Ijams weed wrangler volunteer. Image courtesy of Ijams

One of the biggest “pull” parties of the year needs YOU to help restore East Tennessee’s native landscapes.

Ijams Nature Center is looking for volunteers to remove invasive species during the seventh annual Weed Wrangle Knoxville® on Saturday, March 5, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

“Invasive plant removal is vital to protecting native ecosystems,” Ijams Natural Resource Manager Ben Nanny said. “Invasive, non-native species take over native plants and trees that animals and pollinators rely on for food and shelter.”

The 2022 event will focus on six sites. Mary Vestal Park in South Knoxville, and East Knoxville’s Citizens Cemetery and Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum still need volunteers. The sites at Ijams, West High School and William Hastie Natural Area are full.

Preregistration is required; sites fill on a first-come, first-served basis. To sign up, visit Ijams.org/weed-wrangle. The deadline to register is Thursday, March 3.

Ijams Volunteer Coordinator Sammy Shorey said the work can be labor intensive, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

“It’s a wonderful way to get outside and be active, safely spend time with like-minded individuals and make a difference,” Shorey said. “It feels really great to know that you’re helping to protect this region’s history and the habitat that supports the wildlife that makes Knox County—and East Tennessee—so special.”

Ijams Nature Center also hosts monthly volunteer workdays focused on the removal of invasive species, as well as opportunities to be more involved through the Ijams Weed Warriors program.

Created with support from The Aslan Foundation, the Ijams Weed Warriors program features scheduled monthly workdays that are designed to give volunteers hands-on experience with invasive species removal techniques and expand their knowledge of invasive plants, their history and impact on native habitats, native replacement options and more. The program also has Adopt-A-Spot volunteers, who receive training and then manage invasives on specific plots on the Ijams grounds independently and on their own schedule. To learn more about Ijams’ volunteer opportunities, visit Ijams.org/volunteer.

Ijams Nature Center is a nonprofit, 318-acre educational nature center for all ages, abilities and walks of life. Ijams’ mission is to encourage stewardship of the natural world by providing an urban greenspace for people to learn about and enjoy the outdoors through engaging experiences. Located just three miles from downtown Knoxville, Ijams features 12 miles of hiking and mixed-use trails, a public access river dock, swimming, boating, biking and more. The center offers hundreds of educational programs annually, from day camps and school field trips to outdoor and classroom education programs on beginner birding and hiking to wildflower walks and family adventures. The Ijams grounds and trails are open every day from 8 a.m. until dusk. The Visitor Center is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit Ijams.org or call 865-577-4717.