LLCT’s summer interns Andrew and Graham were busy as bees this summer, despite persistent rain in June and heat in July! Summer stewardship work is an important part of conservation, as LLCT advances land management goals, keeps invasive plants at bay, and makes sure that trails are in good condition. Some highlights include:
- Invasive Water Chestnut removal from Beaver Pond
- Invasive Buckthorn, Bittersweet, and Burning Bush removal from Pierce Hill and Beaver Pond land
- People for Pollinators Meadow maintenance
- Trail Improvements in collaboration with Town Conservation
New this year, Andrew and Graham experimented with “buckthorn baggies” to prevent regrowth of invasive plants. Essentially the baggie prevents re-sprouting by blocking light to the stump. LLCT will be checking on these baggies next summer to see if they worked!
At the PFP Meadow, Andrew and Graham watered newly planted pollinator-friendly shrubs, and prepped a new plot for swamp milkweed plugs. Andrew led a group of Lincoln Summer Campers, who volunteered to plant the 50 plugs. By the end of the summer, we saw tons of monarch caterpillars in this new plot. Graham and Andrew also mowed the meadow’s paths and helped keep the mower in tip-top shape.
Throughout the summer, both interns collaborated with Town Conservation on trail maintenance projects. A special thank you to Stacy Carter and Emma Coates for leading many of these projects! Together, they rebuilt one of the bridges at Beaver Pond, improved trails around Osborne, and installed water bars at Pine Hill, preventing erosion on the steep trails.
We are so grateful that Andrew and Graham were able to intern with LLCT this summer, and we applaud their hard work and enthusiasm!
