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Aton Forest // PO Box 509 // Norfolk, CT 06058
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Distinguishing Invasive Plants and Native Look-A-Likes In Late Winter and Early Spring. A one-day workshop sponsored by Aton Forest, Inc.
There are a number of advantages to doing invasive plant control work outside of the growing season, (e.g., no disturbance of breeding birds and wildlife, student volunteers more available, less disturbance of native vegetation, a much extended control season). But it requires more advanced field identification skills to avoid throwing native babies out with the bath water, when working at sites with a significant native plant component, e.g., especially, "early intervention" sites with intact natural communities. This workshop focuses on field identification of terrestrial invasive plants in late winter/early spring, prime season for pulling invasives but a difficult time to identify many plants using guides and manuals, as many are somewhere between dormant and leaf-on state. The emphasis will be on distinguishing invasives from native species with which they co-occur and may be potentially confused, especially when in young/immature state. The workshop will emphasize development and reinforcement of field identification skills in situ – it is planned that most of the day will be spent in the field, after a brief introductory classroom session. The workshop is designed for people who are already interested in and/or involved in hands-on invasive plant control, including land managers associated with land trusts, professionals looking to brush up on their skills, and private land owners managing their properties as natural areas. The workshop will also cover a number of so-called “watch list” species, i.e., plants that it is suspected may become invasive, and plants known to be invasive that have not yet become common in the area.
This is the third time we have offered this popular program, and it is being taught at a new location (Aton Forest in Norfolk, CT), which will allow us to visit plant communities and study species in the field we have not covered in previous workshops. Field sites this year will include several habitats in the calcareous districts of northwest CT and southwest MA. In the event of weather too severe for field work, all or part of each session may be changed into a lab/classroom session, using fresh collected specimens. Enrollment is limited to 15 participants per session.
Each participant should bring: a good quality hand lens with at least 10X magnification; a field notebook (preferably waterproof) and writing implement[s], bags for collecting specimens; his/her choice of sun protection; appropriate footware for both cold mud and hiking up to 2 miles on not-very-rugged terrain; clothing that allows you to stand around for 5-10 minutes in chilly and/or wet weather conditions in sufficient comfort to concentrate on listening and taking notes.
Instructor: Bill Moorhead, Consulting Field Botanist, 486 Torrington Rd, Litchfield, CT 06759.
Telephone: 860-567-4920. Email: whmoorhead@optonline.net.
Date & time: Thursday, March 22, 2012, 8:30 AM - ~5:00 PM.
Place: Aton Forest, 270 North Colebrook Road, Norfolk, Connecticut
Accommodations and amenities: Lunch and liquid refreshments will be provided. Transportation to field sites beyond walking distance will be by convoy/car-pool in participants' vehicles.
Tuition: $95.00. Payment is required in advance by check or money order to register. Checks should be made out to "Aton Forest, Inc." and sent to Aton Forest, Inc., P. O. Box 509, Norfolk, CT 06058. Enrollment will be on a first-come-first-served basis, and is limited to 15 per session. The first 10 enrollees will receive a $20.00 discount if payment is received by March 15th. If the session is canceled by us for any reason, tuition payments will be refunded in full, by mail. If a registered participant cancels, tuition may or may not be refunded, at our discretion, depending upon the final class size.
For more information, contact Bill Moorhead (860) 567-4920, whmoorhead@optonline.net, or
John Anderson, Executive Director, Aton Forest, Inc. (860) 542-5125, contact@atonforest.org.