Saving the Northwest Branch Virginia Bluebell Fields Back to Photo Gallery

The Friends of Sligo Creek website describes the impact invasive plants are having on Sligo Creek Park.

"We are losing the Park to invasive plants. Invasive plants are non-native plants, which out-compete our many native species, and which are growing far faster than our members have been able to remove them. As vines sweep over mature trees and also stifle seedlings, we worry that in ten to twenty years there will be significantly fewer trees. We also expect a smaller array of native plants, as they lose habitat space. If we plan to keep the native plants we have had for centuries, now is the time to act."

In many portions of the Northwest Branch Park, the situation is not much better.

Photo of Northwest Branch Parkland (near Kemp Mill Road) taken over by Multi-flora Rose

There are, however, large areas in the NWB Park that are in relatively good condition. Even these areas, however, are slowly being encroached by invasive plants. The key to defeating these botanical invaders is early identification and intervention. The time to act is now, not when the native plants have disappeared. Re-establishing habitat is difficult.

Every April, on a floodplain in the middle of the Northwest Branch Park, there is an annual spectacle of fields of spring beauties, Virginia bluebells, mayapples, and skunk cabbage. Jack-in-the-Pulpit, wood aster, golden ragwort, and many other wild flowers are interspersed along the floodplain. Invasive plants, though present, have not taken over yet.

Photo of Bluebell Field - Every April, the sky comes to earth on the Northwest Branch
when thousands of Virginia Bluebell flowers bloom.

Photo of Mayapple field

Photo of encroaching invasive plants around bluebell plant

List of invasive plants found along floodplain: Multiflora Rose Barberry Japanese Knotweed Lilies Honeysuckle Garlic Mustard Lesser Celandine Japanese Stilt Grass potentially

In addition to the invasive plants, the fields are being damaged by stormwater runoff. Stream banks are eroding sending soil and patches of bluebells into the Northwest Branch.

Photo of Stormwater Damaged Bluebell Field Stream Bank

Photos of bluebell patches falling into the branch

The only way to save this habitat is through a joint effort of County and community volunteers. Getting the community interested in the problems with invasive plants and stormwater management/LID can be difficult. This unique natural treasure along the Northwest Branch might serve as a useful focal point in addressing invasive plants and stormwater management in the middle portions of the Northwest Branch. In much of Sligo Creek Park, it is sometimes hard to see what we are saving since it is already gone.

Immediate Actions Needed:

The invasive plants need to be brought under control in and around the bluebell fields. A workday that brings in a number of volunteers needs to be planned. Once the area is brought under control, a volunteer(s) will need to periodically monitor and maintain the area.

1. Outreach to schools and community. Work with our points of contacts at local schools to see if there is any interest in Participating. Particularly Northwood High School and Blair High School. Need to determine if feasible to get Springbrook High School involved. Find out if there are community listservs in the surrounding community.
2. Recruit Weed Warrior to "adopt" area.
3. Plan and execute workday. Need to set a date. Need to ensure project does minimal damage to the native plants. This project should be planned and executed by Neighbors of the Northwest Branch. Recruit help from Friends of Sligo Creek and the Weed Warrior Program.

The long range goal of this project should be to recruit community members to join the NNWB. Use this project to increase public awareness of the problems of invasive plants and stormwater runoff. Also, we can use this project to promote public awareness of possible solutions including Low Impact Development solutions. Increased membership will be key if we are going to address the more difficult issue of damage to the stream banks caused by stormwater runoff and the control of invasive plants throughout the Northwest Branch Park.

For more information or if you are interested in helping participate in this project, e-mail Ed Murtagh,