Making a Difference on National Make a Difference Day! Oct 27 2021

Amidst the falling leaves of early autumn, some 44 volunteers donated close to 90 hours toward GOCA’s National Make a Difference Day event on Saturday, October 23.

One group, under the lead of Ralph and Janet Tener, planted over 200 daffodil bulbs under the woods at the entrance to the park. Oakton residents driving by can look forward to a show of color early each spring, although it may take a few years for the plants to establish their full glory. In the coming year GOCA hopes to continue to beautify of this area of the park with plantings of flowers native to this region.

Two shifts of other volunteers made significant progress ridding the trail in the woods of invasive plants. Under the leadership of Oakton’s own newly-minted Invasive Management Area (IMA) leads Willow Martin and Ann Balch and veteran County approved IMA mentors Sara Holtz and Heidi Allen, these volunteers removed such invasives as autumn olive and vines that have been strangling trees and blocking the trail. These efforts will help to restore native plants and wildlife in the Park. Later this year, volunteers under GOCA and the Fairfax County Park Authority’s IMA program will begin planting native trees and plants in cleared areas in the woods beyond the trails to help bring the woods back to a healthier state.

Additional volunteer days will take place on November 14th and December 6th—stay tuned for notice of how to sign up. In the meantime, anyone who has any questions can address them to contact@greateroakton.com.