Pulling for the Planet: Join Us to Combat Invasive Buckthorn and See a Forest Regeneration Project in Action

Saturday, September 12 from 10am-12pm

Kick off Sustainable Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week with Winnakee! Join us on our Clermont property to learn how forest regeneration and invasive species management work together as real, hands-on climate solutions.

Healthy forests are one of our best defenses against climate change. They store carbon, support biodiversity, and buffer local ecosystems from extreme weather. But that resilience depends on what’s growing beneath the canopy. Invasive plants like buckthorn crowd out native species, degrade soil health, and weaken a forest’s ability to regenerate and sequester carbon over time. Removing these invasive species is critical for the forests of tomorrow and an important piece of climate action.

This event is a chance to see that work in practice and learn the techniques to remove invasive buckthorn, a highly invasive shrub threatening our forests. We will start with an introduction to the invasive species management strategies underway on our newly protected 140-acre property (read more about it here), understand why buckthorn removal matters for long-term forest health, and then get your hands dirty helping us pull it out.

Come learn how restoring native ecosystems is climate work, leave having done some yourself and then take home the skills to do this at home.

Please wear weather appropriate clothing, closed-toe shoes, and socks you can tuck pants into. Be prepared for insects and ticks. Please bring a reusable water bottle. We will provide any tools and gloves you may need.