Planting a Native Meridian serves as a practical guide for bringing native plants into your yard! 

Planting a Native Meridian focuses on native habitat restoration in and out of natural areas. We have prioritized native plants in our ecologically sensitive parks and preserves, but we also want to offer support and guidance to homeowners who would like to take a native plant journey in their own backyard!

Even a small patch of native plants can be helpful to the local insects and wildlife that have evolved to know these flowers, trees, and shrubs. Whether you would like to participate in workdays planting native transplants, learn about seed collection, start native landscaping, or just get to know these wonderful species, we are here to help!

Plants are the most important part of our food systems, and they provide an array of benefits such as the air we breathe, cleaner water, and more resilient natural areas. Restoration of these species in our natural areas is of the utmost importance. But don't forget your part as a landowner! Integrating native plants into your yard, will create a diverse mosaic and beautiful refuge.

Please utilize our native plant guide above to start your beneficial backyard journey!

The Vernal Pool Patrol is a statewide citizen science program through the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership that introduces folks to the wonderful world of vernal pools, and how they can become involved in protecting these special places. Those that would like to become a volunteer vernal pool monitor are required to go through the official training. Please visit the Vernal Pool Patrol Training & Events Webpage to see training dates and register.

The mission of the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership is to increase awareness, understanding and protection of vernal pools through conservation, research & mapping, education & outreach and collaboration.

Please visit the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership Webpage for more information on how to get involved. Stewardship Coordinator, Emma Campbell, is the local coordinator for this area. Contact her at ecampbell@meridian.mi.us for local events and resources.

 Check out our MCC Merch store for special edition Vernal Pool Patrol tees!

For those of you who would like to participate in a more passive way, or simply walk the trails everyday, Forest Watch is for you! One of the most valuable assets of our township is the daily involvement from our residents. With 1600 acres, it can be difficult for our staff to keep up with things like fallen trees on the trail, violations of park/preserve rules, and making sure our lands are healthy. As a Forest Watch participant you will be assigned a specific park or preserve of your choosing to report any observations the township should be aware of.

You can also take part in MSU Extension’s Eyes on the Forest program and help us collect data on special Sentinel Trees in the township. This helps us keep track of the health of our forests and is very important to our land management goals.

Do you have a knack for taking pictures in nature? Participate as a photographer and provide us with nature snapshots that will help engage our community in our parks and preserves. Choose the amount of involvement you would like, we just want to utilize your best skills for the benefit of our natural areas and our community!

Michigan's Sentinel Tree Network | Eyes on the Forest Program

Take part in a state-wide citizen science program focused on invasive species awareness to conserve forests. The "Eyes on the Forest" program relies on volunteers like you to monitor Sentinel Trees across the state for signs of invasive forest pests. To keep these unwanted pests out of Michigan we need help from local folks to be a part of a network of volunteers who monitor Sentinel Trees. Please visit the Eye's on the Forest Webpage to sign up. If you would like to monitor trees in our parks and/or preserves, let us know!

Forest Watch Reporting Form | Survey 123

If you would like to be able to report what you see in Meridian Township natural areas, use the Forest Watch Reporting Form. You can report on anything from birds observed, to down trees, and invasive species.

This is a great way to give back to our natural areas on an individual basis or as a group! Help us create a safe and clean space for visitors and wildlife in the park and preserve of your choice. Trash is picked up twice a week by our grounds staff, but there are still many out there that choose to litter on the trail - sometimes the raccoons have a furry hand in spreading the litter as well! That is where you come in!

Count the pounds of trash you pickup and we will add it up at the end of each year. This will help us create signage to educate the public on why it is important to throw away trash and recycle. Go out on an individual basis one day a week, or get your neighbors and friends together and coordinate a monthly cleanup. Decide how and when you are involved. Not only will you help us clean litter off the trails, but don’t forget that the Red Cedar River runs through a majority of Meridian’s natural areas - summer and fall are great times to haul trash out of the river!

Partner with Friends of the Red Cedar and help out with annual cleanups. Become part of something bigger and come together with community members to create happy and healthy green space!

Are you someone who is constantly hiking the trails and picking up sticks? Or maybe you see trails that could use maintenance? Or in some of our preserves there may not be established trails and you would like to see one there? Then this Corps program is for you!Trail Blazers will focus mainly on trail maintenance in our preserves, such as erosion control of mucky areas and clipping back brush! Our grounds staff does a great job maintaining our established park trails - our goal this year though is to create better accessibility in our preserves, some of which were just purchased in the last few years. You could be the person that helps us understand where a trail would be useful, or if an established trail needs just a little more love. Do you ever think there could be trail signage where there is none? You can help us GPS paths in order to create better signage and increase inclusion and safety in the township’s preserves. Whether you are simply moving sticks and limbs off the trail or getting involved with the Land Preservation Board to create new trails, you are blazing the way for the rest of us!

Are you someone who pulls garlic mustard out of their yard every spring? Or maybe you don’t know the first thing about invasives, but you want to help restore native habitat? Maybe you just want to get out in nature? Whichever you are, this Corps program is for you!

Our invasive species strike team is on the forefront of conservation, creating healthier ecosystems for future generations of plants, insects, wildlife, and humans alike! Invasive species are one of the leading threats to native ecosystems around the world, reducing sun, nutrients, and space for beneficial native plants. Help us restore these systems while spending time in our beautiful natural areas. If you are experienced, you can help guide our new volunteers. If you are new, you will learn in no time! With newbies, veterans, and experts alike, these invasive workdays will leave you feeling invigorated and better equipped to take on environmental sustainability!

If you want a detailed overview of invasive species, and which ones to look out for locally, check out the Training Webinar below!  

Meridian Township Invasive Species Management Plan

Invasive Species Mobile Apps

Garlic Mustard Identification & Fact Sheet

Dame's Rocket Identification & Fact Sheet

Check out our Meridian Conservation Corps Merch Store for MCC tees and sweatshirts!

We also have a special Vernal Pool Merch sale going on right now. Wear your support if you think Vernal Pools are Shrimply the Best!