Spring Cedar Barrens Cleanup/Weed Wrangle®

The Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens will again be the site of exotic invasive plant removal as we conduct our first official Weed Wrangle® of 2025.  Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, the Barrens is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Division of Natural Areas, and TCWP. The area is one of just a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee, and provides habitat for three state-listed plants: Torrey’s mountain mint, prairie goldenrod, and fewleaf sunflower. It is subject to invasion by bushy lespedeza, leatherleaf viburnum, privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the system’s prairie plants. Our efforts help to eliminate invasives and other shade-producing plants that prevent the prairie grasses from getting needed sunlight.   

Volunteers should meet in the Jefferson Middle School Parking lot at 9 a.m., with sturdy shoes, loppers, gloves, and water.  The work session will conclude at noon with a pizza lunch. For more information, contact Jimmy Groton at 865-805-9908 or groton87@comcast.net