BY TARALYNN REYNOLDS, GROUP FOR THE EAST END OUTREACH AND EDUCATION MANAGER

Herb garden at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue

It’s no secret that organizations were forced to make quick changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in March, following a directive from the Town of Southold, Group for the East End ceased all in-person programming. We knew right away how important it would be for people to still experience and enjoy nature, and we shifted our focus to creating a blog and virtual programming people could attend in the safety of their own homes. Here is an update on how the Group adapted during this crisis…

Spring at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue was scheduled to be busy and not all programs would be suited to a virtual format. However, we were able to switch four programs to Facebook Live, You Tube and Zoom programs. Viewers learned how to set up a beehive with local apiarist Chris Kelly of Promised Land Apiaries. Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons’ Karen Testa led a discussion on “Overcoming Hurtles for Turtles.” Kids of all ages and those young at heart got to meet the animals at Quogue Wildlife Refuge. In a special partnership with Long Island Native Plant Initiative and Peconic Estuary Program, we led an amazing virtual program on native plant gardening for better water quality. We’ve also come up with creative ways to use the nature center to film nature-based crafts for kids, summer reading recommendations and informational videos about the species that call Downs Farm their home.

With some time freed up from in-person programming, the preserve herb and pollinator area received some attention. In early March, right before COVID took hold, I spoke with the Town to remove invasive plants in the area behind the pollinator and herb garden area. It has made a big difference and we are now seeing some native plants returning on their own. To date, we’ve identified four species of goldenrods and the return of common milkweed, the host plant for Monarch butterflies.

We’ve been continuing our work pushing back the invasive plants in order to create space and time for native plants to move in. The common milkweed stand is doing really well and we work in the pollinator area regularly. We are excited to work with the Town to increase native areas.

Our environmental associate Stephanie Licciardi and I have been filming short videos at the preserve on a variety of topics. Check out “Gather Your Gear” and a reading of a book on Monarch butterflies on our Facebook page! We also did a butterfly life cycle craft video, recorded a book on butterflies in the nature preserve as well as other recommended reading videos for kids in the nature center as the summer progresses. In June, I did a series on invasive plant species that was shared on our social media pages as well as on Long Island Native Plant Initiative and Long Island Invasive Species Management Area. That series was on identifying and removing invasive plants found commonly in our yards. You can find many of these posts and videos on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

You can often find a Groupie at the preserve, cutting back invasive species, cleaning up around the nature center and trails, weeding pollinator beds, or simply walking and enjoying our local flora and fauna. We’re always excited to see other visitors to the trails, too, who are happy to see all of the work still being done despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

We hope as things slowly return to normal that we will see more people enjoying nature. Until then, the Group’s blog is an excellent resource for exploring the natural environment at home, on the trails, or at the beach.

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