Digging in the Dirt: October Chapter & Planting Highlights
October chapter and planting highlights
North Carolina Wildlife Federation staff and Community Wildlife Chapter volunteers did a whole lot of weeding, planting, seed packing and trash collecting in October to promote healthy wildlife habitat and get people outside. Thanks to Duke Energy Foundation and Burt’s Bees for helping make habitat restoration projects like these possible. NCWF’s conservation outreach team shares updates below. Explore our Events Calendar to find out where NCWF and our Wildlife Community Chapters are hosting in-person and virtual events near you.
Bass Lake Weeding Day, Oct. 5. South Wake Conservationists again got their hands dirty in the garden. A thorough weeding job was done in preparation for a planting later in the fall.
Yates Mill Boulder Garden Planting, Oct. 28. South Wake Conservationists continued their native planting hot streak by renovating the park’s boulder garden. Native plants, including milkweed, mountain mint, joe-pye weed and much more, were all given a home in the dirt.
Urban Arboretum Trail Planting, Oct. 20. NCWF and local chapters partnered with the City of Charlotte to continue the expansion of pollinator habitat in Charlotte by planting over 500 native plants in an urban garden on Martin Street.
Seeds of Change: The Halloween Edition, Oct. 16. Island Wildlife met at the New Hanover Arboretum in Wilmington to pack native seed envelopes to help spread the word about planting native plants for birds and butterflies.
Nature Walk at E. Carroll Joyner Park, Oct. 26. The Neuse River Hawks basked in the glory of the fall colors as they leisurely walked around E. Carroll Joyner Park in Wake Forest.
Native Garden Planting at Crowder Park, Oct. 22. South Wake Conservationists guided youth volunteers as they planted a diverse assortment of native plants catered towards pollinator and bird species.
Native Replanting at Turnipseed Nature Preserve, Oct. 20. NCWF, Wake County Parks & Open Space and South Wake Conservationists returned to Turnipseed Nature Preserve to plant nearly 100 native trees and shrubs in place of the invasive species removed.
Longleaf Alliance Hike & Hoop, Oct. 27. Island Wildlife, in partnership with the Longleaf Alliance, hosted a guided botanical tour of Carolina Beach State Park, then a botanical embroidery class with Home and Hoop.
Laketoberfest Music & Brew Festival, Oct 15. Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists joined with the Town of Cornelius for a community gathering with live music, food and drinks and outdoor activities to raise money for wildlife and habitat in the Lake Norman region.
Kure Beach Cleanup, Oct. 23. Island Wildlife, Island Women and students from Eugene Ashley High School met for a monthly cleanup at Kure Beach pier. Volunteers collected over 50 pounds of trash, equaling two native trees in the NCWF Clean & Green campaign!
Kids in Nature Day (Charlotte), Oct. 9. Charlotte Wildlife Stewards brought children and families in Charlotte together for a celebration of wildlife and nature with Kids in Nature Day, in partnership with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and sponsored by Honeybee Real Estate. Kids met animal ambassadors, made seed balls and bird treats, relaxed with animal yoga, created art with things found only in nature, and went on guided nature walks in the woods.
Hooked on Cornelius, Oct. 22. The Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists partnered with the Cornelius Parks and Recreation Department to teach 22 kids how to fish. The event also included environmental education booths and arts and crafts.
Crabtree Creek Paddle & Big Sweep, Oct. 15. Wake County Big Sweep, volunteers and NCWF staff joined forces to tackle the garbage load in Crabtree Creek. The crew set out in kayaks and canoes and removed 740 pounds of garbage in a massive effort to keep our waterways clean!
Crowder Park Weeding Day, Oct. 12. South Wake Conservationists picked up their garden tools and got to work on two gardens at Crowder County Park in Apex in preparation for a planting later in the month.
Fire in the Pines Mini Bog Workshop, Oct. 5. The Lower Cape Fear region is one of the most biodiverse spots on the globe! Island Wildlife Native Plants Chair Jessica Roach hosted a Flytrap Brewing workshop focusing on regional carnivorous plants.
Garden Tour, Oct. 28. The Neuse River Hawks gathered at a member’s garden in Wake Forest to learn about how to garden for wildlife.
Garden Workday at the Red Wolf Center, Oct. 29. NCWF staff and the Albemarle-Pamlico Wildlife Chapter brought their hands to the dirt during a morning of gardening in preparation for a spring planting project, created art with things found only in nature, and went on guided nature walks in the woods.
Guided Bird Tour of Carolina Beach State Park, Oct. 18. Island Wildlife members dusted off their binoculars and met Jill Peleuses of Wild Bird Garden and Cape Fear Bird Observatory for a guided bird walk around Carolina Beach State Park.
Cleanup with Alpha Sigma Phi, Oct. 17. Charlotte Wildlife Stewards joined Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity at UNCC in collecting 85lbs of trash from the Mallard Creek Greenway. Their volunteer efforts ensure three native trees will be planted by the NC Wildlife Federation’s Clean and Green program.
See the Amazing Chimney Swifts, Oct. 7. South Wake Conservationists gathered at Fuquay Varina Middle School to witness the spectacular chimney swifts filling the sky on a beautiful evening.
Burt’s Bees Culture Day Cleanup, Oct. 7. NCWF partnered with Burt’s Bees employees and Keep Durham Beautiful for a cleanup to “thrive together.” Over 400 pounds of garbage was removed from the community habitat.