Educational demonstrations, lead by local experts, will be open to the public from 12:30-1:30pm (school groups will visit before lunch).  Topics of discussion will include exotic invasive species identification and control tactics, native plant identification and uses in the landscape, stream bank restoration, and other conservation practices.  The weed pull will run from 8:30am-11:30am and 1:30-2:30pm. Tools, gloves, drinks and snacks will be provided.

We hope you can make it! Come stroll amongst the educational demonstrations and get your burning questions answered from experts in a casual, fun atmosphere. Or, if you are in the mood to break a sweat, please join us as we attack an enormous privet patch crowding out native species adjacent to the Greenway path.  For more information contact Sunny Himes, GRIP project coordinator, at 828-507-1188 or [email protected]. (Note: Big Bear Playground is located on Franklin’s Main Street beside the Little Tennessee River bridges.  Rain date: March 3)

Exotic invasive species are the greatest threat to biodiversity in the United States, second only to habitat loss.  The United States suffers from $1.1-120 billion per year in economic losses due to exotic, invasive species.  Approximately 42% of Threatened or Endangered species are at risk due to non-native, invasive species.