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That video zooms in on a well-gnawed tree that we learned about while talking to volunteer forest steward Mike Arizona near one of the beaver ponds in Delridge Natural Area. Mike agreed to meet us there to preview two major work parties he’s organizing, one for tomorrow (Saturday 10/11), one for next month (Saturday 11/8) – steps away from busy Delridge Way, but a world away – read on to find out more about them, and about those beavers:

The big semi-clearing with the pond is across the street from the Boren school site that now hosts Chief Sealth High School (temporarily), but you would never know it while you’re standing on the trail, looking toward the pond. Mike explains that if you really want to see the beavers, you need to go around dusk – that’s when they come out. This pond is one of two places in the immediate area where they are known to hang out, but they can be seen in many other places along Longfellow Creek. They’re only part of the story, though; the real tale is in the restoration, clearing out invasive plants and mulching the ground so they don’t return – sometimes even with cardboard (stacked here under the tarp):

Delridge Natural Area is another one of those precious natural spaces that make West Seattle unique – as green as Seattle is, not all neighborhoods have treasures like this. And while government investment helped set aside the land, it can’t be restored to healthy urban forest without volunteer power, as Mike explains in this clip:

Click pic to play video

Ready to show up and dig in, either tomorrow or Nov. 8th or both? Just show up at Delridge/Graham (map), 10 am. Mike says you should bring: “Leather gloves, leather or heavy boots, long-sleeve shirts and pants to protect yourself from thorny blackberry! Also, be sure to bring water and a snack!” He’s been putting out the word every place he can find to post it, and every person who shows up will be an immense help. If you have any questions or concerns, e-mail or call him: 206-290-8805 or m_a1533@yahoo.com.