In partnership with IslandWood and Nature Consortium, Tilden’s fifth-graders volunteered a full day to restore Seattle’s largest (nearly 500 acres) remaining forest, the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Located in West Seattle, this greenbelt is a vital part of our area’s ecosystem. Its vegetation prevents storm water runoff, filters water, reduces erosion, absorbs carbon dioxide, and provides habitat for local wildlife. Students planted 70 native shrubs (Oregon grape, snowberry, and bald hip rose) and placed approximately 150 square feet of mulch, all while learning more about how to determine how healthy this forest is and the many ways to improve its health. The fifth-graders’ efforts will benefit the forest for generations to come.
