Twin Lakes Invasive Cleanup

Not every restoration project involves garbage bags.

At Twin Lakes, the Hutchinson River Restoration Project partnered with the Westchester Parks Foundation on an invasive species removal project focused on restoring native habitat along the waterway.

Volunteers worked together to cut back invasive plants that were crowding out native vegetation and threatening the health of the ecosystem. Removing invasive species is a critical part of restoration work because it helps protect biodiversity and creates healthier habitats for wildlife, pollinators, and native plants to thrive. Restoration is about more than removing trash it is also about helping ecosystems recover and regain balance.

A huge thank you to Mary Benjamin and the Westchester Parks Foundation for leading this incredible event and sharing their knowledge with volunteers. Participants learned how to identify several invasive plant species and the best methods for removing and controlling them.

Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, volunteers helped save many trees from being overtaken by invasive vines and protected acres from further spread. Events like this not only improve the health of the environment today, but also give volunteers the tools and knowledge to continue protecting these natural spaces in the future.

Thank you to Coffee Labs for providing burlap bags for this event.