Restoring a Remarkable Meadow Habitat

For the past few years, SVT has worked with our partners in Concord and dozens of volunteers to restore a wildflower meadow at Gowing's Swamp. Through targeted herbicide applications and many hours of effort at this SVT conservation area, we have removed invasive Japanese knotweed, glossy buckthorn, Asian bittersweet, and porcelain berry.

These efforts combined with putting down a native riparian seed mix have yielded remarkable results: Visitors to Gowing's Swamp in Summer 2024 were greeted by a thriving native plant meadow filled with black-eyed Susans, Joe pye weed, wild bergamot, and other flowering perennials and grasses. We've often reported on the progress of the project over the years, and we are delighted by its continued success. 

Invasives still pop up, but they are much more manageable. Through persistent staff and volunteer efforts, Gowing’s Swamp will be a wonderful place for visitors to connect with nature for years to come.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who are part of this habitat restoration.