Great River Greening, Twins Partner Restores Forest at Nature Center

APPLE VALLEY, Minn., Oct. 6, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Great River Greening, GF, and the Minnesota Twins have expanded their restoration efforts to 31 acres of forest at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, Minnesota, as part of their ongoing multi-year initiative to restore water ecosystems and build resilient communities. In year two of their partnership, the three organizations are taking their volunteer efforts to Wood Lake Nature Center to preserve critical wildlife land and improve water quality for years to come.

Together, they will plant native wildflowers and restore the native understory, which has become consumed by buckthorn, leaving water quality at risk. The three organizations announced their multi-year partnership last year with a common goal to protect Minnesota's most vital resource: water. They have identified high-impact sites across the Twin Cities metro in need of restoration that will help promote a healthier community for future generations.

Great River Greening, GF (home of the Uponor brand), and the Minnesota Twins are united by a shared commitment to sustainability, healthy water ecosystems, and thriving communities. By combining their expertise in environmental restoration, sustainable water solutions, and community engagement, the partners are creating meaningful opportunities to restore Minnesota's natural resources and the communities that rely on them.

The work began last October at Creekside Park in Carver County, where volunteers from each organization gathered, including the Mayor of Carver, Courtney Johnson. Volunteers worked in groups to stabilize eroding streambanks to reduce pollution flowing into the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. In total, 153 shrubs were planted along the riverbank, which also prevents flooding. They even installed fencing around the shrubs to protect them from wildlife.

The teams look forward to making a difference on October 7 at Wood Lake Nature Center, a 150-acre natural area with three miles of trails and boardwalks used for wildlife observation and environmental education. Volunteers will focus on a 31-acre area to plant forbs (flowering plants) into a moist prairie, which is severely lacking in forb diversity. This will help offset the eroding buckthorn, which crowds out native shrubs, posing a threat to the forest's native layer.

GF, with a rich history in industrial innovation since 1802, employs around 13,300 professionals across 46 countries. In 2025, GF's Flow Solutions business generated sales of CHF 3 billion. GF is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

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