The Mountains to Sound Greenway is enlisting the help of volunteers to restore the forest habitat at Westside Neighborhood Park at 5810 156 Ave. N.E. in Redmond on Oct. 23.

This planting event is part of a campaign to plant more than 20,000 native trees and shrubs in natural areas in the Greenway. To prepare the site, volunteers worked hard earlier this spring to remove invasive weeds like English ivy and Himalayan blackberry that were crowding out native plants.

In partnership with the City of Redmond and the Green Redmond Partnership, Greenway volunteers will have fun getting dirty, learning about native plants and exploring new areas. Green Redmond Partnership stewards will also lend a hand in the project.

Native trees are critical to the health of the Pacific Northwest. Trees improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases and shade creeks and streams — cooling water for threatened salmon. Trees also reduce erosion and filter pollutants, improving water quality and providing important wildlife habitat. Located just above Marymoor Park, Westside Park is the headwaters to Clise Creek, a salmon-bearing Sammamish River tributary.

Full and half day planting shifts are available. No experience is necessary and families are welcome.

Registration is required to volunteer. For more information, visit www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer or call (206) 812-0122 or e-mail volunteer@mtsgreenway.org.

In 2011, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust adopted official boundaries for its 1.5 million-acre landscape known as the Mountains to Sound Greenway. With these boundaries came new cities and towns for the Greenway Trust to reach out to, including Redmond. As the Greenway Trust makes a long-term commitment to these new communities, volunteers will be able to invest in these restoration sites year after year, returning to participate in the ongoing task of environmental stewardship. As a result, a number of ecological restoration events are being held in the Redmond throughout this year to support that initiative.