Friends of Silvoor Biological Sanctuary are hosting a “honeysuckle hack,” 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, Peffer Park on U.S 27, Oxford. 

All are invited, from experienced hackers to first-timers, to assist in clearing this invasive species known for choking out native undergrowth. 

According to the Ohio Environmental Council, honeysuckle was first introduced to the United States in 1897 as a decorative, ornamental plant. Known for being extremely aggressive and invasive, it quickly became one of the most dominant plant species in the Central Ohio region.

The shade and cold tolerant, heat and drought-resistant plants have the ability to easily crowd out native growth while causing health issues for the birds and deer who eat their high sugar, nutrient-lacking berries. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, the plant is also a preferred nesting host for mosquitos, where it’s known for generating high survival rates for mosquito hatchlings in aquatic environments. 

Volunteers are asked to sign up on this sheet before meeting at the Peffer Park pavilion, south of Chestnut Lane, Saturday afternoon. While it’s not required, the signup sheet includes a section for volunteers to bring their own supplies. The sanctuary recommends this event for children 12 and up and notes that work areas include both steeper slopes and flatter ground.