Volunteers needed to clear vines at Greenwich Point Park

GREENWICH — The Friends of Greenwich Point are joining forces with the town Department of Parks and Recreation to eliminate the invasive vines growing in the forested areas of Greenwich Point Park.

Volunteers are needed for this effort, which will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. The cleanup crew will meet in the Cow Barn parking lot across from the boatyard.

“Many hands are needed” to complete the work, organizers said, with the group seeking volunteers of all ages to get involved.

Mark De Riemer, a director at the Friends of Greenwich Point, said a similar event was held in October, with nearly 50 volunteers, including members of the Boy Scouts.

“This is something that has been done irregularly and we want to make it something that’s done annually,” De Riemer said.

Volunteers must wear masks even though the work will be done outdoors, organizers said. Participants should also wear work gloves and bring their own tools, including clippers, loppers and small saws to clear the vines, as well as a water bottle.

The work is important, De Riemer said, because the invasive vines pose a danger to trees. The goal is to preserve the health of the park’s trees, which are feeding and nesting spots for birds and owls. They also improve the overall environment at the seaside park.

“Invasive vines can do a lot of damage,” De Riemer said. “They can smother trees and strangle them in a way that deprives them of food and light.”