Preserve
Scarborough Woods

Virginia bluebells, a spring ephemeral,  in  Scarborough Woods. 

Restore, Renew, Recover

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Wild geranium, a native spring ephemeral, blooming in a healthy woods

Reimagine

Imagining what the woods looked like 50 years ago--and what it might look like 50 years from now--inspires our efforts. Pictured above: a healthy leaf-covered forest with spring wildflowers.

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Invasive lesser celandine carpets a large area of Scarborough Woods

Remove

Over a period of years we will be removing invasive plants, including garlic mustard, euonymus (wintercreeper), English ivy, porcelain berry, and lesser celandine, which can crowd out native flora.

A rare, native rattlesnake fern emerges in Scarborough Woods

Replant

We will replace aggressive, invasive plants with trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that are native to the Eastern Deciduous Forest.

Upcoming Spring Workdays 

Preserve Scarborough Woods has scheduled four upcoming workdays with Cincinnati Parks: 

– Saturday, April 25, 9am-noon 
– Saturday, May 16, 9am-noon 

We will continue removing invasive plants and will be planting native trees and shrubs.  Meet at the Wold Ave. entrance, the blacktop driveway near the intersection of Wold and Dexter Ave. (south of Dexter) and across from a fire hydrant.  We recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants as poison ivy is present if not always visible. Gloves, appropriate tools, water & snacks will be provided. Questions can be directed to info@preservescarboroughwoods.org. If you have not already registered as a volunteer with Cincinnati Parks and signed a waiver, please do so by visiting:
https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/3ef7a4d9-44cf-40b9-aa64-6068529691e0/1

Annual Meeting Held Nov. 18, 2025
The Preserve Scarborough Woods Annual Meeting, with generous financial support from the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, was held Nov. 18 at the Evanston Recreation Center. Preserve Scarborough Woods board members and Cincinnati Parks conservationists reviewed and discussed progress made in 2025 and next steps for 2026. You can request a copy of the minutes from the meeting by emailing us at info@PreserveScarboroughWoods.org.
 

CINCINNATI PARKS TREATS INVASIVE AILANTHUS, HOST TREE FOR THE INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY

Cincinnati Parks arborists recently treated about 10 mature and invasive ailanthus (tree of heaven) trees in Scarborough Woods. Ailanthus is the preferred host tree for the invasive spotted lanternfly. Cincinnati Parks Conservationist Greg Torres says the spotted lanternflies  are everywhere now, unfortunately but adds, “I do not think they will not cause the damage that was expected. Anecdotal cases in New York and Pennsylvania seem to indicate they reach a stasis.” Greg says that birds also seem to be eating them, as he has seen “lanternfly bodies picked apart with just the wings on the ground.” If you have a tree of heaven on your property, consult a tree expert regarding the treatment and removal process.

A volunteer holds one of two spotted lanternflies found in Scarborough Woods on July 26.
We thank Cincinnati Parks for creating and installing our beautiful sign, which appears near the entrance to our loop trail. You can enter Scarborough Woods on foot via the rough blacktop driveway on Wold Ave., near the Wold-Dexter intersection and across the street from a fire hydrant.
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John Dwyer, the new Land Manager for Cincinnati Parks, smiles after felling a giant invasive Amur honeysuckle during our October workday. During that workday volunteers also extablished a new pawpaw grove with 30 saplings.

"Volunteering with Cincinnati Parks is a very rewarding experience. My interest is in removing invasive species and supporting forest restoration with native plants."

Cincinnati Parks volunteer

Mark Johnson

ABOUT US

Preserve Scarborough Woods, Inc., is an Ohio nonprofit corporation.

A small group of Cincinnati Parks volunteers formed Preserve Scarborough Woods to facilitate the ecological restoration of a valuable urban greenspace that is owned by the Cincinnati Park Board. We are an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff.

Surprise emergence in 2023: Virginia Bluebells

QUESTIONS?

If you would like to learn more about Scarborough Woods, or if you would like to become a Cincinnati Park Board volunteer, please contact us at info@preservescarboroughwoods.org or sign up at https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks/get-involved/volunteer/