SLOCOMB, Ala. (WDNews) — The City of Slocomb Fire-Rescue Department is asking residents to “trust the process” as crews continue work to improve the city’s 32-acre nature trail.
According to the department, firefighters are working with the city’s street department on a prescribed burn management plan that began two winters ago. The goal is to encourage native plant growth and improve wildlife habitat.
Officials said some areas of the trail may not look as attractive while the work is underway.
“This results in the woods not ‘being pretty’ for a period of time, but trust the process,” the department said.
Part of the management work includes removing nonnative plants and thinning areas where trees have become too thick for sunlight to reach the ground.
The city also plans to work with Alabama Power on an agreement to plant native grasses beneath power line rights of way that cross the park.
Officials said another concern is kudzu, which has invaded part of the property. The city plans to treat the kudzu with herbicide soon.
“Kudzu will aggressively climb over and kill full grown trees by blocking the light!” the department said.
Nonnative Chinese privet growing beneath mature longleaf pines is also being removed in an effort to return the area to a more natural longleaf forest.
The department encouraged residents to continue using the trail while the habitat management work continues.
“We encourage citizens to use the trail and enjoy this local resource we have! GET YOUR EXERCISE. Preventative medicine is the best!” The department said.