July 23, 2025 —If you’ve lived at Lathrop for any amount of time, chances are you’ve heard the word “invasives” and maybe even winced a little at the mention. Plants like bittersweet, glossy buckthorn, Japanese barberry and multiflora rose have long overstayed their welcome on both the Easthampton and Northampton campuses. These invasive species are finally meeting their match thanks to the hard work and dedication of Lathrop residents and staff.
Set on 200 acres — including woods, trails, wetlands and fields — we take our responsibility to care for our land seriously. Stewardship is one of Lathrop’s core values, and it’s never been more visible than it is right now.
Three-Year Invasive Removal Project Underway
Working with the Land Conservation Committee, Barbara Walvoord, a resident, secured a three-year grant to support invasive plant removal across 110 acres of Lathrop land. This work is being done in partnership with the Kestrel Land Trust, which holds the conservation restriction on 78 acres in Easthampton, and with Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding from Northampton and Easthampton.
Invasive removal work includes hand pulling or smothering low-growing invasives with ground cover and using herbicides.
Larger plants, including those over six feet tall, are cut and treated at the stump. Smaller ones are treated using a careful foliar spray technique. Safety and precision are top priorities, especially near trails, brooks and gathering areas. Spray shields are used to protect people and native plants alike.
Lathrop’s three-year goal is ambitious but achievable: reduce targeted invasive species by 90% over three years.
What’s Already Been Done
The Land Conservation group hit the ground running, completing several significant projects in the past year:
- Treated invasive plants on 14 acres in Northampton and 11 acres in Easthampton.
- Bush hogged fields on the Easthampton campus to manage invasive regrowth and create diverse habitats for wildlife.
- Hosted a well-attended public program featuring Peter Curtis, Professor Emeritus of Ecology at Ohio State University, who spoke about Lathrop’s conservation work in the broader context of ecosystem health in the Connecticut River Valley.
- Began an inventory of invasive plants in campus landscaping, with plans to replace them with native shrubs over time.
A Broader Vision for Environmental Action
Lathrop’s commitment to the environment extends well beyond invasive removal. The Environmental Stewardship Committee has also produced a comprehensive 31-page report outlining ways to reduce our carbon footprint and strengthen our environmental practices.
Our work focuses on five key areas: energy, land, water, waste and education.
Stewardship: A Community Effort
Stewardship at Lathrop is a community-wide endeavor. From securing grants to pulling invasives by hand, and from creating detailed environmental reports to leading educational programs, residents and staff show what it means to care for land with intention and love. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished, and even more excited about what’s ahead