Digging in the Dirt: November Chapter & Planting Highlights
November chapter and planting highlights
North Carolina Wildlife Federation staff and Community Wildlife Chapter volunteers did a whole lot of planting, kayaking, fundraising, hiking, bird watching, trash collecting and conservation celebrating in November to promote healthy wildlife habitat and get people outside. Thanks to partners such as the Duke Energy Foundation and Burt’s Bees for helping make these habitat restorations, educational programs and nature outings possible.
In November, 250-plus volunteers removed 60K pounds of trash and planted more than 700 native plant species!
NCWF’s conservation outreach team shares updates below. Explore our Events Calendar to discover where we’re hosting in-person and virtual events near you.
Millbrook Elementary Weeding and Bird House Installation, Nov 2. The South Wake Conservationists restored the natural beauty of the Millbrook Elementary pollinator garden by removing encroaching weeds and installing bluebird houses.
Pollinator Program Kick-Off at Friends Home, Nov 3. Triad Wild! joined forces with Friends Home Retirement Community to host Lee and Buddy Helton from Grace Ridge Retirement Community. Lee gave a dynamic presentation about the pollinator program at Grace Ridge and inspired the Friends Home residents to embark on a similar journey.
Big Sweep at Beech Bluffs, Nov 4. Wake County Parks & Rec and Open Space teamed up with students from N.C. State College of Natural Resources and members of South Wake Conservationists to put a dent in a heaping pile of garbage and kick off what will soon be a new Wake County public park. The crew of 18 removed a whopping 15 thousand pounds of trash that included tires, scrap metal, old furniture, a sofa, pipes, metal canisters, old housing materials and much more.
Fontana Dam Cleanup, Nov 4-6. Volunteers removed more than 45,000 pounds of litter for the 5th annual cleanup. Since 2019, the collaborative has eliminated more than 200,000 pounds of trash from Fontana Lake through volunteer cleanup efforts. Read more and watch the recap video.
Kayaking at Robertson Millpond Preserve, Nov 5. South Wake Conservationists took advantage of beautiful fall weather by setting out on a paddling exploration through the blackwater cypress swamp at Robertson Millpond near Wendell. The blackwater swamp more closely resembles the Coastal Plain than Piedmont, and provides the only bald cypress habitat in Wake County.
Feed the Birds: Make Your Own Suet Block, Nov 9. Pocosin Arts and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge presented a fun and free suet block workshop at Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft in Columbia, NC.
Bass Lake Native Garden Renovation, Nov 9. South Wake Conservationists returned to the Bass Lake shade garden to boost the native plant presence. The group planted 45 plants total among 15 different species that included mountain mint, stokes aster, turtlehead, slender woodoats, columbine and more.
Give Thanks to Wildlife, Nov 12. Concord Wildlife Alliance hosted its annual fundraiser at Cabarrus Brewing Company to support chapter programs. One is Hunters Feed Cabarrus County, the deer donation program that provides much-needed venison to Cooperative Christian Ministry’s food pantries.
Island Buttonbush Planting, Nov 12. Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists planted 300 buttonbushes on two Lake Norman islands. The plants will add shelter and food for wildlife and mitigate erosion. Twenty-five volunteers aged 3-70 were there to help the cause.
Birding Tour of Fort Fisher Historic Area, Nov 16. Island Wildlife enjoyed an exciting and informative morning of birding at Fort Fisher Historic Site at Kure Beach with Jill Peleuses of Wild Bird Garden and Cape Fear Bird Observatory.
Garden Workday at Millbrook Elementary, Nov 16. South Wake Conservationists continued their garden restoration project at Millbrook Elementary. The crew removed invasive plants, planted rattlesnake masters and drank hot chocolate.
Carolina Beach Monthly Clean-up, Nov 19. Island Wildlife and Island Women extended their cleanup hot streak by removing 299 pounds of garbage at Carolina Beach.
Creek ReLeaf Tree Planting, Nov 19. N.C. Wildlife Federation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Stormwater Services and Charlotte Public Tree Fund gathered for a native habitat planting. Over 100 volunteers planted 395 trees to support native wildlife and beautify the Charlottean community.