INVASION OF JAPANESE KNOTWEED!


Some of us call it “bamboo,” those stalks that have sprung up along the banks of the brook. It is called Japanese knotweed and it is among several invasive species that are rapidly spreading around Pine Tree Brook. Japanese Knotweed grows fast, spreads rapidly and is incredibly hard to eradicate. It will also shade out other more desirable shrubs and plants. Multiflora rose is an invasive briar that strangles shrubs and tress.  We are formulating plans to fight back and manage the growth of these plants and briars.  We need to discuss removal as well as herbicidal remedies. Whatever the long-term solution ends up being, in the short term, we will need neighbors to help cut back the invasive species so that no more native plants are killed.  What’s in the works:

  1. We are proposing Invasive Species Day at the Brook - On a Saturday morning in September, we will hold two concurrent workshops open to all Milton friends of Pine Tree Brook. The first will be for adults to help them identify the invasive species and how we can help control their growth. We will also learn about water quality and the health of the brook. The second workshop will be for kids. Naturalists from the Trailside Museum will lead a fun hour with kids, teaching them about the environment, our brook and what they can do to help preserve this great resource. There might even be a fun activity to take part in as well.

  2. We would like to form teams of people (families, friends, neighbors) to "adopt" sections of the brook. Together, they would monitor the brook and banks, remove invasive species and protect native species.

  3. We are looking into the possibility of starting a program that would allow neighbors to work together with Milton High School students on brook maintenance and clean up. If you are interested in helping with any of these projects, please contact Margaret Carels, 696-3189.

From Dick’s Desk

Greetings to all. I’m happy to update you on the news around the brook. First, due in large part to efforts of the PTBNA and our state legislators, Milton received $100,000 for sediment removal in the brook. The work began earlier will continue from School Street and head toward Turner’s Pond. This money, from the state, is welcome, but we need more.  It’s important that we stay active as a group to maintain and improve our neighborhood and keep our neighborhood desirable. I have some plans in the works for ways to gain momentum.

We have an invigorated advisory board and are looking for people to join us. We are asking for you to officially sign up to be a member (use the attached form), so we can show town officials that the PTNBA is indeed alive and well and full of vigor.

Ongoing projects: Our community service project, Milton Cares with Bears is still up and running. For those of you unfamiliar with this program, the PTNBA buys and collects teddy bears, which we then supply to the Milton Police officers to help comfort children who might be involved in emergencies. Just yesterday I took 45 more bears to the police station. The bear project is a public way for the PTNBA to have a presence in our larger community, but also a great way to help children in crisis.

Please read up on the news around the brook and please contact me with your views and suggestion on any issues.
Thanks,
Dick Russell, Pine Tree Brook Neighborhood Association

dickrussell@pinetreebrook.com

BIORETENTION CELLS

In case you were wondering what those big pits are along the brook. These crater-like indentations are bioretention cells.  They were constructed by the Neponset River Watershed Association (NWRA) and the town, to collect and filter rain water that runs off the streets of the Pine Tree Brook neighborhood. The goal was to make the brook cleaner and to comply with the Clean Water Act. And no, they aren’t exactly what we were told they would be. So, many folks have been asking, “Is this project finished?” Planned to be “large planters filled with various flowers and shrubs whose root systems would be part of the filtration process,” the holes were supposed to be filled and not left empty. So what happened?  According to officials, “estimates met reality,” and there wasn’t enough money to complete the project. The NWRA and the town do have plans to plant native herbaceous perennials this summer and fall both in and around the holes. They are working with a landscape architect to identify appropriate plants. The PTNBA will continue to monitor and assist in the completion of this project. Let us know what you think.

CALLING RESIDENTS OF ELM, GULLIVER AND WENDELL PARK

The PTNBA needs more representation from the south side of the brook. Please renew your membership or join the PTNBA. Some issues that may interest you are the health of the brook and the proposed bike path that may be constructed along the south bank.  If you have an opinion on this, now is the time to start discussion.

DPW WILL PICK UP BROOK CUTTINGS

Some neighbors help maintain the area around the brook by pruning and mowing “thanks to all of you” and note: IF YOU CLEAN THE AREA AROUND THE BROOK, THE DPW WILL PICK UP THE CUTTINGS.  Call them and tell them where to pick up.   617-898-4900.

KIOSK

Plans are being kicked around for a kiosk that will be installed near the brook. This space will be a community message board where we can post announcements (like when the next clean-up will be), and perhaps maps that show walking, hiking, and biking routes that connect to the Pine Tree Brook footpath.

HELP WANTED:

We are LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER TREASURER.  Contact Dick. dickrussell@pinetreebrook.com