Normanstone reservation 514
Normanstone Reservation 514 is a corridor of woodlots with trails through the Woodland-Normanstone neighborhood, just upstream from Rock Creek Conservancy’s Normanstone mini-oasis.
people-powered restoration in action
Members of the Woodland Normanstone Neighborhood Association (WNNA), recognizing the need for habitat restoration in their local woodlot, came to the Conservancy in 2021 to create and execute a restoration plan. The WNNA funded a round of herbicide treatment to control the invasive plants across the reservation - primarily English ivy and bush honeysuckle. Following treatment, in November 2021, volunteers planted forty-four native plants with deer protection within Reservation 514. These plants included trees and shrubs, such as eastern redbud, spicebush, and flowering dogwood, as well as herbaceous plants like virginia cutgrass and late purple aster. Over time, these plants will mature and restore the understory of the forest, offering benefits for wildlife and humans alike.
Before & After
Before restoration began, invasives were beginning to outcompete native plants and take over Reservation 514. The hard work of the Rock Creek community is evident - nature will take it from here as the native plants grow and the understory is restored.
