Volunteers Help Restore Hilltop Reservation

Local volunteers kicked off a project to restore several acres of woodland at the Essex County Hilltop Reservation in April.

Led by the Hilltop Conservancy, the group planted, mulched and fenced 10 deer exclosures and removed thousands of invasive wineberry and privet plants, according to Theresa Trapp, treasurer of the conservancy.

These projects, Trapp explained, are part of a master plan to regenerate seven acres of the forest understory at the reservation, which straddles North Caldwell, Verona and Cedar Grove.

In early April, native plants — such as redbud, serviceberry, arrowwood and summersweet — were planted and then protected from deer with eight-foot fencing.

The conservancy also spread tons of wood chips from recent storms, which saved Verona the estimated $59,000 cost of disposing the excess mulch, Trapp said. The mulch will decompose into top soil in about three years.

Members of the conservancy will monitor the exclosures, weeding as necessary and introducing new native plants. The fencing will remain in place for about four-to-five years, until the plants mature and outgrow the reach of deer. 

The Hilltop Reservation is a 280-acre preserve set aside in 2002 for passive recreation, such as hiking, biking and birding. 

In 2003, the Hilltop Conservancy was formed by a group of volunteers dedicated to improving and restoring the wildlife habitat.

The conservancy has already restored a 10-acre meadow, which was previously part of the Essex County Sanatorium site. An additional three-acres are currently being restored. 

To learn more about the Hilltop Conservancy, visit www.hilltopconservancy.org.