Spring Honeysuckle Cutting on the Side of the Hill Day

The woods we cut in today have been degraded by years of honeysuckle growth but there are two other reasons for clearing invasives here. One is that the fen below is still in fairly good shape and the honeysuckle was so thick that it was hard to get to the fen or to see it to be inspired. The other is that if the fen is cleared but the hill above is covered with invasives, the invasives can come back in. Honeysuckle doesn't usually grow in wet areas and buckthorn usually doesn't grow in dry areas but we did cut some buckthorn on the hill today and there is honeysuckle on the fen-forest interface. Multi-flora rose, which we cut some of today, grows vigorously in both habitats. Long term, getting rid of the honeysuckle allows native trees, shrubs, and flowers to regenerate. The fen that we cleared access to is south of the volunteer area. During the regular work season we will work north from the volunteeer area to eventually link up with the crew working south. Today's piece of the fen will be worked on piecemeal in the winter. Last year we didn't get to it at all and this year half a dozen clumps of buckthorn have been cleared so far. It will be the top priority in the few weeks before garlic mustard season starts in a few weeks. It would be nice to burn this area on the same day that we burn the volunteer unit to knock back the dogwood. No burn is scheduled here this year but in a few years when the volunteer unit recovers further we could have a good one.