Board plans April–May site visit and informational session on invasive barberry; herbicide discussion proposed

The Ashley Community Forest Board agreed Jan. 8 to pursue an April–May on-site informational visit to review treatment options for an extensive barberry infestation on the Sharon parcel.

Chair David Paganelli described his experience treating invasive plants and proposed inviting Markus Bradley of Redstart Forestry, volunteers who have worked on invasive plant control, and members of the public to the site to view the barberry thicket and hear about the relative costs and effectiveness of mechanical versus chemical control. "Planning is only good if implemented!" DP said when discussing the need to follow through on recommended actions.

Board member Malcolm McShinsky said seeing the site and hearing expert guidance may motivate more residents to participate in mechanical pulling. The board discussed that mechanical pulling alone has proved relatively ineffective for large barberry infestations and that a mixed strategy may be required. The Board agreed to pursue the April–May site visit with Markus Bradley and to schedule at least one volunteer workday for stump cutting, brush cleanup and preliminary trail flagging.

DP and members agreed that specific treatment decisions (for example, whether to use herbicide) will be made at a future meeting after the public site visit and after the Board has had a chance to review techniques, costs and alternatives presented by the expert and volunteers. The board assigned informal tasks to members to cut visible stumps and flag potential trail connections as conditions permit.

The board will report back at its next regular meeting and include time to deliberate treatment options and any follow-up steps needed to implement a control plan.