Seventy-two volunteers representing over a dozen community groups came together on November 7th to make the first Community Planting Day a success! Volunteers pitched in to plant dozens of native and well-adaptive plants that will be part of an elaborate demonstration rain garden at Coppell’s Biodiversity Education Center. The event which included the Arbor Day tree planting, was originally scheduled for October 31st, but had to be postponed due to storm warnings.
The project was organized by local non-profit, Friends of Coppell Nature Park in partnership with the City of Coppell. Local Coppell resident and landscape architect, Janna Tidwell created the landscape design as a huge gift to the community. She also drew donations of time from other professionals that advised on irrigation and sustainability. The plants in the design require minimal water and utilize drip irrigation. According to Jen Ferguson, Community Programs Manager with the City of Coppell, “Coppell has an outstanding number of engaged citizens that enthusiastically give back to their community. The native plant demonstration garden will serve as an excellent learning grounds for water conservation and horticulture, further adding to the unique attributes that keeps our city special to our residents.”
“Many hands make light work” was proven true, as volunteers hammered out the planting, mulching, watering, and clean-up before noon! The entire truckload of mulch disappeared quickly as they had five wheelbarrows lined up, using an efficient assembly line for distribution to garden beds. There was great comradery among the diverse groups, as families, community groups and professional associations worked together. One North Lake student said, “It feels good to get outdoors and do something good for the community.”
Come check out the new rain garden and take a walk through the Coppell Nature Park! The Biodiversity Education Center is a “green” constructed net zero building nestled on the sixty-six acres of nature preserve in Wagon Wheel Park. It is available for use by Coppell non-profit entities for meetings and environmental education. It is also a great location for Coppell ISD field trips and facilitates a regular schedule of classes and events that are free to the public. To find out more about the Biodiversity Education Center and to obtain forms for its use, please visit www.coppelltx.gov/BEC . The center may be reached at 972.304.3581 or cnp@coppelltx.gov.