Pull invasives
English ivy, holly, laurel, Himalayan blackberry, bindweed and yellow archangel.
A neighborhood forest, restored by neighbors.
Friends of Madrona Woods are volunteers caring for the wooded hillside, creek and lakeshore of Madrona Park, a small piece of Pacific Northwest forest in the middle of the city.
- Volunteers since
- 1996
- Acres in our care
- ~11
- Creek returned to daylight
- 2009
- Native plants planted
- Thousands
Who we are
It started with ivy on the trees.
In 1996, a few Madrona neighbors grew worried about the English ivy climbing the trees and smothering the forest floor of Madrona Woods. They started pulling it, and soon realized that removing ivy wasn't enough. Experts warned that, left alone, the hillside would become an "ivy, holly and laurel desert" within 50 years.
So the neighbors "adopted" the Woods with Seattle Parks. They wrote a restoration plan, raised grants and gave thousands of volunteer hours. Together they cleared invasive plants from the whole hillside, replanted it with native species, rebuilt the trails, and brought a buried creek back to the surface.
Today, Friends of Madrona Woods is a Green Seattle Partnership site, open to anyone who wants to help look after this urban forest.
The woods are named for the Pacific madrona (Arbutus menziesii), the Northwest's only native broadleaf evergreen tree.
What we do today
Work parties keep the forest healthy.
The big restoration is done, but an urban forest is never finished. Ivy and blackberry creep back in, young trees need room to grow, and trails and the creek need regular care. A few hours together on a work party makes a visible difference.
Plant natives
Conifers, shrubs and ground covers go in during the fall and winter planting season.
Mulch and protect
Wood chips hold in moisture, stop erosion and keep weeds from coming back.
Care for trails and creek
Clearing paths, maintaining steps and keeping Madrona Park Creek in its banks.
Join a work party
No experience needed. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a neighbor, a family, a student who needs service hours, or a group looking for a day outdoors. We'll show you what to do and provide tools and gloves.
- When
- Saturday mornings, about once a month
- Time
- 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
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Find a date
Work parties are listed on the Green Seattle Partnership events calendar under Madrona Park. Join our Google Group to get each announcement by email.
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Sign up
Register for the event online and sign the volunteer waiver. It takes two minutes and helps us plan tools and snacks. Volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian's signature.
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Show up and dig in
Meet at the kiosk named in the event listing, usually 38th Ave & Marion St or Grand Ave & Spring St. We'll start with a short safety talk and introductions.
What to bring
We provide
Bringing a group?
Companies, schools, scouts and service clubs have all worked in the Woods, from Deloitte and Seattle Works to UW students and Alpha Phi Omega. Get in touch through the mailing list to set up a day.
