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County Recognizes Land Trust’s Enhancement Projects At Lewisboro Preserve

YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- All of the hard work upgrading local habitats in Westchester County by dozens of volunteers and the Westchester Land Trust (WLT) will be recognized during an awards ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 15. 

Volunteers help clear invasive species and replacing them, where feasible, with native plants at habitats and preserves throughout Westchester County.

Volunteers help clear invasive species and replacing them, where feasible, with native plants at habitats and preserves throughout Westchester County.

Photo Credit: Westchester Land Trust

The Land Trust’s work at the Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family Preserve in Pound Ridge, the Frederick P. Rose Preserve in Lewisboro, the Otter Creek Preserve in Mamaroneck and the Hunter Brook Preserve in Yorktown will receive the "Soil and Water Conservation Achievement Award" during the ceremony at the Westchester County Center, said Grace Buck, assistant development director with the Land Trust.

In 2015, the Westchester Land Trust embarked on a series of habitat enhancement initiatives on its preserves with the purpose of removing invasive species and replacing them, where feasible, with native plants. With the help of like- minded volunteers and organizations the trust was able to make a considerable impact on the health and vitality of these four preserves, Buck said.

Improvements included the following: 

  • The 150-acre Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family Preserve in Pound Ridge, removed more than 17,000 invasive plants on a 9.5 acre area, and planted more than 50 native plants like Winterberry. 
  • The 86-acre Frederick P. Rose Preserve in Lewisboro, WLT removed or treated more than 3,700 invasive plants on 5.5 acres, planting nearly 50 trees and shrubs like blueberry, bayberry, oaks, dogwood, and pine during two days. 
  • The 35-acre Otter Creek Preserve in Mamaroneck, WLT removed more than 500 invasive plants and vines and planted 40 native plants like dogwood, bayberry, and holly. 
  • The 45-acre Hunter Brook Preserve in Yorktown, WLT continued by planting another 50 trees like tulip and sycamore along a 4-acre span of the brook to help protect the floodplain from further erosion. 

“Thanks to the work of dozens of partners and volunteers, and funding from the Zofnass family, the Rose family, The Westchester Community Foundation and Westchester Agricultural Council, we have collectively made a significant positive impact on the soil and water quality of these important preserves,” said Lori Ensinger, president of the Westchester Land Trust. 

To read more about these enhancement projects click here.

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