Let's Plant a Future Forest!

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 11/19/2018 12:35 PM PST

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Winter E-News - November 19, 2018

Rainy Days = Happy Planting!

Join King County Parks in building healthy forests

We're doing our part in King County's effort to plant 1 Million Trees by 2020 to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for impacts of climate change, one of the actions outlined the 2015 Strategic Climate Action Plan.

Join in and help us reach this goal while also restoring habitat for fish and wildlife and enhancing recreation opportunities for all of us.

Reason #1,243,500 why trees are awesome

Research shows that trees communicate with one another and share nutrients through their roots! They need each other. In urban areas, trees also provide us with health, economic and social benefits. They are part of past and present cultures. We need them. So, how can we return the favor? This brief video shares compelling stories about the power of trees. It was made in partnership with the University of Washington, University of British Columbia and the Duwamish Tribe. (Item contributed by Kathy Wolf, UW & US Forest Service) http://www.washingtonnature.org/power-of-trees-video

Calendar of Events

Events are Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
*unless otherwise noted

To join an event, please register with
the volunteer coordinator listed after each event.

November 27

Wetland 14 (Renton)

Come help King County Parks restore a former home site that is alongside a spectacular and fairly rare sphagnum bog. We recently purchased the last in-holding property in the middle of this 1,000-acre complex that provides high quality habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species. We need your help to ensure invasive species don’t degrade the ecological functioning of this special place.

Contact Brian Lund

December 1

Tanner Landing (North Bend)

Located along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River, Tanner Landing was once an enormous pasture overrun with Scot's Broom and invasive blackberry, but thanks to volunteers, we are starting to gain the upper hand. Come help as we plant native trees and shrubs to reestablish the native plant communities that once thrived here.

Contact Brian Lund

December 1 and December 8

Big Finn Hill Park (Kirkland)

Join King County Parks and community members as we work to restore what was once a large area of invasive blackberry and turn it into a thriving, diverse habitat to benefit the people and animals that enjoy this park. This project is family-friendly so bring the kids!

Contact Lina Rose

December 1 and January 5

Marymoor Park BirdLoop (Redmond)

Join Eastside Audubon in making Snag Row healthier habitat for birds. Winter projects often include planting, moving woodchips, and removing invasive plants to improve the beauty and ecological value of this beloved site.

Contact Lina Rose

volunteers and wheelbarrow at marymoor park

December 8 and January 12

Sammamish River Trail (Woodinville)

*Event is from 10 a.m. to noon

Join the Sammamish River Stewards as they work to restore the habitat along the Sammamish River Trail. This fantastic group of Parks and Trails Ambassadors leads projects here every second Saturday of the month so set your calendar! Projects generally include blackberry removal and other restoration tasks.

Contact Lina Rose

December 15 and January 12

Tolt-MacDonald Park (Carnation)

Help King County Parks and our partners plant 1 million trees by 2020. Parks is turning an area that was recently cleared of blackberries into a flood plain forest along the Snoqualmie River and can use your help restoring this beautiful park.

Contact Brian Lund

January 5

Cougar/Squak Corridor (Issaquah)

Come help King County Parks as we work to restore this former private campground situated on the side of Squak Mountain. The park is an important wildlife migration corridor between Cougar and Squak Mountains and is vulnerable to invasive vegetation. We will be revegetating the old campsites to ensure invasive species don’t move in.

Contact Brian Lund

January 26

Renton Park (Fairwood area of Renton)

Discover this beautiful neighborhood gem of a forest. Tucked behind schools and homes, this green belt serves a pretty role in providing wildlife and bird habitat, cooling the area, filtering air and water to benefit the people and animals that call Renton home. We will be planting and stewarding past planting sites to make this park an even healthier forest.

Contact Lina Rose

Save The Date: Martin Luther King Weekend of Service is coming!

Join King County Parks in the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr's legacy of service by engaging in your community and volunteering! Projects will be held on January 19th at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center and on MLK Day, January 21st, at Skyway Park. Both projects will be planting to make these two parks healthier spaces for all to enjoy!

Contact Lina Rose

Build and maintain backcountry trails!

Learn to retread a trail, build a turnpike, or solve drainage problems. Give back to those trails that you love! Join King County Parks and the Washington Trails Association this winter to rebuild and repair backcountry trails.

Events are Tuesdays - Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To register, contact WTA directly on their website or by phone at (206) 965-8561.

*Note: These events require hiking to the site and are limited to 20 people. Most are groups of 6-12 volunteers.

11/27 - 12/1 Tolt – Macdonald Park (Carnation)

12/4 - 12/8 Grand Ridge Park (Issaquah)

12/11 - 12/15, 12/18 - 12/22 Taylor Mountain Forest (Issaquah)

1/2 - 1/5, 1/8 - 1/12 Big Finn Hill Park (Kirkland)

1/15 - 1/19 Cedar Creek Park (Covington)

1/18 - 1/19 Cougar/Squak Corridor (Issaquah)

1/22 - 1/26, 1/29 - 2/2 Grand Ridge (Issaquah)

For questions about the King County Parks Volunteer Program or to inquire about a custom volunteer event for your group, please contact Volunteer Program Manager Lina Rose or via phone at (206) 491-5014.

Thank you to our volunteer groups!

Not all of our events are listed, as many are for a specific business, group, or school. Big shout out to the awesome groups and partners who have volunteered recently in our parks and on our trails!