Efforts have been made over the last several years to invasive species from Hazelnut. We're grateful for the help of The Sea Cadets, who removed common buckthorn and garlic mustard in 2022.

                         (the buckthorn before)                                              (Sea Cadets hard at work)

                                                                   (open woodlands after)

2023 also brought the first small-scale restoration effort, with an area of turfgrass replaced with native plants. This includes returning hazelnuts to Hazelnut Park! Though most of the planting is complete, it will take a few years for the plants to fill in and the work to remove invasive species will be ongoing. You can read the original restoration proposal as well as the project update from early fall. 

2025: A larger-scale woodland restoration in partnership with Great River Greening has begun. Contractors were brought in to remove dead ash trees and brush cut the buckthorn. After they follow up with herbicide application later this summer/fall, native grasses will be seeded with other woodland flowers likely to follow (to supplement what is currently growing there). Volunteer opportunities are likely, in addition to the usual spring garlic mustard removal.

Here is a list of invasive species that have been found in Hazelnut Park; the noxious weeds are in red.