Students help remove invasive species
Ducks Unlimited site at Miners Marsh has several nonnative plants forcing out native species
Like whirling dervishes about 70 Grade 7 students from Kings County Academy descended on a patch of goutweed at Miners Marsh, a Ducks Unlimited site in the town.
Leaves flew and shovels dug into the ground as the students uprooted the invasive plant, one of several different species taking over sections of the site. In about half an hour they filled 26 garbage bags with the short, leafy plant from one area relatively small area.
Teacher Sheila Parsons said the Grade 7 science curriculum requires that students take on a project.
The students visited the marsh in the fall and saw what it looked like then, and took another trip earlier in the spring.
They were then visited by a member of the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council who talked about the different types of species that are not native and the troubles they can cause in the province.
“Once they had that presentation, they started to fit together what we’re trying to do here,” Parsons said. “Having the information really helped solidified their understanding of the project.
Kristen Noel of the invasive species council said goutweed originates in Europe and Asia.
“It does create quite a few issues. It creates just a big, dense monoculture, so nothing else can grow,” Noel said. “It’s like a carpet choking out native vegetation, so wherever we have goutweed we have a big decrease in biodiversity.
The students will return next week to plant native species in the patch they cleared out.
She said the organization has developed a “grow me instead” guide, which encourages gardeners and horticulturalists to stop planting common invasive ornamental plants and go with native alternatives instead.
Student Cillian Farrell said what the students are doing “is good work… We’re doing good for the environment, and we’re helping our community.”
He said he enjoys coming to the marsh and biking the trail, stopping to see the ducks and geese.
While he didn’t no that the goutweed specifically was an invasive plant before the visit from Noel, “but I knew there had to be some with all the plants.”
Some of the other plants that the students didn’t deal with Thursday include Japanese knotweed, which is much like bamboo, and a rose variety that are also causing problems at the marsh.
Gren Jones, the local representative for Duck Unlimited, said the help of the students is valuable.
“Invasive species are a nuisance right across the country,” he said. “This project came together really well.”
He said its about Ducks Unlimited forming partnerships with other groups – like the school and the invasive species council -- that can improve the landscape for birds.
“This marsh is pretty special in terms of being a popular spot for waterfowl and songbirds, and people just love to come here,” he said. “It’s pretty neat when you see a group of Grade 7 students be so enthusiastic about doing something good for the wetland.”
He said the goutweed had grown exponentially since last year when he and Noel first looked at it last year.
“It’s really difficult to get out, but with a little bit of luck we should be able to get enough of it out to at least slow it down. I’m sure this project will be long-term.”