A team from the Bellevue office of engineering and architecture firm HNTB recently volunteered to battle invasive blackberries in the 64-acre North Creek Forest in Bothell.

Working with nonprofit Friends of North Creek Forest, the team removed a dumpster full of unwanted plant material in less than two and a half hours.

North Creek Forest is within walking distance of nearly 10,000 college students attending University of Washington Bothell and Cascadia College. It includes nine wetlands and seven streams that filter water and protect habitat for endangered salmon living nearby. The forest is home to more than 100 plant species and a diverse array of wildlife.