October 3, 2012
Lusitania Woodland Habitat Restoration Project
An area of degraded woodland next to the Perimeter Road to the east of Lusitania Meadow is the site of a volunteer effort by Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation to improve habitat by removing invasive species and planting a variety of appropriate natives. This section of woods had been overrun by non-native species such as Common and Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus), White Mulberry (Morus alba), Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata.) Many of the predominant Green Ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) are in decline. The long range goal of the project is to create a safe habitat where woodland plants and animals can live without the intrusion of people and dogs.