Muddy.
Seems your concern was confirmed. Hopefully those several years have given those shrubs a chance to hunker in and many birds and other creatures will be sustained by your restoration efforts
Not sure if I mentioned this before or not but perhaps it bears repeating.
A community here with 200 acres of 'common' woods has implimented a restoration plan for same. They divided the common woods up into 2 acre plots and assigned a plot to each home owner to care for. Phase I has been removal of invasive plants specifically ivies and vines, with community work days scheduled
in conjunction with County/State and several environmental groups and tools on hand. In two years native plants are 'returning. Home owners who do not manage their plot are assessed additional Associations fees but over 80% have joined in the fun! * Yes, they also have a long range deer population management program. They hope to shift the yard and garden feeding back to forest, forest edge and expanded wild/natural areas throughout the community. Balance and sustainability are always moving and evolving challenges and opportunities.
*It's sooooo much easier to be out there working and doing when Wayne is out there working and doing, too!
