy)

From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 11th, Volunteers will cut remove, remove and haul bamboo out of the mini-oasis. And on July, 15th, 16th and 18th, they’ll do it again. You can sign up to help on the Conservancy’s events page.

The removal of other invasive species in the mini-oasis requires closer supervision – as in, too close to maintain six feet of distance from volunteers who need help identifying invaders and beneficial native species. So those events are on hold. To prevent invasive plants from taking over in the meantime, the Conservancy brought in a crew last week from Ecological Restoration and Management to cut and chemically treat the invaders.

Rock Creek Conservancy hopes to welcome volunteers back to the mini-oasis in the fall – health guidelines permitting – to plant native species. Keep an eye on the Conservancy’s events calendar.