Consider joining BEAT to help restore the riverbank behind our Environmental Leadership & Education Center by removing invasive plant species and planting native ones!

For the next several weeks, BEAT will alternate between our usual Friday hardy kiwi removals in Burbank Park to tackle the invasive plants growing on the riverbank behind our building located at 20 Chapel Street in Pittsfield.

We will begin working at 10:00 AM and finish around 11:30 AM – just like our weekly kiwi cut and pulls! If you’re unable to stay the entire time, that’s perfectly okay! We’re happy to have your help in any capacity.

DATES:

• Friday, July 7
• Friday, July 21
• Friday, August 4

BEAT purchased its very own home in November 2021; our Environmental Leadership & Education Center sits on the edge of the west branch of Housatonic River at 20 Chapel Street in Pittsfield. The riverbank right behind our building is overrun with invasive plant species. This isn’t uncommon, as you likely know – many natural areas are becoming increasingly infested with these non-native, overly-competitive species that hinder our native species and ultimately cause ecological harm. That’s why BEAT is restoring the riverbank behind our building, and we would love your help!

We will install straw waddles downslope of our work area before carefully removing all non-native, invasive species. Once plants are removed, straw mats will be placed over loosened soils, and we’ll plant native species through the straw mats.

This is an ongoing ecological restoration project of BEAT’s, and we hope to make substantial progress on it over the next several weeks! The more volunteers that can help, the quicker we can restore our riverbank to better support our native ecology!

Anyone and everyone is welcome, regardless of age or experience. However, you must be able to stand on a slight slope while working.

Please email team@thebeatnews.org if you plan on coming to help. You can also subscribe to receive our email updates about these volunteer opportunities. 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

*Extreme or wet weather cancels this event.

Contact team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.