King McNamara Moriarty Volunteers Build a “Wattle” Fence
October 2025 –The King McNamara Moriarty LLC (KMM) accounting firm in Norwood recently reached out to NepRWA for help planning their Day of Service.
On a beautiful autumn afternoon, volunteers, guided by NepRWA staff and collaborators from the Town of Norwood and the Norwood Trails Advisory Committee, helped construct a wattle fence at the 7-acre Bernie Cooper Riverfront Park using Asiatic bittersweet. (The bittersweet fruits were removed and disposed of before the vines were used in the fence.)
The park, named in honor of longtime Town of Norwood employee Bernie Cooper, was created by transforming a former used car lot into an inclusive open space along Hawes Brook. Read more about Bernie Cooper Park.
At the project site, participants explored wheelchair-accessible trails, Neponset River overlooks, and green stormwater infrastructure, experiencing the benefits of time spent along the water—exactly what residents and planners envisioned for this green space.
In under two hours, the team completed what would normally take a week—proving that many hands make light work!
Interested in volunteering or sponsoring an event?
NepRWA’s Corporate Volunteer Program offers short, land-based projects designed to fit your team’s schedule while giving back to the community.
For more information, contact NepRWA Volunteer Coordinator, Suzanne Hinton, at hinton@neponset.org.
What’s a Wattle?
A wattle is a fence made by weaving flexible branches or vines between posts—kind of like nature’s basket weaving!
At Bernie Cooper Park, volunteers harvested long, pliable Asiatic bittersweet vines and wove them between posts to create a natural and safe play area for children.
Wait—isn’t Asiatic bittersweet an invasive plant?
Yes, it is, HOWEVER, Asiatic bittersweet spreads from berries rather than from plant fragments—it’s not like Japanese knotweed, where any little piece can regenerate.
Cutting the vine at the base kills the upper portion and weakens the root. As long as the vines don’t have berries, they can be safely used without fear of spreading the plant.
While the bright red berries may look “pretty”, please don’t use them for decorations—that’s one of the main ways the seeds get spread!
