Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust: Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Invasive Plant Removal at Hellen Creek
    For those interested in our native plants, the term invasive plant is probably a familiar one. The most notorious historical example in America has been the oriental vine Kudzu. Brought in by the U.S. Agricultural Department for erosion control and animal fodder this quick growing plant spread rapidly throughout the south.

    Once out of its native habitat, some species have no predator to slow them down. Kudzu is certainly a good example. Alien species can and often do out compete their native counter parts. To combat the loss of native species, groups like Maryland Native Plant Society and Sierra Club have been sponsoring invasive plant removal days at various parks.

    Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust has completed the fifth year of its five-year invasive removal plan. Several sections of the Hellen Creek Preserve have had wineberry, tree of heaven, multiflora rose, and Japanese knotweed removed. Native wildflowers and shrubs have been planted in some of these locations. The effort will continue with monitoring and new sections to be worked. We have also uncovered some large trash middens near Clifton drive and at the end of Hellen Creek Trail.

Trail Work

The Trust has explored ways to connect the adjacent TNC Hemlock preserve to Hellen Creek’s tail system. Until legal agreements to pass over ownership are completed, this property remains inaccessible. A grant from the American Hiking Society to repair stairs to Hellen Creek was completed in 2005. Carpenter bees inhabited the railings in 2009 and new lumber was purchased to replace the bee abodes (they really can hollow out a 2x4). We took advantage of the work to replace pine posts with locust. They old rails were cut to make new nosing for some of the stairs as well.

Earth Day on the Square and PRAD
The fourth Sunday in April generally marks the annual Earth Day on the Square in Leonardtown celebration.. The Trust has been in attendance since 2004 sponsoring the very popular live Birds of Prey display. Our other major outreach eefort is at Patuxent River Appreciation Days on Columbus Day weekend in Solomons. In cooperation with the Southern Calvert Land Trust we donate trees to the attendees. In the past two years we have donated dozens of sweetbay magnolia, viburnum, redbud, and Virginia sweet spire to be planted in yards throughout Southern Maryland

Environmental Education Outreach

The Trust has been providing programming to the local schools, scouts, and adult educational venues for the past five years. In addition to after school programs in Calvert and St. Mary’s County, the Trust has provide technical assistance, donated supplies, provided manpower, and funded several “green school” project in Calvert County. Cooperation with Chespax and Maryland Summer Camp are other venues to spread our message of environmental stewardship. If you have a school group, club, scout troop, day care, home owners association or other venue that would be interested in learning more about the Bay and the creatures that inhabit it, contact our Executive Director at 410-39401300 or by e-mail at cpnht@comcast.net.

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