Raleigh chicken coop tour set for May 16

The fourth annual Hen-side the Beltline Tour d'Coop is set for Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A benefit for Urban Ministries of Wake County, the event gives folks a chance to visit backyard chicken-keeping operations across inner-city Raleigh. For more information, visit the event's website at www.hensidethebeltline.blogspot.com.

(Photo of previous Tour d'Coop courtesy of Rick Bennett)

Meetup group for Raleigh community gardens

If you live in Raleigh and are interested in community gardens, there's a meetup group you might be interested in. Founded last summer by Raleigh resident Katherine Savage, the group has held eight get-togethers so far, including a field trip to SEEDS in Durham. The next meeting is scheduled for April 11, and the topic is composting with worms. For more information, click here.

Special hearing on comprehensive plan this week

This Thursday, March 19, Raleigh will hold a special hearing on its proposed comprehensive plan to guide development in the city over the next 20 years. The hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the council chamber at the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex, 222 W. Hargett St. For more details, click here.

Learn more about Neuse River Greenway Trail project

Construction is set to begin this spring on the Neuse River Greenway Trail, which will eventually run for some 28 miles from Falls Lake Dam in north-central Wake County south to the Johnston County line, with branches along Walnut and Crabtree creeks as well as connections to the nearby communities of Wake Forest and Knightdale.

To give Raleigh residents a chance to meet the project's designers, learn more about the plans and share ideas, the city is holding three open houses. They're set to take place Monday, March 23 at Hedingham Clubhouse; Tuesday, March 31 at Durant Road Nature Center, and Thursday, April 2 at Barwell Road Community Center.

For more details about the trail and the open houses and a full-sized map, visit the project's web page or call 919-996-4776.

Neuse River cleanup set for April 4

The Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation will hold its 7th annual cleanup of the Neuse on Saturday, April 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Last year's event collected more than 9,000 pounds of trash from the river -- included a beer bottle with $600 stuffed inside.

Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately for the weather; to bring sunscreen, a hat, bug repellent and a snack; and to count on getting wet and dirty. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Adults will be asked to sign a liability waiver, and volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

There will be six cleanup stations from Falls Dam to Smithfield; for directions to the stations and more details about the event, visit the group's website.