The Future is Bright

Sometimes, being optimistic about the future of the fragile, threatened natural world is easier said than done. But for every challenge and problem our planet faces, there is a dedicated conservationist fighting to find a solution.      

 Helping to build a better future for plants and people alike is a big part of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation’s mission, which is why we’re excited to be one of the organizations contributing to the Biodiversity Heritage Library’s 2020 Earth Optimism Campaign. Earth Optimism is an international movement launched in 2017 by the Smithsonian Conservation Commons, as a way to celebrate conservation success and inspire dialogue and action on environmental issues.

The BHL’s campaign runs from June to December 2020, and will focus on sharing stories from conservation history from and made possible by the items in their expansive, free digital natural history and botanical libraries. Follow the hashtag #EarthOptimism on social media to follow along with the campaign, and keep an eye out for Oak Spring’s contributions in the coming months!   

While our Biocultural Conservation Farm has been helping to support the future of food access in our local community, our Arboriculture, Conservation, and Landscapes (ACL) team has also been working to build a bright future for Oak Spring’s native plants and wildlife. To celebrate the start of the BHL’s Earth Optimism series, we’re sharing some of our own conservation success stories from the past six months. Some of these projects, such as the ongoing reforestation of former livestock pasture, will keep the team busy for years to come, and some work is on a smaller-scale, but they all contribute towards a healthier and more sustainable landscape.      

 Click through the slideshow below to learn about some of our recent conservation projects (most photos from ACL team member Sarah Causey.)

Wetlands Restoration

OSGF is home to two significant wetland areas: one on the Oak Spring side, and one on Rokeby. Delicate wetland ecosystems are among the natural systems most threatened by climate change, so we carefully protect and monitor these areas at Oak Spring. So far, the ACL team has restored 5 acres of our wetlands, a process which involved surveying for native vegetation, removing invasive species (which takes many treatments over a period of several years,) and planting native shrubs and herbaceous plants.

Reforestation

Oak Spring currently has close to 50 acres of mature forest, and in 10 years we hope to bring that number up to 100 or more. As of spring 2020, the ACL team has made significant strides towards that goal, and having planted a total of 20 acres of native hardwoods on former livestock pasture throughout the property since 2017. The trees have had a very satisfactory survival rate so far, and we look forward to watching them grow and begin to create habitat for native wildlife in the coming years.

Supporting Bird Species

To support the many birds that call Oak Spring home, we installed seven new nesting boxes on the property this spring, in addition to the houses already in place for Eastern bluebirds, purple martins, and other species. Three of the new boxes are designed for kestrels, one for barn owls (pictured,) and three for wrens.

Birds are among the species most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with a 2019 study from the Audubon Society finding that two thirds of North America’s bird species are at risk of extinction due to a global rise in temperatures, so we have been very happy to see our nesting boxes in use. We also support our site’s feathered residents by curtailing our mowing practices and working with other organizations, including Virginia Working Landscapes, to monitor our bird population.

Invasive Species Management

Invasive species management is a major, ongoing project at Oak Spring, and the ACL team takes a variety of approaches - including total removal, spot-spraying, and controlled burns - to get rid of these harmful and pesky plants.

This spring, the team has been targeting multiflora rose, Canada, musk, and bull thistles, Japanese stiltgrass, arthraxon, ailanthus (tree of heaven), euonymus, garlic mustard, Japanese honeysuckle, bush honeysuckle, barberry, and oriental bittersweet. In this image, they are removing a tree of heaven - an invasive species from China that aggressively displaces native plants.

Mature Forest Restoration

To restore the mature forest standing on the property, the ACL team removed around 150 ash trees that had died due to infestations from the emerald ash borer beetle, an invasive species native to Asia that has laid siege to ashes throughout the state.

The team then planted 100 tulip poplar seedlings to restore the forest canopy, which will help shade out the invasive species growing below. Learn more about Oak Spring’s mature forests here.

Woodland Garden Installation

In May, the ACL team planted a woodland garden in a patch of forest on Oak Spring’s southeastern border. The goal for the project is to establish a native plant community that can out-compete invasive species for space and nutrients, as well as create a beautiful place that visitors can enjoy for years to come. Read more about the woodland garden project here.

Pond Restoration

The ACL team actively tests the water in Oak Spring’s ponds to assess their nutrient levels. This week, they planted 300 native aquatic plugs along the margins of Eliza’s Pond (pictured) to help remove excess nutrients, which will ultimately help decrease the algae cover and make the area better suited for native plants and aquatic wildlife.

Want to learn more about conservation at Oak Spring? Read our blogposts on combating climate change, invasive plant awareness, and our natural regeneration projects.

Special thanks to Head of Project Management and Planning TJ Sherman for his help with this blogpost!