Newtown Forest Association (NFA) hosted an Invasive Plants Task Force gathering at Holcombe Memorial Trail (Red Barn Property), 55 Great Hill Road, on April 9.

A group of environmentally conscious volunteers met up to continue the painstaking work of removing invasive plants, specifically the abundance of Burning Bush and Japanese Barberry.

Volunteers did everything by hand or by using equipment, and no harmful pesticides or chemicals were used.

Experts on-site included NFA Executive Director Trent McCann, Newtown Conservation Commission Chair Holly Kocet, and Protect Our Pollinators (POP) member Christine St Georges. They offered insight for how to properly identify and remove the invasive plants, and shared preventative techniques to keep them from growing back.

McCann told The Newtown Bee that the NFA is working to formalize its trail system and that the group would be focusing their efforts on removing invasive plants along White Trail.

At the previous Invasive Plants Task Force event, they had about a dozen people come out and clear roughly 300 feet of the trail. Their goal for the day was to continue from where they left off and remove as much Burning Bush and Japanese Barberry as possible.

McCann explained that invasive plants “are problematic, because they are fast growing and out-compete local species.”

They can also cause a loss of viable habitat for animals and impact the ecosystem on many levels.

Despite the negative effect that Burning Bush has on the environment, he said, the plant is still sold in nurseries, because it is considered aesthetically pleasing.

McCann shared that the group is removing the Burning Bush along the trail before it seeds and flowers to decrease its chances of spreading. The stumps that remain are then burned, so they do not grow back.

As for the Japanese Barberry, volunteers used a piece of equipment called a weed wrench to pull up the plant from its roots.

Kocet mentioned that Japanese Barberry is not only an invasive plant, but it also is problematic because it harbors ticks and mice.

In addition to removing invasive plants, the volunteers also left brush piles throughout the nature preserve, because they are beneficial for animals to have access to.

McCann acknowledged that while it is ultimately a “slow battle” to stop the spread of invasive plants, it is important for the public to understand that they can do their part to help.

He hopes people will participate in these NFA initiatives so that they know what to look for and can work to remove these plants where they live.

The next invasive plants removal event will take place at Holcombe Hill Wildlife Preserve on Saturday, May 14, at 1:30 pm, and will be with the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group.

For more information about the Newtown Forest Association, visit newtownforestassociation.org or call 203-270-3650.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.