Tag: environment
Help beautify Annandale with native plants
The Greening the Greenway initiative will continue this Saturday at two new locations in Annandale. The project started last fall when a group of volunteers installed native plantings in front of the ACCA Child Development Center on Columbia Pike. The initiative is aimed at enhancing the Annandale Greenway, a five-mile trail that runs through the center … Continued
Fairfax County expands textile recycling
Fairfax County has expanded its textile recycling program to three new locations, including the West Springfield Government Center, at 6140 Rolling Road. Residents can drop off clothing, shoes, and household textiles in blue Helpsy bins. The bins are also located at the Jim Scott Community Center in Fairfax, the Sully Government Center in Chantilly, the … Continued
Join the tree rescue extravaganza
Volunteers are hoping to rescue as many trees as possible during the Spring Tree Rescue Extravaganza March 21-April 12. Community members are invited to join the effort, which is hosted by Fairfax Tree Rescuers PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management). Enjoy a spring day outdoors and get some fresh air while protecting native trees … Continued
Environmental groups protest sale of county land for a data center
Representatives of five environmental groups are urging the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to provide more information before proceeding with the sale of county land to a data center developer. The board is holding a hearing on March 17 on the sale of 41.7 acres at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly to the Starwood Capital … Continued
Free trees available to Fairfax County residents
The Fairfax County Urban and Community Forestry Division has teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation to give away native trees to county residents. The initiative is aimed at expanding the tree canopy on private property, while helping residents reduce energy costs and improve neighborhood resilience. The trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis. … Continued
Native seedling sale starts today
The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual native seedling sale opens today, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. Customers need to open an account on the NVSWCD website to order seedlings. The seedlings and other pre-ordered items will be available for pickup at the Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racquet Club in Falls Church on … Continued
Don’t flush wipes in the toilet
Fairfax County urges residents not to flush wipes in the toilet, including those labeled “flushable.” A major regional sewer line that carries wastewater from Fairfax County is currently undergoing emergency repairs. During maintenance work, wipes clogged several pumps along the line, reducing capacity and contributing to a wastewater overflow, the county states. Crews are working … Continued
The Greening the Greenway initiative is growing
By James Albright The Greening the Greenway initiative is expanding its efforts to bring native plantings to Annandale. The project started last November with plantings in front of the ACCA Child Development Center on Columbia Pike. The organizers are now identifying new locations along Columbia Pike for a spring planting project. The goal of Greening … Continued
New native garden graces Columbia Pike
Volunteers spent hours this past weekend creating a native plant garden on Columbia Pike in front of the ACCA Child Development Center. The garden is the first project in the “Greening the Greenway” pilot program, which is aimed at enhancing the Annandale Greenway, a five-mile trail between Annandale Community Park and Green Spring Gardens. On … Continued
Viewpoint: Green Spring Gardens should focus on conservation
By Kathryn Cooper As a long-time resident of Mason District and dedicated volunteer at Green Spring Gardens, I urge the Fairfax County Park Authority to hire someone with conservation expertise as the new site manager at GSG. Mason District has fewer green spaces than almost any other district in the county, so GSG is a rare and … Continued
Greening the Greenway: Native plant pilot combats the heat island effect
By James Albright A new initiative to incorporate native plantings in downtown Annandale kicks off this fall with a pilot patch along Columbia Pike. The “Greening the Greenway” pilot is named for the still-developing Annandale Greenway community trail. The central part of the Greenway travels through the urban core of Annandale along Columbia Pike. The … Continued
Fairfax County presents an environmental award to a Culmore tap water project
The Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is presenting an Environmental Excellence Award to the Friends of Holmes Run and Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect (HACAN) for promoting the use of tap water in Culmore. The groups encouraged residents to use refillable water bottles for tap water instead of buying disposable water … Continued
School news roundup
The following news items are from FCPS and individual schools Environmental education – Westlawn Elementary School was recognized as a Year 3 Virginia Naturally School by the state’s Department of Wildlife Resources. The program recognizes the work done by Westlawn staff to increase students’ environmental literacy. “Helping students become socially and environmentally conscious is woven … Continued
Viewpoint: In defense of natural resource conservation at Green Spring Gardens
By Kathryn Cooper I and many others in the community are opposed to the planned “education pavilion” at Green Spring Gardens. The nonprofit Friends of Green Spring Gardens (FROGS) has donated $250,000 for the project. We raised the following concerns at community meetings in February and July and on the Park Authority’s website: I … Continued
Invasive spotted lanternflies are spreading all over the county
By Shane Gomez Spotted lanternflies are booming this summer throughout the D.C. region, including Fairfax County. The species is native to East Asia, but is invasive here and is growing in number and range. Since the nymphs started maturing into adults in July, residents are spotting more of them. A prolific appetite, lack of enough … Continued