Native plants to be rescued before Wakefield Run restoration project starts

Mayapple, one of the native plants to be saved.

Friends of Accotink Creek (FAC) is seeking volunteers to help rescue native plants along Wakefield Run before a major restoration project starts on July 24.

The $440,000 project is aimed at curbing erosion caused by runoff from the beltway and stabilizing the stream bed. Wakefield Run begins near Heritage Drive behind Braddock Elementary School and flows into Accotink Creek in Wakefield Park.  

FAC is recruiting volunteers to help with plant rescue on June 19 and 26 and July 3 and 10. The work will take place 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Volunteers should meet by the tennis courts at the Audrey Moore RECenter. They should bring tools, such as shovels and trowels, plus planting pots if possible and should wear sturdy shoes, long pants, long sleeves, and gardening gloves.

Rescued plants will available for personal use or can be contributed to FAC and its partners for environmental restoration. FAC is also looking for volunteers willing to host plants over the summer in backyard nurseries. This involves keeping potted rescue plants in a shaded area surrounded by wood mulch and watering as needed. These plants will be returned to Wakefield Run once construction is complete or will be planted in other areas.

Native plants slated for rescue include blue wood sedge, Christmas fern, deer tongue grass, false Solomon’s seal, golden Alexander, goldenrod, hazelnut, Jack in the pulpit, mayapple, New York fern, sensitive fern, spicebush, strawberry bush, swamp cabbage, white wood aster, wide sedge, and wild yam.