We have transformed one of our four mitigation monitoring sites, planted with native plants, into an outdoor public space.
We chose the Upper Meadow Buffer to become our open-to-the-public Native Plant Garden. This space was originally a large patch of invasive blackberries that a series of volunteer work parties over the years has worked to clear and maintain.
Here’s a work party in February 2020 continuing to clear out invasive species and caring for our native plants.
Native Plants list
updated.
Native Plant Garden Milestones
March 11, 2017 – Blackberries and other invasive plants removed/cleared by a work party sponsored by Brio Laundry and supported by local volunteers.
April 28th, 2017 – In preparation for the pending mitigation for Phase TWO of our Trail & Wetland Boardwalk project, we installed Native Plants in this newly cleared area adjacent to the abandoned trail from Fairhaven Park, leading into the “Hundred Acre Wood”.
2019 – We installed a r Public Park Bench and Garden Gate
2020 – Continued clearing of invasive species and care for native plants by volunteers.
2021 – Idea morphs to transform this space into an Outdoor Classroom zone with Native Plant Identification signs.
2022 – Spring Fundraising campaign to support this project kicks off! We plan to install Native Plant Identification signs to help educate the public as part of our new Outdoor Classroom project. See sample:
Composting Weeds Onsite
Bellingham Parks chose Recreation Northwest to pilot this approach in 2021 when we cleared the blackberry patch at the intersection into the Hundred Acre Woods. This is the space that will become our Outdoor Classroom amphitheater. We use this document to guide us. Download the Composting Weeds Onsite PDF.
