MILFORD, CT — A group of Milford residents is continuing to work to restore Charles Island’s trees.
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Charles Island Reforestation intends to return the island to its former state with a full canopy of trees at the 14-acre site.
William Pursell, a representative of the group, said threats to the island include fungal disease, invasive weeds, and deer.
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“We have planted over 400 trees to date over the last three years,” Pursell said. He added that this is “about 40 percent complete.”
The group plans to continue until the full canopy is restored.
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“The more trees, the healthier the ecosystem will be,” the group posted on Facebook. “The native birds need it for nesting.”
Charles Island Reforestation started after Pursell and his brother, Ken, looked out at the island from their East Broadway cottage and noticed that there were far fewer trees. The island was decimated by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and species of fungus and weeds have strained and killed many trees in recent years.
Last November, group members and state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wildlife Division staff planted 20 native trees on the island, including species like sycamore, red maple, and American basswood.
The island is designated as a Natural Preserve Area “due primarily to its important nesting habitat for several state-listed birds, including snowy egrets and great egrets (state threatened species), glossy ibis, and little blue herons (state special concern),” according to a Connecticut Fish and Wildlife post.
There are volunteer opportunities for Charles Island Reforestation available during the plantings each year.
The organization also accepts donations via PayPal at charlesislandreforestation@gmail.com, or Venmo, @CharlesIsland-Reforestation.
Checks can be mailed to: Charles Island Reforestation, c/o Dolores Hannon, 110 Beach Street, Milford, CT 06450.
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