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Local groups and SCC propose townwide plan to tackle wild chervil
Summary
Guests from local groups proposed a townwide wild chervil control initiative that would launch on Green Up Day with mapping, neighborhood action plans, volunteer crews and app-based reporting; SCC members offered support and training ideas.
Guests Jill Wilcox and Carol Langstaff presented a community-led plan to address herbaceous invasive species in Sharon, beginning with wild chervil. They proposed educational outreach on Green Up Day, a mapping exercise to mark infestations, neighborhood action plans, potluck organizing, and coordination of volunteer crews.
"An Action Plan will be created to combat chervil neighborhood by neighborhood, with pot lucks, and possibly crews to get together and commit to roads or area sections," Carol Langstaff said, explaining the proposed structure. Carol also presented a map and invited residents to mark infestation sites so volunteers could prioritize areas.
Commissioners and guests discussed tools to support the effort: Malcolm McShinsky suggested using an app to collect population locations; Troi Perkins highlighted an existing iNaturalist chervil project and suggested trainings on iNaturalist and the Seek app. The Vermont Center for Education offered assistance, and Ashley Community Forest’s May 16 workday (focused on barberry) was identified as an opportunity for broader invasive-species education.
The commission agreed to support outreach and to coordinate channels for reporting infestations, emphasizing that methods vary (pulling, herbicides, mechanical) and that timing matters for effectiveness.
