Thirteen volunteers, including five teenagers, cut English ivy from the large oak trees in McCutcheon Park on March 19. They worked to stop the ivy from climbing, which is when it produces seeds. Trees are not prepared to deal with moisture retained on bark by the ivy. The moisture makes trees vulnerable to fungal disease. If the ivy overtakes the tree, it prevents it from getting sunlight.
Lee District Tree Commissioner Jessica Bowser and Mt. Vernon District Tree Commissioner Eleanor Quigley are partnering with Fairfax County's Urban Forest Management Division to increase the urban forest canopy in the Route 1 corridor. They hope to collaborate with the Embark Study Group and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation to plan tree-lined streets, pocket parks, and open spaces that attract people and promote business.