On Saturday, February 15 from 9 a.m. to noon, Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) will celebrate LOVE Your Park Day at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve at Mountain Lakes House in Princeton.

During this volunteer session, attendees will join FOPOS members in identifying and removing target invasive species from the woodlands as well as free native trees and shrubs from encroaching vines. Come spring, the cleared area will be better able to host native wildflowers, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife that depend on the habitat with which they co-evolved.

All ages are welcome, but children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. It is recommended that volunteers wear long sleeves, long pants, and good work boots. FOPOS will provide all necessary tools including work gloves, loppers, saws, and pruners.

In addition to pre-registering via Eventbrite, new volunteers must complete a waiver form at https://form.jotform.com/80886904765169. For any other questions, email info@fopos.org.

Since its founding, FOPOS has helped to establish over 1,000 acres of parkland and network of trails that nearly encircles Princeton. Through grants and contributions of hundreds of people in the community, FOPOS has helped to raise over $4.5 million for the purchase of land and acquisition of easements on properties that might have been bulldozed for development. In addition to land preservation, FOPOS also leads in stewardship, from creating and maintaining hiking trails, boardwalks, and footbridges to the removal of invasive species and the replanting of native varieties. FOPOS also sponsors community programs and activities, such as nature walks and educational workshops, and advocates for governmental actions that protect our water, land, animals, and plant communities.

Ready to take action? Learn more about donating a tree and The Forest Restoration Project at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve in Princeton at  https://www.fopos.org/forest-restoration-project-3.

Mountain Lakes House is located at 57 Mountain Avenue in Princeton.