Buckthorn Blast at Bay Shore Blufflands

(Left to right) Amanda Pyke, Tom Clay, Denise Hubbard, Ken Hubbard and Jeff Ottum were on hand for a grant presentation to the Door County Land Trust from the the Bay Shore Property Owners Association. The grant will be used for invasive species removal and restoration work at the Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve, south of Carlsville Road. Submitted.

The Door County Land Trust, in partnership with Bay Shore Property Owners Association, begins a multi-year restoration and buckthorn eradication effort on the Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve, 5454 Bay Shore Drive, just south of Carlsville Road (between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor). The Bay Shore Blufflands Buckthorn Blast will kick-off Sept. 1, 9:30 – 11:30 am, as a community gathering open to the public with short presentations on invasive species and the unique geology of the preserve, educational giveaways, several hikes throughout the morning and recruitment of stewardship volunteers.

Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve protects 273 acres containing federally endangered plants, migratory bird nesting sites and high-quality wildlife habitat, and offers 2.5 miles of hiking trails that wind through open fields and young forest. Past disruption to the natural environment from roads, buildings and septic tanks has done its damage and created the opportunity for non-native, invasive intruders such as glossy buckthorn to take over.

Door County Land Trust Stewardship Manager Amanda Pyke said, “I always tell our volunteers why we are doing the work we are doing – why we are on our hands and knees pulling weeds. Everything is connected. Every action has a reaction. We have a long-term commitment to steward our lands to protect our exceptional lands and waters forever. As a community conservation project, the Buckthorn Blast creates a sense of place as we see we are making a significant difference in the landscape to the benefit of native species.”

Funding for this project is provided by the Bay Shore Property Owners Association and Door County Land Trust with a Land Trust Excellence & Advancement Partnership (LEAP) grant from the Land Trust Alliance and Gathering Waters.

For more information visit doorcountylandtrust.org.