Roland Park Country School students of all ages study
and explore the ecology, geology and aesthetic beauty
of the five-acre urban woodland on our campus known
as the Backwoods. The Backwoods are bounded by
Deepdene Road to the south, St. Mary’s Seminary
to the west, the recently constructed RPCS tennis courts
to the north, and the RPCS academic building to the
east. This unique remnant of an old growth forest contains
a high oak canopy, a mixed middlestory, both invasive
and native plants, considerable wildlife, a wetland,
a spring-fed stream, a springhouse, a dam and structures
that channel the stream. The structures appear
to be from a farm homestead that dates to the 19th
century. The School put the area under Forest
Conservation Easement five years ago in order to preserve
our urban treasure. Thus, these acres are protected
from further development.
The use of the Backwoods for academic purposes has
increased significantly in recent years.
Classes visit this wooded area for the ropes course,
science studies, spring “music walks,” poetry
writing, photography and other pursuits. However, this
increased use has also contributed to environmental
impact on the forest. The understory of the woodland
was being trampled and young trees were potentially
at risk. Use of the stream as a pathway during
field studies was threatening organisms that live in
this habitat, and unsure footings in the stream and
on steep hillsides created safety issues.
Concerned that increased academic use might be detrimental
to the Backwoods and eager to find a way to balance
conservation and use, RPCS science teachers (Martha
Barss, Ereni Gleason and Laurie Meister) applied for
a Faculty Summer Grant to develop a plan to conserve
and enhance the Backwoods.
In late 2002, the School requested proposals for preparing
a Master Plan and selected Farrand & English and
Ecoscientific Solutions as consultants. The purpose
of the Master Plan was to determine ways to enhance
the Forest Conservation Easement by improving the ecological
functioning of the woodland
The plan also involved designing and developing
a sustainable outdoor learning environment for
students of all ages. RPCS was named a Governor’s
Green School in part for this initial work in identifying
a conservation and enhancement program.
In March 2003, a Preliminary Inventory was conducted
as part of the Master Plan. This was presented to RPCS
trustees, employees and representatives from Baltimore
City and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Participants
used this initial meeting to determine how the School
might use the Backwoods in the future. A group
of RPCS science teachers began to develop plans for
integrating the Backwoods into the curriculum at all
levels. In addition, a small team removed invasive
species in a demonstration area so the RPCS community
could see the potential of conservation and improvement.
From 2003 -2005, RPCS worked with the consultants,
involving students in age-appropriate ways whenever
possible, to better understand the Backwoods. Through
this work, two priorities were identified: to remove
invasive species and replace them with native species
and to decrease water run-off causing erosion and undermining
the current path system. In October 2004, RPCS
held the first annual Planting Day and, in April 2005,
a Weeding Day. Students, parents and faculty joined
together to plant native species and, later, to tackle
some particularly invasive weeds with the help of our
new weed wrenches. RPCS also contracted with Environmental
Associates to research and provide solutions to the
water drainage issues that were impacting the Backwoods.
During the 2005-2006 School year, in addition to our
second annual Planting and Weeding Days, RPCS engaged
the services of Jeff Wolinski, Consulting Ecologist,
to undertake a plant community review and to guide
future efforts in conserving the Backwoods. The most
obvious ecological threat to the Backwoods is the spread
of exotic invasive plants. While there are many
exotic species, not all of these are considered to
be invasive. Invasive species are capable of
establishing and persisting in native plant communities
to the detriment of native species. English
ivy, Norway maple and burning bush are the primary
examples in our Backwoods. There are other exotic,
non-native species that were found but are not threatening
to the native biodiversity such as privet and deutzia.
In addition, several species native to Maryland, but
not necessarily to Baltimore City, such as the rosebay
rhododendron were found along the stream.
Jeff Wolinski, with the assistance of field botanist
and ecologist Charlie Davis, identified five separate
plant communities and outlined action steps recommended
for each. Work has begun on what is likely to
be a long term project of clearing each area of invasives
and beginning to reintroduce native species. The five
plant communities - the Pond, the Deepdene Valley,
the Deepdene Slope, the Eastern Slope and the Western
Slope - also require restoration and maintenance of
the trails, and several areas will be reforested.
The
steps taken over the past few years now allow us to
use the Backwoods as part of our K-12 curriculum with
less negative environmental impact. In the past two
years, curricular use has been enhanced by the creation
of a Backwoods website, the standardization of data
collection protocols, and the development of a Field Guide to the Backwoods containing
commonly sighted wildlife and plants. In the future,
additional implementation efforts may include improving
the wildlife habitat and/or constructing carefully-sited
boardwalks. Through a generous gift from an
environmentally conscious alumna, a gazebo for academic
and passive recreational use was built this past spring.
RPCS is confident that this unique area will one day
be transformed into a sustainable learning environment
for students of all ages. If you are interested in
this rare natural resource, put on your hiking boots
and come for a visit! To schedule
a tour of the RPCS Backwoods please contact Carla
Spawn-van Berkum by
phone (410-323-5500) or email (vanberkumc@rpcs.org).
article originially written for the Roland Park
News and Fall Illuminations 2006
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