By: Meredith Prescott, Invasive Vines Program Manager, Chesapeake Climate Action Network
When we launched the invasive vine removal program in the fall of 2024, I was bracing myself for an uphill battle.
As organizers, we are taught to strive to make our campaigns relevant, exciting, and urgent. On the surface, invasive vines are none of these things. They are slow-moving, convoluted, and hard to kill. They are a problem that has been decades in the making, without a clear or actionable solution. With so many important and relevant issues in the world, how was I going to make people care about these invasive plants damaging our ecosystem?
Within months of lacing up my boots and hitting the ground, I was shocked to find that people care. People care a lot.
I quickly became acquainted with dozens of individuals who have frustratingly watched vines like English Ivy take over their beloved neighborhood trees.
These community members were concerned and ready to take action. All they needed was a plan and a system of organization. And that’s where the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Casey Trees came in. Together, the organizations teamed up to tackle invasive vines in underserved communities, with the goal of saving thousands of trees.
In our first year of the invasive vine removal program, we’ve organized hundreds of volunteers to rescue trees in their community. These volunteers have been crucial to every step of the process: connecting us with local leaders and city officials, helping capture data on the threat of invasive vines through tree surveying, hanging flyers on doors and talking with their neighbors, and of course, cutting tons and tons of vines.
With the work of over 600 volunteers, we rescued over 3,000 trees being threatened by vines in 2025. This year, we want to do even more!
This Monday, February 23, marks the beginning of National Invasive Species Awareness Week – a week dedicated to raising awareness about invasive species, the threats they pose, and the actions that can be taken to prevent their spread.
If you’re new to the world of invasive plants, consider checking out one of NAIMA’s webinars. Or, if you’re ready to be part of the solution, roll up your sleeves and volunteer with us! We are always looking for new volunteers to join the movement. Check out our upcoming events to find an opportunity to save trees near you.
And if you have an invasive vine growing up trees on your property, you could qualify for free vine removal! Trained CCAN volunteers will come to your home and remove vines from your trees using simple hand tools. Find out whether your home is eligible here.
And, next time you are walking around your neighborhood, I urge you to look around and try to spot some English Ivy. This time of year, it’s particularly easy to see its green footprint climbing up our trees. And, if you do spot them, know that you can do something about it.
About the author: Meredith Prescott is the Invasive Vines Program Manager at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Her relationship with nature began in the wild forests and rocky coastlines of rural Maine, later moving to DC to study public health at George Washington University.
After graduating, Meredith joined the Student Conservation Association, organizing groups of high school students to complete conservation projects in Rock Creek Park in Northwest DC and in parks managed by the National Capital Parks-East in SE DC. She joined CCAN in 2024 to reignite the volunteer program and to protect our natural ecosystem from the threat of invasive plants.
