Volunteers sought for invasives removal at nature site

Join the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to help remove invasive species at the Castle Park Nature Reserve from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 11.

Last year, volunteers collected nine bags of invasive garlic mustard over three hours.

Park on the sides of South Audubon Street and meet at the entrance to Dune Pines Nature Preserve, 4574 S. Audubon St., and the group will walk together to Castle Park Nature Reserve.

The Castle Park Reserve, established in 2003, protects nearly 400 feet of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline in a designated critical dune area, according to the conservancy’s website, naturenearby.org. Together with Dune Pines Nature Preserve, 4574 S. Audubon St., and an adjacent privately held conservation easement, Castle Park Reserve is part of a natural area that protects more than 50 acres of lakeshore habitat.

For more information, visit the Land Conservancy of West Michigan here.

The event is free but register through the site.

Invasive control

The invasive removals at the Castle Park Reserve are not coordinated by the township.

Laketown Township contracts with the Outdoor Discovery Center Network for management of invasive species throughout the year on township property.

The Outdoor Discovery Center will work on invasives including poison hemlock, autumn olive, Japanese knotweed, and Asian bittersweet.