by John Besser

In the past two years, CAS has had several shared activities with the Missouri Conservation Corps. We held two well-attended bird walks at Kiwanis Park, where MCC has accomplished a remarkable project to remove bush honeysuckle. Stephen Bybee of MCC followed up with a presentation to CAS membership about recruitment of volunteers for this project over the past several years.

Now CAS and MCC are planning a collaborative workday to remove bush honeysuckle from the City of Columbia’s Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary. Bonnie View is located adjacent to CANS, where honeysuckle is largely under control. We hope that further removal of honeysuckle from Bonnie View will improve habitat and reduce recolonization of honeysuckle into CANS.

We will gather at the Bonnie View picnic shelter at 3300 West Rollins Road on October 12 at 9 AM and break up into small workgroups. Jobs will include cutting honeysuckle stems with hand saws and loppers, hauling cut stems to brush piles, and killing the stumps with herbicide. Wear sturdy boots and work gloves. Lunch (probably pizza) and cold drinks will be provided.

Please RSVP to John Besser (jbesser1@gmail.com) so we can plan for food and supplies.