No-Mow Zones at Wolf Trap

One of the more prominent no-mow zones in the park, the Native Meadow is located near the Main Gate of the Filene Center.

NPS Photo

When Mrs. Catherine Filene Shouse purchased the land that is now Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in 1930, it was a working farm. She maintained the land as a working farm for the next 30+ years, cultivating food crops, raising animals, and breeding dogs.

For generations, farmers have let grasses grow, allowing seed heads to fully develop. This mature seed then germinates the field for the next year. Since there was and is a monetary cost to buying and acquiring seed (getting to and from the local grain store, or ordering from a distributor in modern day), it can be a significant economic consideration for farmers.

Generally, letting grass mature and drop its seeds naturally can be a positive erosion control method since it reduces the need to till the soil. An undisturbed field, like the pastures on Wolf Trap Farm, would also produce hay to feed livestock, which in turn transform it into fertilizer to nourish the fields.

After letting grass grow and drop seeds naturally, it still must be mowed. In a farm setting, when the first cut of hay takes place, the seeds fall to the ground and stay there until the weather turns cool enough to germinate, typically in autumn.

There are an abundance of benefits to keeping parcels of land as “no-mow zones,” especially in national parks. From expanding wildlife habitat, to decreasing our carbon footprint, undisturbed natural areas provide Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts unique ecological opportunities.

 

The Benefits

The following are benefits to keeping grasslands and other parcels of land undisturbed, or in our case, not mowing them:

Ecological – Allowing grass to grow for an extended period creates more permanent habitat and nesting areas for a variety of wildlife, such as:

• Birds (Eastern meadowlark, American goldfinch)
• Deer and other small mammals
• Snakes
• Insects (butterflies, bees)

Allowing grass to grow to maturity also promotes deep root growth. This makes for healthier grass that is also better able to handle periods of drought.

Environmental – Mowers, which run on petroleum based fuel can produce significant carbon dioxide emissions. By not mowing large grasslands for any period, fewer pollutants are released into the air.

Economic – Letting a pasture return to seed naturally does not require the time, money, and effort to reseed for future seasons.

No-Mow Zones at the Park

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts preserves around 15 distinct no-mow zones throughout the park. These spaces range from picnic areas, to established native gardens.

The most recognizable no-mow zone is a one-acre native plant meadow located in “the dimple,” in front of the Main Gate of the Filene Center. After 21,000 landscape plugs (including 41 native forbs and grass species) were planted in the meadow in 2012, and a landscape restoration project was carried out in 2018, this formerly maintained turf is now habitat for insects, birds, and other animals. Refraining from mowing maintenance also reduces stormwater runoff, reduces carbon output and resource usage, provides educational opportunities for visitors, serves as a model for use of sustainable landscape techniques, and enhances the natural beauty of the park.

 

Tall grass growing on the eight-acre Gil's Hill during the summer of 2020.

NPS Photo

Summer 2020: An Opportunity

During the spring of 2020, limited in-park staffing due to the COVID-19 pandemic halted the regular mowing and maintenance of Gil’s Hill, an eight-acre grass field typically used to park cars during summer performances. This created a unique ecological opportunity for Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.

Gil’s Hill has been used as an unpaved parking lot from May through September, accommodating visitors attending approximately 70-80 shows per summer. Gil’s Hill sees up to 870 cars for a typical Filene Center show, and anywhere from 150-250 cars for a show at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods.

Upon the announcement of the cancellation of the 2020 Wolf Trap summer concert season, it was decided to cease mowing operations of the eight-acre pasture, essentially transforming Gil’s Hill into a temporary no-mow zone.

There are two predominant types of grass on Gil’s Hill: Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and ryegrass (Festuca perennis). These two grasses grow to nearly four feet tall, fully develop and subsequently drop their seeds, thus germinating naturally for future growing seasons. By not mowing during the summer of 2020, the park was allowing the grass to re-seed naturally, which will hopefully lead to more robust and drought-resistant grasses in the coming years.