The City of Norman Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Division of Environmental Resilience and Sustainability (DoERS), invites community members to take part in a volunteer tree planting event at Sutton Wilderness on Saturday, April 4, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Volunteers should meet staff at the gazebo located at the entrance of the park, 1920 12th Avenue NE, before participating in a brief training session. Following the training, participants will help reforest targeted areas of the park by planting native seedlings as part of an ongoing ecological restoration effort.

This event supports the City’s work to remove invasive plant species and restore native habitats. 

“Invasive species removal in our wildland parks is important because those invasive plants out-compete our native plant species,” said Colin Zink, City Forester. “Because those invasive species were brought in from Europe or Asia, our native insects and herbivores are not adapted to making good use from them. Since the native insects are not eating or laying their eggs on the invasive plants, that means that the parts of the park that are overrun with invasive species become ‘ecological dead zones’ where – even though the invasive plants appear to be thriving – they are providing no benefits to the local ecosystem.”

Last fall, Zink said, contractors removed several acres of invasive species from Sutton Wilderness, including privet, Eastern Redcedar, and Lacebark Elm. While some areas are being monitored for natural regrowth, select test plots are being actively replanted to accelerate restoration. Volunteers will assist in planting approximately 200 understory tree seedlings, including dogwood, sumac, redbud, and persimmon.

“We are looking forward to another great project with great community volunteers ,” said Michele Loudenback, Environmental and Sustainability Manager for DoERS. “Together we can make a difference in improving our environment, one project at a time.”

All ages are welcome to participate; however, volunteers ages 16 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. Participants are required to wear closed-toe shoes. Long pants and long-sleeve shirts are recommended, along with hats, sunscreen, and bug spray. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a water bottle and work gloves. Water coolers and light snacks will be provided, as well as all necessary tools. Those interested in assisting with additional invasive removal are welcome to bring hand tools such as saws or loppers.

For more information, call (405) 292-9731.