Preserving a glorious meadow: HCT volunteers get their hands dirty at Muddy Creek

In the great parade of time and landscapes, a meadow can be a fleeting thing. It has its moment in the sun, and then the nearby trees start eyeballing the open space. Next thing you know, some peppy pitch pines are busting a move and the transformation to forest has begun.

But Cape Cod meadow fans can rejoice at Muddy Creek Headwaters Preserve, a spectacular Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) property where a field of dreams can be enjoyed right in front of the parking lot!

As you may have guessed, maintaining a meadow takes a bit of work. And when the word “work” flits across the breeze, a group of environmental superheroes takes note and springs into action. Yes, it’s HCT volunteers, the can-do crew that can size up a meadow, note the invasive plant species and woody growth that are grabbing a toehold, and remove them with style and flair.

The HCT Land Stewardship Team was named Volunteers of the Year at HCT’s recent annual meeting for their year-round efforts that make a huge difference for land, water and wildlife. Whether it’s planting pollinator gardens, building and installing benches or tackling invasive species, these amazing volunteers step up, pitch in and have a whole lot of fun.

If this kind of enriching adventure sounds like fun, consider becoming an HCT volunteer. We have a ton of cool opportunities available, including trail maintenance, wildlife habitat enhancement, bird nest box monitoring, office operations, citizen science projects and more. Click here to fill out our volunteer interest survey and we’ll be in touch!

Disturbance and succession

At Muddy Creek, “we have re-created a sandplain grassland, which is the kind of meadow habitat that we have on Cape Cod,” said Connor O’Brien, HCT’s Land Stewardship Director. “Historically, we used to have a lot more of this type of habitat, because this is what would happen five to ten years after a forest fire. And we know a little bit about some of the stewardship methods that the Indigenous People used, and they would use fire pretty frequently as a tool.”

Lightning strikes could also cause forest fires, starting up that disturbance and succession process. And during the time of European settlers, grazing livestock could provide an almost continuous disturbance that would keep meadows in place for longer periods of time.

But, “invasive plants also thrive in recently disturbed areas,” said O’Brien. “So, as part of our management program, we target those invasive plants and remove them. Today, we’re pulling mugwort, English ivy and some wisteria.”

Mugwort was the main culprit in the meadow, while English ivy was sneaking in from the edge of the woods. Volunteers fanned out and got down to business. This kind of land stewardship isn’t glamorous — it’s about winning the day and knocking things back. Luckily, HCT volunteers are more determined than invasive plants, a rare and wondrous thing!

English ivy and mugwort, begone!

According to the National Park Service, invasive English ivy “can engulf anything it can climb over and smothers small plants or whole trees.” It was likely brought to our shores by early European settlers who valued its decorative appearance. But once it gets going, English ivy can grow prolifically, creating a monoculture that can crowd out native species.

And that pesky mugwort is no slouch, either. It loves disturbed soil and can spread quickly, mainly via underground rhizomes (interconnected roots), and also by seed dispersal.

For Cape Codders who see it popping up in their gardens, “hand pulling very young plants in spring or early summer, before formation of rhizomes, may keep spread of populations in check and prevent establishment of new colonies,” according to the University of Connecticut Extension.

Two hours of steady volunteer work yielded impressive results. The meadow at Muddy Creek stands ready to welcome butterflies, dragonflies and folks who seek a refreshing burst of beauty in the midst of a bustling Cape Cod summer. We welcome you to spin by and enjoy the splendid view, artfully curated by Mother Nature and the HCT Land Stewardship Team!

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—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.