Feb. 22, Friday, 8 a.m. -4 p.m.
Green Matters Symposium:
Garden by Design: Creative Approaches to Diverse Landscapes
Silver Spring Civic Center
NNWB is a co-sponsor
$99. Includes light breakfast, box lunch, coffee/tea.
Are you a home gardener looking to create a biodiverse backyard habitat? Or a landscape architect? There's something here for you. Industry experts explore creative design solutions that address the challenges and opportunities of diverse landscapes.
March 6, 7:30 - 9:15
Location TBA
Board election and program TBA
Saturday, April 13
Stream cleanups. Save the date!
For all cleanups, wear long sleeves and pants, shoes that can get muddy, and bring water. Bags and gloves will be provided. Please email the contact that you're coming. And thanks for helping to improve the health of the Northwest Branch!
Burnt Mills East Special Park, 9:30-11:30
Leader: Larry Hush, lwhush@yahoo.com
Park in lot, downstream side.
Lamberton Tributary, 9:30-11:30
Leader: Laura Turbe, turbelee@gmail.com
Park at the end of Lamberton Drive.
NWB from NWB Trailhead at Kemp Mill Rd., 10:00-noon
Leader: Laura Barnitz, lbarnitz@gmail.com
Park along Kemp Mill Rd.
NWB at W. Hyattsville Metro, 10:00-noon
Leader: Maurie Kathan, maurie.kathan@gmail.com
Parking available on Metro lot ($2)
Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Montgomery County GreenFest
Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Ave., Silver Spring
Live musicians, drummers and dancers, kids tree climbing, vendors and exhibitors, electric vehicle and car show, food trucks, more! NNWB will have a table. Come visit us!
NNWB participated in the Festival del Rio Anacostia on Saturday, October 13. Held at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park, the festival was a great opportunity for NNWB to connect with residents of PG County, Montgomery Co, and DC about the work we do in the Anacostia watershed.
Many stopped by to learn more how protecting the Northwest Branch is critical to the health of the Anacostia River and the adjoining communities. Laura Turbe, board member of NNWB, signed "passports" for participants proving they came to the table.
On October 13 also, White Oak Middle School students set off to beautify the Northwest Branch at Burnt Mills by removing trash and recyclables.
Many thanks to the students at White Oak Middle School for their help Oct. 13 cleaning up the stream valley at Burnt Mills. Thanks also to their leader and photographer, David Field! (Photos by Mr. Field)
October 3, 2018: A crowd of more than 20 residents heard from Ryan Butler, Principal Natural Resources Specialist at Montgomery County Parks, about deer impacts on our parks and on people. He outlined current and ongoing deer population management projects near the Northwest Branch Stream Valley and said that Northwest Branch Stream Valley Unit #4 and Sligo Creek Stream Valley Unit #5 will soon be added to Park Police-based sharpshooting operations. He stressed that before a shot is fired, the sharpshooter must track where the bullet will land and ensure there is a backstop. Participants raised the question of birth control rather than culling. This is not deemed currently feasible for such a mobile and unconstrained population. Park police telephone numbers to keep handy:
Emergencies - 301-949-3010.
Non-emergencies, i.e., to report a wounded deer, 301-949-8010.
July 1, 2018: An enthusiastic team of five volunteers led by board member Maurie Kathan removed 9 bags of trash and 8 of recyclables from the stream and banks of the NW Branch behind the Metro station. Many thanks to those who braved the very warm morning to improve the health and beauty of the Northwest Branch!
Chris Lewis, Professional Horticulturist and manager of the garden shop at Behnkes, showed pictures and discussed the attributes of plants that do well in soggy sites.
NNWB sponsored three cleanup sites: Burnt Mills, Broad Acres Local Park, and the stretch of the NW Branch behind the W. Hyattsville Metro station.
A group of 13 explored the Underground Railroad within a remaining patch of woods along the NWB, concluding with a visit to the Sandy Spring African American Slave Museum and Art Gallery.
Ann English, Rainscapes Planner for Montgomery County spoke to our group of about how to turn yards into sponges to reduce polluted runoff into our streams, and how to tap into the county's program of rebates that help offset some of the cost.
A group of over 20 participants were treated to a sight-sound match of birds and their songs, along with interesting information about the birds' habits and talents. Many of these birds are ones we can expect to see on our outdoor bird walk April 7, 9 a.m., Burnt Mills dam.
Check out pictures from a very cold weekend of cleanups at Broad Acres Local Park and the Lamberton Tributary. Both areas contribute trash to the Northwest Branch. Best to get it BEFORE it gets to the Branch.
Participants from White Oak Middle School sign in and pick up bags and gloves for the morning's work.
We would prefer not to have to clean up careless people's trash, but those who help in this endeavor enjoy some camaraderie while they work.
After sorting and consolidation, what we removed from the stream and valley amounted to 13 bags full of recyclables and 12 bags of other trash.
James Graham discusses the hike to Rachel Carson's home along the Rachel Carson Trail on the Northwest Branch.
Walking north upstream on a beautiful day, if unseasonably warm.
After the tour and presentations we toured the pollinator garden.
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