Remove invasive species for your opportunity to pick up a free native tree sapling
Carmel, Ind. (April 5, 2024) – Throughout April, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) is offering an Invasive for Native Tree Swap program to promote invasive species awareness. Remove one or more invasive species from your property, and CCPR will reimburse you with one three-gallon native tree sapling per household. There are four species of native trees available: redbud, pagoda dogwood, Kentucky coffee tree, and winterberry. Take a photo of the invasive(s) you have removed and submit your work to rterry@carmelclayparks.com for your opportunity to pick up a free native tree sapling.
Removing invasive species from parks, neighborhoods, and other natural areas and replacing them with native plants helps better the ecosystem and provide food and habitat to wildlife. Invasive species are non-native to a particular area, meaning they were intentionally or accidentally introduced. Invasive species outcompete native plants for resources such as water, sunlight, and soil nutrients. This displacement of native species causes harm to the environment, public health, and the economy.
For an extensive list of common invasive species in Indiana from the Indiana Invasive Species Council, visit this website. To learn more about the importance of native plants, visit the park stewardship page on the CCPR website.
