2014 Environmental Excellence Award Goes to GPIP!

Glastonbury Partners in Planting (GPIP) has been selected to receive the prestigious Environmental Excellence Award from the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury, in recognition of their participation in the outstanding effort and partnership to eradicate bittersweet in Glastonbury's Riverfront Park.

The award announcement letter goes on to say, "This award recognizes the GPIP Battling Invasives Group's efforts to save the trees and habitats of birds in Glastonbury, while educating the public about the invasive species of plants that are killing our native vegetation."

The Award will be presented at the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Audubon Society Center's Earth Fair, themed "In Celebration of Trees" at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Center located at 1361 Main St., Glastonbury, CT. Click here for more information on the event.

GPIP's Battling Invasives Group is sharing the award with the Town of Glastonbury and Greg Foran, Park Superintendent and Tree Warden, who also partnered on the Riverfront Park effort.

Most importantly the award represents the amazing work done by over 80 volunteers during the course of several work days at the Park, as well as strong community outreach efforts supported by local media including the Glastonbury Citizen, Glastonbury Life, and the Hartford Courant.

Since 1997, the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury has awarded the Environment Excellence Award to honor companies, groups and individuals in Glastonbury and surrounding communities who demonstrate responsibility and integrity towards the environment.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 23-28)

From the Weed Science Society of America's 2/10/14 press release:

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is scheduled for February 23-28. And according to experts with the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), it’s a topic that deserves our attention. Non-native plants, animals and pathogens can harm humans and the environment and impact our nation’s economy. The damage done by invasive plants alone costs the U.S. an estimated $34.7 billion a year.

Invasive weeds can produce skin irritation, trigger allergies and poison pets and livestock. They can clog waterways, kill native trees, and shade out crops, ornamentals and prized native flora. They are found in every imaginable habitat, including oceans, lakes, streams, wetlands, croplands, rangelands, natural areas, parks, forests, urban environments, yards and gardens.

'Though the impact of invasive species is profound, there are important steps we can take to manage infestations and prevent their spread,' says Lee Van Wychen, Ph.D., director of science policy for the WSSA. 'It all begins with awareness.'

Eight Ways You Can Help:

1. Learn about invasive species, especially those found in your region. Your county extension office (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html) and the National Invasive Species Information Center (http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml) are both trusted resources.

[enroll for the new Glastonbury Adult Education Invasive Plant course,

click here for more information]

2. Clean hiking boots, waders, boats and trailers, off-road vehicles and other gear to stop invasive species from hitching a ride to a new location.

3. Avoid dumping aquariums or live bait into waterways.

4. Use forage, hay, mulch and soil that are certified as “weed free.”

5. Plant only non-invasive plants in your garden, and remove any known invaders.

6. Report new or expanded invasive species outbreaks to authorities. (See http://www.invasive.org/report.cfm for a state-by-state list of contacts.)

7. Volunteer to help remove invasive species from public lands and natural areas.

[stay tuned to www.glastonburyinvasives.org and www.glastonburyinvasives.com

to learn about opportunities to volunteer in Glastonbury!]

8. Ask your political representatives at the state, local and national level to support invasive species control efforts.

Click here to link to Glastonbury Legislators.

Click here to link to Connecticut's Congressional Legislators.

About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit http://www.wssa.net.