Stewarding the Greenway, One Tree at a Time
Did you know that volunteers caring for the nursery are helping create healthier habitats for people, wildlife, and future generations? The Greenway Trust Native Plant Nursery, located in Lake Sammamish State Park, provides a home for 20,000 native trees and shrubs to grow healthy and strong. After one to two seasons of growing, these plants are added to restoration sites within the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area to strengthen and nurture local ecosystems. This often leads to improved habitats for wildlife such as birds and salmon.
Volunteers organize and clean the nursery, pot plants, remove weeds, plant trees and shrubs, and arrange mulch at restoration sites. This essential support has made a significant impact on habitat restoration and overall maintenance of the nursery year-round. Last year, 615 volunteers, including 251 youth volunteers, dedicated more than 2,100 hours to caring for the nursery. They also potted up 2,480 bareroot plants at the beginning of the season!
Greenway Volunteer Spotlight: Diana Ning
The hard work of dedicated volunteers supports restoration projects and drives our impact across the Greenway NHA landscape. This month, we are excited to kick off our Greenway Volunteer Spotlights by highlighting Diana Ning and why volunteering at the nursery is important to her.
Diana first volunteered with the Greenway Trust as a high school student in 2012. Since then, she has found that volunteering has been a fulfilling way for her to get outside, connect with other community members, and make a difference close to home.
Q: How long have you been volunteering with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust? And what keeps you motivated to help the environment throughout the year?
A: I volunteered a few times with the Greenway Trust when I was in high school, around 2012. Now that I’ve finished college and started working, I really needed something that would get me out of the house. I remembered working with the Greenway Trust so long ago and was happy to see that you all were still around and hosting events, so I started signing up again. Working in an office all week is the best motivation for going out and volunteering throughout the year!
Q: You’ve dedicated many hours to helping baby trees! What inspires you to help plant future restored habitats, and why is this work meaningful to you?
A: To me, it’s only fair that we should be responsible stewards of the land that we live on and take so much from. I think I’m only making a very small difference, but it’s satisfying to go out there and see the areas that need maintenance and to do it yourself.
Q: What is a memorable moment or highlight from your volunteering experience?
A: During last year’s Annual Tree Planting Celebration event, a fellow volunteer dug up some animal bones when she was digging a hole for a plant. We also saw a tree frog (and the little guy was alive)!
Q: What’s your favorite place in the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area, and why is it special to you?
A: Probably the area that I spend the most time in, which is Sammamish! I think the places we see every day are often the ones we hold most dear, as fun as it is to go to new areas and explore.
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to stay connected to the Greenway?
A: Well, obviously volunteering! But I also like to hike. There are so many trails that have been built and lovingly maintained by multiple groups, including the Greenway Trust, so you might as well take advantage!
Q: What is one thing you’ve learned through volunteering about the environment, history, or heritage within the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area that you didn’t know before?
A: I learned a lot about plant identification for native and invasive species. The volunteer coordinators and other volunteers often have backgrounds in science and will talk about biology, ecology, gardening, birding, foraging, and more.
Q: How has volunteering impacted your life?
A: Being outside, being active, hanging out with cool people, and doing something for a good cause—all these things make the brain happy.
Q: How has volunteering strengthened your personal connection to the Greenway?
A: Even living here for so many years, I had never visited many of the sites that the Greenway Trust services. It’s great to discover these areas and appreciate the amount of effort it has taken to maintain them.
Q: What advice or encouragement would you give to someone interested in volunteering with the Greenway Trust?
A: Go for it! Bring your friends! If you’re like me and don’t have anyone in your life willing to wake up before noon, go by yourself! There are lots of friendly folks who come to these events, and they’re fun to work with. Go to one event to see what it’s like, and I promise you’ll enjoy it enough to want to sign up again.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Greenway Trust community?
A: Big thanks to all the folks putting on the events and to those who show up. You didn’t have to put so much effort into the work, but you did anyway!
We are grateful for the many hands who help us tend to native plants, restore habitats, and steward land within the Greenway NHA landscape. Sign up for an upcoming volunteer event and join our community of volunteers who also care about conserving and protecting the lands we all love!
