To mark Earth Day some Manhattan middle-school students got their hands dirty at Hudson River Park, working in a garden dedicated to plants native to the area. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.

Students from City Knoll Middle School were digging up some dune grass growing at Hudson River Park's Habitat Garden. Or more precisely, the sea oats. 

It's part of a celebration of Earth Day at the 550-acre Hudson River Park, which stretches along the water from Chambers to 59th streets.

There was some hard work involved as the kids helped remove the sea oats from the garden. While the grass is beneficial in other spots, it just don't fit in here.  

"Sea Oats are a type of grass that have become invasive in this space," said Tina Walsh, environmental educator with Hudson River Park. "So essentially, when they're fully grown, their seeds spread very easily in the wind, and they've kind of swept over this whole area and taken it over."  

They are displacing native plants that the park wants, since the area is a habitat for birds, butterflies and other animals.

Once out of the ground, the sea oats will be put to good use. In the spirit of Earth Day, they will be recycled.

"We're chopping them down, adding them to compost bins, which essentially will be broken down into nutrient-rich soil," Walsh said.

Of course, Earth Day is a big day here, but Hudson River Park has environmental eductaion programs for kids and adults all throughout the year.

"We are bringing students, community groups and just general park users to our park," said Carrie Roble, director of environmental education and stewardship for Hudson River Park. "We see it as a great outdoor classroom and kind of a field station to do volunteer work, but to also do science."    

So it was a bonus for these sixth-graders, getting out of the classroom on a sunny morning and learning firsthand what Earth Day is all about. 

"I feel like it's good for them to be teaching us this at a young age so we can take it with us when we get older," said Samantha Alexander, a City Knoll Middle School student. 

"You can help the environment, and anyone can do it," said Ava Conklin, a City Knoll Middle School student. "And I've actually been here, I live around the neighborhood, so I've been here before and I've helped out, and I really like it." 

To find out more, head to hudsonriverpark.org.