By 1808Delaware
Deer Haven Park has a stubborn invader, and it isn’t subtle. Bush honeysuckle has pushed across acres of parkland, crowding out native species and turning healthy ecosystems into dense thickets. Last year’s Honeysuckle Hack Festival brought volunteers with loppers and gloves to tackle the problem, and it worked. This fall, the event returns — with an upgrade.
On Saturday, November 8, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Preservation Parks will host the 2nd Annual Honeysuckle Hack Festival at Deer Haven Park, 4183 Liberty Road in Delaware. The goal: clear five more acres of invasive honeysuckle and raise $25,000 to restore native habitat.
There’s also a twist. Humans won’t be the only ones attacking the honeysuckle. A herd of goats from Goats on the Go is coming back, ready to graze on whatever volunteers cut down. Think of it as a friendly showdown: people vs. goats, each playing to their strengths.
Why Removing Honeysuckle Matters
Honeysuckle may smell sweet in spring, but ecologists know it’s trouble. The plant spreads quickly and aggressively, blocking sunlight and taking nutrients that native plants need to survive. Over time, wildlife loses food sources and places to nest. Honeysuckle thickets also create fire hazards because of their density and dry, woody branches.
Removing it opens the canopy, lets sunlight return to the ground, and gives native plants a chance to grow again. When native plants return, insects return. Then birds. Then everything else that depends on a functioning habitat. Clearing even a few acres creates a ripple effect.
How to Get Involved
No special experience is required. Volunteers will be shown how to cut and haul honeysuckle to areas where the goats take over. If physical work isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do. The festival includes hands-on activities for kids, a Touch a Truck area featuring utility vehicles, and food trucks on site.
Volunteer registration:
https://preservationparks.recdesk.com/Community/Calendar
Step-by-step sign-up instructions:
https://preservationparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/How-to-Sign-Up-to-Volunteer-Instructions.pdf
Five acres. One day. A determined group of volunteers and a herd of goats with an appetite.
The honeysuckle won’t stand a chance.
