A non-native plant commonly known as ice plant has been spreading on airport property, creating concerns about its effects on the area's natural environment.
To address the issue, the City of Redlands partnered with the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District to organize an invasive plant removal and educational workshop on October 14, 2026.
The event was designed to introduce volunteers to the ecological effects of invasive vegetation while giving participants an opportunity to help remove unwanted plants.
According to the city's announcement, the ice plant spreading at the airport originated in South Africa. Although often used as ornamental ground cover, non-native ice plant can spread into areas where it competes with native vegetation.
The city explained that removing invasive plants can help support native plant species and the wildlife that depends on them.
Residents may recognize the importance of protecting mountain forests, rivers and open spaces, but the ecological health of smaller parcels of land can also affect local biodiversity.
An airport landscape may seem an unlikely setting for conservation work. Yet undeveloped areas surrounding transportation facilities can provide habitat for plants, insects, birds and other wildlife.
When invasive vegetation spreads through these areas, it can change the balance between native species and the resources available to them.
Ice plant is especially recognizable for its thick, succulent leaves and colorful flowers. Its attractive appearance has contributed to its widespread use in landscaping throughout California.
However, the characteristics that make some non-native plants successful in gardens can also allow them to establish themselves beyond their intended locations.
Invasive species can compete with native plants for space, water and sunlight. Dense growth may also change soil conditions and limit opportunities for native seedlings to become established.
Not every non-native plant is invasive, and not every landscape requires the same management approach. Conservation efforts depend on identifying particular species and understanding their effects on local ecosystems.
That distinction was part of the value of the Redlands workshop.
The city's partnership with the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District brought together municipal resources and regional conservation expertise.
The district works on natural resource issues affecting the Inland Empire, including conservation education and the protection of soil, water and habitat.
For Redlands, the collaboration offered a way to connect residents with practical environmental stewardship.
The October 14 workshop was scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. at the airport, located at 1755 Sessums Drive.
Participation required advance registration because space was limited. Volunteers were instructed to complete liability waivers, with parental or guardian approval required for minors.
The event was open to participants ages 10 and older.
The city planned to provide gloves and instruction, while conservation district representatives would contribute their knowledge of native plants.
Participants were also encouraged to bring drinking water, sun protection and clothing appropriate for outdoor work.
These arrangements reflected the hands-on nature of the program.
Rather than limiting environmental education to a classroom presentation, organizers intended for volunteers to observe the problem and participate directly in its management.
That approach can make a lasting impression.
Learning that a plant is invasive provides useful information. Physically removing it from an affected area can help participants understand the effort required to restore or maintain habitat.
The workshop also offered an opportunity for younger residents to experience conservation as a community responsibility.
A student participating in a restoration project may discover an interest in environmental science, wildlife biology or public service. Adults may become more aware of landscaping choices around their own homes and neighborhoods.
For Redlands property owners, the subject is particularly relevant because residential landscaping and natural areas often exist close together.
The city's neighborhoods, parks, citrus groves and open spaces form a landscape shaped by both human activity and the natural environment.
Decisions about which plants to grow and how to maintain them can influence water use, wildlife habitat and long-term landscape conditions.
The city has not published a verified total of plants removed, volunteers participating or acreage restored in the workshop information reviewed for this article. Therefore, the October 14 event should be understood as a documented conservation initiative rather than evidence that the airport's invasive plant problem has been resolved.
Long-term restoration may require follow-up removal, monitoring and the successful establishment of appropriate native vegetation.
The larger lesson extends beyond the airport.
Environmental preservation is not always accomplished through large construction projects or major government investments. Sometimes it begins with recognizing a problem in an ordinary landscape and bringing people together to address it.
As Redlands continues to develop, partnerships that combine conservation knowledge with community participation can help protect the natural resources that make the city distinctive.
And the next time residents pass the airport, they may have reason to think not only about the aircraft overhead, but also about the living landscape beneath them.