Remove Invasive Vines:
SAVE THE TREES!
CCAN is partnering with Casey Trees to mobilize volunteers to remove invasive vines from thousands of trees in PG County, DC, and Montgomery County.
Saturday, April 12th, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Join Meredith from CCAN, PG County Parks, and the Riverdale Park Green Team to remove Invasive Vines at Riverside Drive Park in Riverdale Park, MD.
We will meet in the parking lot at 10am and work until about 1pm. We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix).
Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude!
A reminder email will be sent out the day before with detailed instructions on where to meet.
Wednesday, April 16th, 3:00pm-5:00pm EST
Join Meredith from CCAN, the Cottage City Green Team, and PG County Parks to remove Invasive Vines at Cottage City Park in Cottage City, MD.
We will meet at the park entrance in front of Bunker Hill Rd. at 3pm. We will spend the first 30 minutes doing introductions and training, then we will remove vines until about 5pm. We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix).
Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude!
A reminder email will be sent out the day before with detailed instructions on where to meet.
Students under the age of 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event.
Saturday, April 19th, 9am-12pm EST
Join Meredith from CCAN and the Riverdale Park Green Team to canvass and remove Invasive Vines around the Riverdale Park neighborhood.
This event will be a fun mix of door-to-door canvassing and invasive vine removal. We will meet at Riverside Drive Park and spend 30 minutes doing training on vine removal and canvassing. From there we will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents.
We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix). Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude!
A reminder email will be sent out the day before with detailed instructions on where to meet.
Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the event.
Wednesday, April 23rd, 9:00am-12:00pm EST
Join Meredith from CCAN to remove Invasive Vines at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery in Washington, DC.
We will meet at the entrance to the cemetery off of Benning Rd. SE at 9am. Parking is available inside the gates – do not park on the street.
We will spend the first 30 minutes doing a brief training on invasive vines and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing vines from the trees. We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix).
Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude!
A reminder email will be sent out the day before with detailed instructions on where to meet.
Saturday, April 26th, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Join Meredith from CCAN and the Washington Area Bicyclists Association to celebrate Earth Day by removing some invasive vines at Oxon Run Park.
Get ready for some outdoor activities, educational workshops, and community bonding. Let’s show some love to our planet together! The Trail Rangers will take you on an enchanted eco-based tour of the trail then we will tackle some invasive vines.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with nature and learn how to make a positive impact on our environment.
Friday, May 2nd, 9:00am-11:00am EST
Join Meredith from CCAN and Montgomery County Weed Warriors to remove Invasive Vines at Dewey Local Park in Silver Spring, MD.
We will meet in the parking lot of Dewey Local Park at 9am. We will spend the first 30 minutes doing training on identifying and removing invasive vines, then we will head further into the forest to remove vines until about 11am. We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry and (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata), English ivy (Hedera helix).
Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude!
All volunteers must also register for this event on the Montgomery Parks website: https://montgomeryparks.org/events/weed-warrior-dewey-local-park/
Saturday, May 3rd, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Join Meredith from CCAN and NoVa Tree Rescuers to canvass and remove Invasive Vines around the Loisdale Park neighborhood in Springfield, VA.
This event will be a fun mix of door-to-door canvassing and invasive vine removal. We will meet at Loisdale Park and spend the first 30 minutes doing training on vine removal and canvassing. From there we will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents.
We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix). Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude!
A reminder email will be sent out the day before with detailed instructions on where to meet.
CCAN is partnering with Casey Trees to tackle invasive vines on both private property and public lands in Prince George’s County and DC.
Our Goal is to mobilize volunteers in disadvantaged communities to save thousands of trees, connect with community members, and empower residents to take ownership of their local trees.
Non-native invasive plant species, particularly vines, pose a significant threat to trees. Trees provide countless benefits to both people and wildlife, including sequestering carbon!
- Help to filter air and water
- Control stormwater
- Conserve energy
- Provide habitat
- Reduce noise
- Add economic value to communities
DIY: Learn How to Remove Invasive Vines with This Video!
Can’t wait to get started saving trees before one of our events?
Watch this video to learn how to remove invasive vines on your own (or with a friend or three!)
You’ll learn how to identify English Ivy and the proper steps to remove it.
Our Events:
Park events: Join these if you’ve never removed invasive vines before and want to learn how! We will host park events on a monthly basis. This is an opportunity to get trained in invasive vine removal and help out ecosystems in our local green spaces
Door-to-door events: These will be the beating heart of our program. We will be heading out on foot every other week to knock on doors and remove invasive vines from private residences. This is an opportunity to engage in conversations, educate the public, and provide a much-needed service to community members. These are also a fantastic way to get your steps in! Please attend a park event first so we can train you to safely and effectively remove invasive vines.
Want to Get Involved With CCAN's Invasive Vines Program?
Report Invasive Vines
Meet Meredith Prescott: CCAN's Invasive Vines Manager
“In my time working in DC parks, I have built trails, planted trees, installed countless erosion control structures, and even constructed a boardwalk or two. However, there has been no project that is both rewarding and low-maintenance like invasive species removal. It’s a tangible, hands-on way to make a noticeable difference in a short time and a great way to build community around outdoor work. We may not be able to fix the systemic issues that have gotten us to this point in the climate crisis, but we can all go outside and tackle those invasive vines one by one. And in the face of massive biodiversity loss at a global level, it is more necessary than ever.
I am thrilled to kick off this new chapter with CCAN, reigniting this volunteer program and working towards making every green space accessible and thriving. Every vine pulled is a step towards a greener, more equitable world. Let’s get to work!”
Read the full blog post here:
Resources:
- Learn about the threat of invasive vines
- Learn how you can remove invasive vines
- Download the Invasive Vines Handout in English
- Download the Invasive Vines Handout in Spanish
Funding for this project is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with Casey Trees.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.