Ecosystem Restoration at the Science Museum of Long Island Leeds Pond Preserve

Ecosystem Restoration Project at the Science Museum of Long Island:
The 36-Acre Leeds Pond Preserve provides SMLI students with a unique blend of environments for scientific study and curiosity. With its pond, marine edge, stream, woodlands and meadows, it offers a wide diversity of plant and animal life and serves as a springboard for the detailed investigation of local ecological habitats. This diverse ecological landscape that has been negatively impacted by a variety of invasive species that have outcompeted or overtaken native vegetation, in turn pushing out native species of wildlife including birds and mammals.
During my time as the Executive Director at the Science Museum of Long Island, I spearheaded an ambitious invasive species removal and habitat restoration project, focusing on eradication of kudzu vine and other invasives and replanting native plantings. SMLI has been focused on invasive species removal through physical site restoration (absent of any pesticides or herbicides) and designed specifically to ensure that these aggressive invasive species do not return or gain a foothold. In an effort to mimic a young forest consisting of trees, shrubs and groundcover, reforestation will feature varied sizes of plants with ample spacing, allowing light penetration and promoting natural restoration through the existing seedbank in the soil. By 2023 the museum was “light years ahead” of initial targets in restoring the ecosystem of the Leeds Pond Preserve.

Not only are we improving our local ecosystem - but this restoration project is intended to be used as part of our outdoor classroom learning experience, with children and adults being able to see the project from start to finish and be educated on the importance of native plants and how individuals can make an impact through invasive species removal.

The project was Spearheaded by the brilliant and Frank Piccinnini and Spadefoot Design and Construction and made possible through Grant Funding from organizartions such as the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, The Greentree Foundation, and the Long Island Conservancy.