Back to Nature at Crestwood Park: Fall Honeysuckle Events

After two successful events in the Spring, as a part of our Operation Wild Lands (OWLs) program, The Open Space Council is partnering again with the City of Crestwood’s Beautification Committee’s #Back2Nature Project to remove the invasive Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) shrub from Crestwood Park.

Why Honeysuckle?

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is one of the most destructive invasive species in the St. Louis region. It negatively impacts native plant diversity, forest health, and local wildlife. Incredibly adapted to our region, this invasive species can quickly dominate St. Louis parks, trails, and neighborhoods, negatively impacting human health and recreation when left unchecked. The Open Space Council is proud to support Crestwood and its community by aiding in removing this invasive shrub.

Event Details

We have two dates set for this opportunity, September 24th and November 12th, and volunteers are invited to sign up for one or both events.

The annual OSC liability waiver must be signed and approved before a volunteer can register for this opportunity. When registering through our volunteer portal, you will be prompted to sign a virtual waiver.

Check-in will begin at 8:45 am. Further instructions and a reminder will be sent out the week before each event. In the case of inclement weather, this event will be canceled and potentially rescheduled for a later date.

The removal method for this event will be to cut the plant using loppers and/or handsaws before treating it with herbicide. Long sleeves and pants are recommended. Tools and supplies will be provided.

September 24th specific details:

This volunteer opportunity is family-friendly and open to all ages. Must be 18 years or older to handle herbicide. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

After the volunteer work day, the City of Crestwood will be hosting an outreach event at the park that includes a food truck and nature-themed scavenger hunt. Partnering organizations will also be on hand to share details about the habitat restoration efforts currently underway at the park. Volunteers are encouraged to attend and celebrate their contributions to the community. The event will run from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

November 12th specific details:

Due to the steepness of creek banks, this event is not recommended to those with limited mobility. Registration is limited to ages 12 & up. Must be 18 years or older to handle herbicide. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

MDC Back To Nature StL Grant

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) works with and for communities to sustain healthy fish, forests, and wildlife. One of the ways it does this is by offering funding for conservation-friendly projects in St. Louis area parks through a unique partnership and funding opportunity: The Back to Nature StL Grant. This grant program supports terrestrial and aquatic habitat improvement in urban area parks, encouraging partnerships for supporting community conservation efforts, native habitat restoration and long-term natural landscape management, and engaging the public through conservation education and volunteer opportunities.

The City of Crestwood was recently awarded this grant through the MDC Back To Nature StL program to conduct various habitat restoration projects at Crestwood Park, including invasive species removal, stream restoration, woodland enhancement, and prairie savanna wetland, and pollinator gardens.

Learn More!

We are looking forward to this series of events and encourage participants to share pictures on social media using the #Back2Nature and #MDCDiscoverNature!

Can’t make these events, or can’t get enough of volunteering with us? By creating a volunteer profile, you can use the platform to stay engaged with all our upcoming opportunities and programs. You can even become a ‘fan’ of our Operation Wild lands program to stay up-to-date on restoration volunteer events such as the Crestwood events. Check out our other programs such as Operation Clean Stream, Trash Bash, and Community Stewardship Alliance!

Check back for upcoming volunteer opportunities or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get more updates.