Durham, N.C. – The Durham County Open Space Program will host several volunteer events this summer at the New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail and Hollow Rock Nature Park. 

These events fall into the two categories of invasive species removal workdays and citizen science hikes.

 Invasive plants pose a serious threat to the health of our local ecosystems by depriving native species of the space and resources they need to flourish. Invasive Species Removal Workdays involve spending three to six hours using various hand tools to remove invasive plants from sensitive habitats. Events like this help to protect biological diversity, clean water and air, rich soils, and abundant wildlife for Durham residents. By removing invasive species, volunteers help repair and restore our County’s vibrant landscapes. 

Invasive Species Removal Workdays are scheduled on July 1, July 15, and August 19.

 Citizen Science Hikes involve a couple hours of hiking on-trail and off-trail while using free citizen science applications to collect scientific data. This information collected and shared can then be accessed, verified, and used by professional and amateur ecologists alike, thereby improving our collective understanding of the natural world and providing insights that can inform effective conservation planning. Researchers from the North Carolina Biodiversity Project, a Durham County Open Space community partner, support that public involvement is a way to promote “greater awareness and appreciation for biodiversity, as well as a greater understanding of its state, all of which are critical for greater and more informed support for biodiversity conservation.” 

Citizen Science Hikes are scheduled on July 9 and July 16. 

To sign up for workdays and hikes, visit https://volunteer.activategood.org/organizations/org-VOce7NIj81. 

The following are the scheduling details of upcoming volunteer events:

Saturday, July 1, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Invasive Species Removal Workday at the New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail, 3791 Southwest Durham Drive 

• Sunday, July 9, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: Citizen Science Hike at Hollow Rock Nature Park, 692 Erwin Road 

• Saturday, July 15, 8:30 a.m.  – 11:30 a.m.: Invasive Species Removal Workday at the New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail, 3791 Southwest Durham Drive 

• Sunday, July 16, 9:00 a.m.  – 11:00 a.m.: Citizen Science Hike at the New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail, 3791 Southwest Durham Drive 

• Saturday, August 19, 9:00 a.m.  – 3:00 p.m.: Invasive Species Removal Workday at the New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail, 3791 Southwest Durham Drive 

For questions about the upcoming volunteer workdays and hikes, contact Open Space Specialist David Bradley at dabradley@dconc.gov or (919) 560-0093.

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