Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust To Host Landscape Management Workshop

The Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust is hosting a workshop on land stewardship issues on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Historic Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy and others estimate that the annual cost of invasive plants and animals to the U.S. economy is $120 billion a year, with over 100 million acres (an area roughly the size of California) suffering from invasive plant infestations.

Compounding the problem is that these harmful invaders spread at astonishing rates. Such infestations of invasive plants and animals can negatively affect property values, agricultural productivity, water quality, public utility operations, tourism, outdoor recreation, and the overall health of ecosystems.

Kentucky and Louisville have their share of invasive plants which are evident essentially anywhere there is a patch of dirt – parks, school yards, street and highway rights-of-way, private yards, and vacant lots. The workshop will take a look at the problem and how various agencies, nonprofit organizations and individuals are addressing it.

Who should attend this workshop?
“Whether the land you care about is a small residential yard in the city, a suburban lawn, a working farm, a scenic estate or a public park, chances are there are invasive plants that detract from the ecological and historic integrity of the land. It can be a daunting task to tackle an invasive plant removal and landscape restoration project. This workshop will give you the resources, knowledge and inspiration to get started,” said Lisa Hite, planning manager for Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation.

Speakers will report on the latest research, lessons learned and future plans for invasive plant management, ecological restoration, healthy tree canopy and historic landscape management in Louisville’s Olmsted Parks, Locust Grove, the Jefferson Memorial Forest and other Metro Parks and Recreation Natural Areas, Bernheim  Arboretum and Research Forest, the Parklands of Floyds Fork, Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve, the Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Historic Preserve in Clark County as well as several private properties.

All sessions will include discussion and practical considerations for landowners who have questions about how to improve their own piece of the earth or those who want to help the on-going work in public parks and preserves.

Cost of the workshop is $35 for regular attendees and $15 for students and includes a box lunch. Reservations are required by January 30. To download the registration form, click here. Please call (502) 574-PARK (7275) or e-mail brandi.hornbuckle@louisvilleky.gov for more information.