Events

Get your boots, gloves and loppers ready, and join us for the first Weed Wrangle of 2025! We plan for this to be the first of many Weed Wrangles this year focused on reviving native plants and habitats on Chapman Mountain. This event will be open to the public, and the sign-up sheet will be forthcoming. This event is 16+

Chapman Mountain Weed Wrangle

The Land Trust of North Alabama (LTNA) and Wild Ones North Alabama (WONA) are joining forces to organize a community “Weed Wrangle” at the LTNA’s Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve. As stated on the Weed Wrangle website, “a Weed Wrangle® is a one-day, area-wide, volunteer effort to help rescue our public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive plants through hands-on removal of especially harmful trees, vines, and flowering plants. Supervised by an expert in invasive weed management, Weed Wrangle® volunteers learn, practice and begin a habit of maintaining an area free of non-native invasive plants and encourage replanting with natives in removal areas. 

The Chapman Mountain Weed Wrangle will primarily target bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii and Lonicera fragrantissima), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and English ivy (Hedera helix). Once you’ve experienced a Weed Wrangle, you’ll be removing these plants as well as Nandina, Mahonia, Callery Pear, Vinca, Winter Creeper, Liriope and Tree of Heaven from your yard. While the journey to get these invasive plants under control is a long and arduous one, it’s one on which we must embark together.

The Chapman Mountain Weed Wrangle will begin with a brief training to introduce volunteers to the principles of invasive plant identification and control. Volunteers will cut and stump treat the target invasive plants to reduce the likelihood of re-emergence. Trained volunteers will patrol the work areas to assist with plant identification and proper control technique. The primary goal of the Weed Wrangle is to teach participants the art of “learning to see” invaded vs native landscapes and the impact that gardening decisions have on our natural areas. 

Approximately 80% of invasive plants were introduced by the horticultural trade and have spread from gardens to public lands. Invasive plants were selected for insect and disease resistance, and their rampant growth results from the absence of biological controls that were present in their native homelands. Invasive plants disrupt energy flows in ecosystems and significantly reduce the available food supply for birds, specialist pollinators and other declining wildlife populations. 

Volunteers should expect vigorous physical activity during the Weed Wrangle and should wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and pants and bring a hat, gardening gloves, eye protection, bug spray and garden tools (loppers, pruning saws, clippers). Specialty tools and buckthorn blasters will also be provided by LTNA. 

Event Details:

Who: Anyone 16+What: Chapman Mountain “Weed Wrangle” (invasive plant removal)When: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PMWhere: Chapman Mountain Nature PreserveVolunteers needed: 30-40

About Wild Ones North Alabama
Wild Ones North Alabama is a local chapter of the national Wild Ones organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes natural landscaping and the use of native plants to support biodiversity. The chapter works to educate the community about sustainable landscaping practices and the importance of native plants for local ecosystems.

About Land Trust of North Alabama

Land Trust of North Alabama is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving natural lands, water resources, and wildlife habitat in ten counties of North Alabama with over 10,000 acres currently protected. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy outdoor adventure on 80+ miles of free public trails on ten public nature preserves. The Land Trust also provides environmental education programs and guided hikes to encourage future stewards and connect people with nature.