It was a return engagement for James Wagler, library manager for Jericho law firm Nixon Peabody. Wagler recently organized a second corporate volunteer day at the Tanners Pond Environmental Center’s Garden City Bird Sanctuary (GCBS). He brought over a dozen of the Nixon Peabody staff for a day outdoors helping the community and the environment while having a bit of fun.
The group helped refurbish a sugar maple garden, removing weeds and getting it ready for replanting. The sugar maples had been planted in honor of initial and long-time supporters of the environmental center: Bob Stark Sr., Bob McMillen, and Bob Catell. The volunteers also pruned a large black cherry tree and pulled many invasive saplings from the Hempstead Plains meadow.
A bench was later donated by Elizabeth Bailey in memory of her mother. Initially, spring bulbs had been planted under the trees. They have now been replaced by red canna lillies.
Nixon Peabody is a law firm with a policy of strong commitment to communities, and often partners with clients to advance shared values of social responsibility. Wagler’s experience in coordinating a volunteer day last year lead him to re-contact GCBS Founder Rob Alvey for another session. The request was timely! Local Boy Scout Tom Ferris is initiating an Eagle project to build a small amphibian pond. With the sugar maple area cleared for replanting, excess soil from the pond excavation was brought over and added to the garden area.
