**Due to the situation with COVID-19 (coronavirus), we have decided to postpone this workshop until further notice. The health and safety of all involved is our top priority. We took great care in considering the best course of action, and while this is disappointing, we hope everyone will understand the decision. Please contact us to hear about future workshops.**
The Hemlock Restoration Initiative will be giving a hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) management workshop on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4, 2020* at McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, NC.
Workshop Schedule (details below):
Friday, 6-8 pm: Overview of HRI, hemlocks, HWA, and IPM (classroom presentation–open to general public)
Saturday, 9 am-4 pm: Hands-on chemical treatment workshop (lunch provided)
Workshop Details:
On Friday afternoon from 1 to 4 pm, we will offer an optional session that will cover biological control of HWA, past and current efforts to integrate biocontrol in Buncombe County and beyond, and how to monitor for the presence of HWA-predators on your own property. Please indicate on the registration form if you would like to attend this portion.
The evening presentation from 6 to 8 pm on Friday will provide background and context for the field portion of the training the following day, covering the ecological importance and value of hemlocks in urban and community forests, the biology of HWA and other hemlock pests, integrated pest management strategies, and the role of the Hemlock Restoration Initiative in North Carolina’s various hemlock management efforts. The Friday evening presentation is required for workshop participants but is also open to the general public without paid registration. If you would like to attend just the evening portion and not the entire workshop, please RSVP by phone or email at the contact information below.
From 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, we will use the trees present on along the nearby greenway to learn and practice a variety of methods to chemically treat hemlocks available to all landowners in North Carolina. Participants will receive instruction and hands-on practice, as well as additional time in the classroom to review what was practiced in the field. We will cover the details of chemical treatment, including how to identify hemlock trees; assess individual tree health and infestation severity; select, mix, and safely apply products; as well as when to seek help from a tree care professional. Lunch Saturday will be provided. Please indicate any dietary restrictions on the registration form.
*In the case of cancellation due to weather or other circumstances the workshop will be moved to April 17 and 18.
Participants will take home a small treatment starter kit. NC Pesticide Applicators and ISA members can get credits for attending. We ask that Saturday participants plan to attend for the entire time to ensure that everyone receives complete information. This includes attending the Friday evening presentation from 6-8 pm.
Registration for the workshop is requested by March 20. To register, visit SaveHemlocksNC.org/registration. Registration is $10 per participant. Unless HRI decides to cancel the event, registration fees are non-refundable but can be applied to another workshop or treated as a tax-deductible donation to HRI. For questions, email info@savehemlocksnc.org or call the HRI office at (828) 252-4783.
Funding for this project was provided in part through an Urban & Community Forestry Grant from the North Carolina Forest Service, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, Southern Region.