Invasive species removal at Riverbend Park

Bradford Pear slated for removal.

Thanks to a West Virginia Division of Forestry Demonstration City grant, the Elkins Tree Board is replacing several invasive trees at Riverbend Park with native alternatives.

The invasive Bradford pear, also known as the Callery pear, originated in China and is planted as an ornamental tree throughout the United States. Bradford pear seeds are easily spread by birds who eat the tiny fruit the tree produces. The tree can quickly grow and take over an area, shading out native plants and degrading wildlife habitat.

Bradford pears are also very prone to breaking branches, and their flowers produce a smell sometimes described as like “rotten fish.” Because of these negative attributes, Callery pear is now considered invasive in several states, including West Virginia.

Given these reasons, the Elkins Tree Board, with support of the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission, believes it is in the community’s best interest to remove these trees and replace them with two species native to West Virginia, serviceberry and American linden, also known as basswood.

Serviceberries are small trees with beautiful early-blooming white flowers that produce a delicious red-purple fruit that is loved by native wildlife. American basswood is a medium sized tree that provides great shade and supports many pollinators as its flowers produce a lot of nectar.

Michelle Fonda, the Non-Native Invasive Species Program Lead for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources says, “Removing invasive species like Callery Pear and replacing them with native species like serviceberry and basswood is a great way to prevent the spread of invasive species into natural areas and provide food, cover, and nesting opportunities for wildlife.

Basswood and serviceberry support pollinators like mourning cloak, red-spotted purple, and tiger swallowtail butterflies as both caterpillars and adults. Native fruiting trees like serviceberry benefit songbirds by providing a place to nest with lots of nutritious food (fruits and caterpillars) close by. Using native species in landscaping helps make our cities more friendly to wildlife.”

This grant covers the replacement of six Bradford pears at Riverbend, but there are several more at the park. The Board hopes to use future grants to replace the rest of the Bradford pears with other native species that will provide shade, support the local wildlife, and beautify our community.

An additional aspect of the Demonstration Community grant funded this fall is the removal of several hazardous trees in Elkins City Park. This past year, the Elkins Tree Board planted several new trees in anticipation of this removal project.

For more information about the Elkins Tree Board, click here.