WEST ALMOND — Spring cleaning got underway on the West Almond Trail System as IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails volunteers assisted with trail maintenance at Phillips Creek State Forest this past Saturday, April 18.

IMPACT was assisted by Scout Pack 1026 from Alfred, Scout Troop 736 from Angelica, the Alfred State College Hiking and Camping Club and various volunteers. Trails 2 and 3 were cleared for spring hiking and summer horseback riding. This was a big task in some areas, requiring IMPACT’s trained chainsaw operators to cut up fallen trees that were blocking the trail.

In the afternoon, IMPACT volunteers and Scouts and leaders from Troop 736 planted oak seedlings at the Western New York Land Conservancy’s Black Creek Preserve. Marcus Rosten, the Land Conservancy’s WNY Wildway director, provided a short course in how to plant a tree prior to hand digging the holes for the new seedlings.

Plants and tree protection materials were supplied by the Western NY Land Conservancy through a grant focused on water quality and watershed protection.

The next opportunity to participate in a tree planting party at the Black Creek Preserve is scheduled for May 6, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Volunteers will help plant 75 native trees along the Black Creek to improve wildlife habitat, stabilize streambanks, and protect water quality. All experience levels are welcome. Please bring sturdy boots and work gloves.

Registration is required at www.wnylc.org/events.

IMPACT is a nonprofit organization assisting with the maintenance, improvement, stewardship and promotion of public lands managed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

IMPACT’s upcoming special events include:

• May 2: I Love My Park Day (a statewide event organized by Parks & Trails NY)

• May 9: Bird walk at Palmer’s Pond, meet at 7 a.m.