Join FOPOS’s NEW Chestnut Care Team! Together, a team of FOPOS land stewards will help preserve the Mountain Lakes American Chestnut Tree population, a species currently threatened by the non-native chestnut blight fungus.
The planted chestnuts are part of a restoration project and are located within the deer enclosure of the 18-acre forest restoration project site at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve.
What: The Chestnut Care Team is a group of FOPOS volunteers focused on the Mountain Lakes American Chestnut population. During this series, we’ll learn more about this once-populous tree that produces the delicious nuts that many of us enjoy in the fall.
How: Join us for a chestnut-focused volunteer session! The kickoff session will focus on recovering the American Chestnut Leaf Sculpture created by local ecological artist Susan Hoenig. The sculpture has become overgrown, and we’ll get a chance to free it from invasive weeds while nurturing native plants located within the plot. The artist-in-residence, Susan Hoenig, will be present and you can read more about her work and this sculpture online.
Throughout these sessions, we will monitor the health of the local chestnut trees, learn how to ID the presence of blight, and help prevent the spread of blight. With your help, we can help preserve this American treasure for future generations!
When: This series kicks off on Saturday, October 28th with a follow-up session on Nov. 11th.