Halloween Restoration Workbee at Chippewa Run’s Beaver Pond

Gallagher’s cider and donuts may entice you to join this Halloween restoration project along the beaver pond trail where we will be planting a variety of native shrubs specifically selected for their benefits to birds and wildlife. Chippewa Run is home to a vibrant bird community and offers an ideal stop-over for migrating species. Invasive autumn olive, honeysuckle and buckthorn have choked out native flora along the scenic beaver pond and upland hill trail disrupting invertebrate food chains and habitat. We will be planting native shrub species that offer a food source, nesting materials and insects for birds to bolster the pond edge habitat. We will also be installing wire fencing to protect our new plantings from deer and small mammal browse, which is a critical step toward ensuring their future survival. Tasks will be slightly strenuous including digging holes, planting medium-size shrubs, clearing invasive brush and installing wire fencing. Please come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for cold weather work and potential rain among vegetation and on uneven terrain. We will meet in the Chippewa Run NA parking lot along M-22 S Leelanau Highway just north of Empire, MI. Happy Halloween!