Fighting invasive species: Local company helps out at Laketown Township park

LAKETOWN TWP. — A group from a local business joined Laketown Township’s fight against invasive species this month.

A crew of 10 people from Alpha Nurseries donated their time and effort to address invasives in Laketown’s Farview Park on Wednesday, July 17.

The volunteers addressed autumn olive and multiflora rose in the 87-acre park. Five used chainsaws to cut through the plants, while five carried a chemical treatment to help prevent them from growing back.

The company also volunteered to help fight invasives in the township last summer. Company president Jeff Busscher hopes their work encourages others to get involved.

“Hopefully this encourages others to take some action, whether it’s on their land or in a park,” he said.

Alpha Nurseries, located at 3737 65th St. in Laketown Township, is a wholesale seedling company that grows and sells a variety of native plants for habitat restoration and improvement projects.

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Autumn olive and multiflora rose were both used for erosion control at one time. Because of its fast-growing nature, autumn olive can push out native species. Clearing the invasives will help native plants thrive in the park.

Laketown Township also works with the Outdoor Discovery Center to manage invasive species in its parks, including Asian bittersweet treatment at Farview Park. Autumn olive is also treated at the township hall, Wolters Woods Park and Huyser Farm Park.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.