Volunteers Wanted for Earth Day Habitat Help
Nature Consortium will bring together two live painters, over seven live musicians, and 500 shovel-wielding volunteers on April 20th for a unique Earth Day celebration in Seattle’s biggest forest, the West Duwamish Greenbelt.
Located on the eastern edge of West Seattle, the West Duwamish Greenbelt spans nearly 500 acres and is home to bald eagles, foxes, salamanders, and other local wildlife. Like many urban forests, the greenbelt has suffered habitat degradation caused by logging in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the subsequent invasion of non-native plant species.
Nature Consortium has worked to restore habitat in this area since 2003, combining art with nature by hiring live musicians to accompany the restoration work. Volunteers remove invasive species in the greenbelt year-round, while fall and winter are spent planting new trees and other native plants.
“Nature Consortium’s work is not only critical to the ecological health of the West Duwamish Greenbelt but a powerful experience for students,” says Amy Lambert, a University of Washington professor who brings her students to volunteer. “[My students] are active participants in actions that affect environmental equality for South Seattle residents through arts celebration and restoration of the watershed.”
Nature Consortium will partner with Earthcorps on April 20th to lead volunteers through forest ecology workshops and invasive species removal in the greenbelt. This will be the largest of nine volunteer events along the Duwamish River that day as part of the Duwamish Alive service event.
Clarinetists, banjo players, and vocalists will roam the forest as volunteers tackle blackberry bushes and other invasive plants. Local painters Eden Hopkins and Laura Grover will also live paint in the greenbelt, drawing inspiration from the forest and the restoration work in progress.
At 2pm, volunteers and supporters are invited to the Duwamish Longhouse for a community celebration featuring seafood chowder and frybread. There will also be opportunities to learn about the tribe and recently released Duwamish River cleanup plan.
The April 20 event is part of Nature Consortium’s Earth Month. During the month of April, the organization will host volunteer opportunities three days per week and offer prizes to the volunteer with the most service hours. Businesses, students, and community groups are also invited to volunteer during Earth Week on April 16 and 18th. Live music will be provided for groups of 10 or more.