Volunteer support from neighbors and the community constitutes a cherished resource for non-profit organizations like NeighborSpace. Consistent help is key in order to address the ongoing needs of sites, not to mention the number of proactive projects we continue to implement in our green spaces for wildlife and the local community. July saw two passionate and driven volunteer groups join with NeighborSpace staff and board members in an effort to keep our green spaces beautiful and inviting. Interns from Stanley Black and Decker aided in the removal of invasive plant species at Adelaide Bentley Park in Historic East Towson, while volunteers from Union Church removed trash and cleaned graffiti from trees at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills.

As some of our readers may know, NeighborSpace installed an edible forest at Adelaide Bentley Park in the late spring in an effort to provide fresh fruits for wildlife and community members, and I’m pleased to report that the plantings are continuing to grow and some are even producing fruit this season! The group from Stanley Black and Decker directly aided our fledgling food forest by removing four whole bags of invasive vines from around new plantings, giving those shrubs and trees room to breathe and grow.

Over at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, the persistent rainstorms we’ve had over the past few weeks had washed debris and trash into the park. Despite the heat and Maryland summer humidity, volunteers from Union Church cleaned 6 whole bags of trash from around benches, paths, and the stream, including an old car tire! They also cleaned graffiti from several large tulip poplar trees, restoring the overall natural beauty of the site.

The staff and board at NeighborSpace would like to extend a huge thank you to both volunteer groups for donating their time and energy towards the beautification of our parks. We couldn’t have done it without them! If you know of an organization or are part of one that might be interested in volunteering with us, feel free to get in touch! We would love to host you for a work day at one of our parks, and who knows, you might just find a new favorite local green space!