Unabated efforts to restore Thompson Woods to its natural state will continue Saturday morning when volunteers will rise from their slumbers early to plant more than 1,000 seedling trees.

Philip Robertson, chairman of the Thompson Woods Management Committee and professor plant biology, is asking for volunteers to give their time and talents on Saturday to restore Thompson Woods.

Robertson says the help he has received through his Adopt-A-Patch program to restore the woods has proven very beneficial.

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Adopt-A-Patch is a program where groups and individuals gregariously plant trees, cut exotic vines and maintain the woods.

Problems have arisen in Thompson Woods because it exists under unnatural conditions. Since the woods is contained on campus alienated from adjacent forests, its regenerative capacities are limited.

The University landmark, a part of SIUC for more than 100 years, once boasted a viable stock of black, red and white oak trees with little interference from environmental annoyances such as the exotic species that now choke out much growth from the forest floor.

Robertson and volunteers will gather Saturday morning near the east side of the Agriculture Building to put 1,200 tree seedlings into the ground. Species to be planted include dogwoods, schumard oak, chinquiein oak and black oak.

The goal of the committee is to restore the woods for the benefit of the SIUC community to an oak forest, while removing non-native exotics such as Japanese Honeysuckle, a vine-like species that heavily blankets the ground.

Thousands of students use the walkways located throughout the woods as a means to travel about the campus. Some undergraduates are concerned about the appearance of the woods.

Calling Thompson woods sad and horrible, Bryan Dunn said he would consider volunteering his time to help restore the woods.

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Dunn, a freshman in radio and television from Salem, figured something was going on in the woods because of environmental debris piled up along the walkways throughout the woods.

Maybe it’s the time of year, but the woods looks really bad right now, Dunn said.

The last time volunteers planted seedlings in the woods was Dec. 6, when 70 volunteers took the initiative. Few seedlings make it after being planted, about 10 percent according to Robertson.

The continued improvement and health of Thompson Woods will depend on the efforts of Robertson and volunteers.

I hope the turnout is good on Saturday, Robertson said. We can use all of the help we can get. People will find when they volunteer their time to the woods that it is for a good cause.

Factoid:Those interested in helping Philip Robertson and Adopt-A-Patch volunteers plant seedlings in Thompson Woods Saturday morning can contact Robertson at his office at 453-3236.