Step into Imago’s urban forest for our fun and friendly habitat restoration competition. The Great Honeysuckle Hunt will task volunteers to compete in teams to see who can bring back the largest invasive Amur Honeysuckle plant. There will be prizes for teams that find the heaviest and the tallest honeysuckle bush and remove it from the soil.
Why get rid of Honeysuckle?
Amur Honeysuckle, also known as invasive bush honeysuckle, is native to the Amur region of China. Introduced to North America in 1898, it was planted as an ornamental shrub and used as a tool for erosion control. It is a multi stemmed shrub with opposite oval leaves that are pointed at the tip. In late spring it produces white flowers that grow to red round berries in the fall. These berries are often eaten by birds who are easily able to spread the seeds all over the landscape. This plant is not only spread quickly by birds but it also grows quickly– up to 5ft in height a year if it is in full sun! Although this plant can thrive in the sun, it only needs 1% full sun a day- meaning it is just as happy growing on a forest floor in the shade of trees.
As honeysuckle spreads through an area it can create a dense thicket and will out compete most native species. This thicket can completely shade out the first floor making it impossible for other seeds to germinate. As honeysuckle spreads through an area, it can devastate the biodiversity. When honeysuckle is removed from an area we are giving our native species a chance to grow and support the rest of our ecosystems.
If you would like to learn more about ecological effects of honeysuckle, check out this article from the Kentucky Native Plant Society. If you would like to learn more about honeysuckle management strategies, check out this article for University of Cincinnati.
Create your team!
1. Gather a team of 4-5 people. Teams with children must have at least one adult.
2. Pick a team captain!
3. The team captain will register the entire team, the suggested registration fee is $40 per team.
*Individuals will be placed on a house team.
What to Expect
The afternoon will start with honeysuckle removal instruction. Each team will be provided a set of tools. Participants will have 2 hours to remove honeysuckle and choose their largest plant to enter into the competition. The Great Honeysuckle Hunt will end with s’mores, warm drinks and an award ceremony!
Imago will provide teams with tools.
Trails Open Dawn to Dusk
700 Enright Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45205
office@imagoearth.org
(513) 921-5124
Through our preservation of urban nature, our hands-on green workshops, and our education programs for youth, Imago is fostering an exciting, sustainable future that benefits us all.