Thank you to everyone who participated in this invasive plant removal activity:
Braedon, Bruce, Carla, Charlie, Chloe, Dennis, Devin, Emiko, Jasmine, Joyce, Kathy, Leia, Lingan, Mark, Mieka, Olivia, Rosanna, Rowan, Sachin, Tesla, Tristan M., Tristan N., Tyler, Xing, Youjia, Yufei, Zhan!
There was a bit of rain first thing in the morning, but it cleared up into a lovely fall day and we all had a great time together making a positive impact at Aldersmith Park.
Impacts
- 27 people were engaged in this activity
- 86 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
- Participants came from all over the Greater Victoria area including: Colwood, Langford, Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, and many View Royal locals as well including close neighbours of the park! Our activities are designed to foster a sense of community that transcend municipal borders. By engaging community members from all around Greater Victoria, community members realize that they are part of a larger, interconnected community and that we all have a responsibility of creating a cleaner, healthier environment regardless of where we call home.
- 20 (77%) of the participants visited Aldersmith Park for the first time through this activity
- 5 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
- 12 cubic metres (75 bathtubs) of invasive Himalayan blackberry, English holly, English ivy, and daphne laurel were removed
- 200 square metres of habitat revitalized
What Participants Said
Highlights
- We had a great day working together to improve the habitat and increase biodiversity in this neighbourhood park in View Royal!
- While we pulled out invasive plants together we noticed many interesting mushrooms growing throughout the park. We had fun observing these interesting fungi in all their unique shapes and colours. We also heard many different bird calls throughout the activity. It was a lot of fun to be so immersed in nature and surrounded by the beauty of the season!
- This park is frequented by many local residents walking with their families and pets. We received many thanks from residents throughout the day for our efforts in cleaning up the park
- During a break from the hard work, community members enjoyed: home made brownies, granola bars, fresh oranges, apples, cucumbers, carrots, warm tea & juice
- We built on our previous work at this park that we have done with the students of Eagle View Elementary School! Check out previous summaries from our activities in this park: Oct. 11, 2024, Mar. 8, 2023
- It was exciting to bring the community together to tackle some of the larger roots of mature invasive blackberry and holly plants! A few of our participants had the satisfaction of digging and cutting out some pretty big invasive holly plants which was incredibly satisfying and rewarding!
- Community members learned about the importance of ongoing ecological restoration and saw the results of many years of restoration progress through the presence of many native species that are coming back into the area thanks to the continuous removal of invasive plants.
Community Investment Partner & Sponsor
We sincerely thank the Town of View Royal for providing financial support, ecological expertise, and guidance for this activity.
A special thank you to Chris, the Town of View Royal’s Habitat Restoration Coordinator, for helping facilitate this activity!
Together we are creating opportunities for community members to come together, connect with each other and nature, and take care of the environment!
To learn more about the Town of View Royal’s Habitat Restoration Program and join their volunteer work parties, visit their website here.
In-kind Support
A big thank you to our in-kind supporters: Blume, Gathering Place, Myni, & Green Beaver for providing their health focused products to our community participants to take home. These businesses have wonderful, sustainable products that support more responsible consumer choices!
If you’re interested in contributing in-kind or have ideas for potential partnerships, please contact Viloka. Your support makes a difference!
Why We Do This Work
The Greater Victoria Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada.
We believe in the transformative power of hands-on environmental activities to empower individuals and strengthen communities.
Through initiatives like invasive plant removals, tree plantings, and litter clean-ups, we not only foster connections among participants but also deepen their relationship with nature. Spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing mood, focus, and overall mental and physical health.
Our activities are designed to be inclusive, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and skill levels.
What sets us apart is we attract a wide mix of young community members who may not otherwise spend time outside, igniting their passion for nature and environmental care.
We are committed to instilling an environmental ethic that leads to lasting behavior change. We aim to create a sense of belonging and connection to place, encouraging participants to recognize their ability to make a meaningful impact.
Together, we can all make a difference. Join us as we build a brighter, greener future for everyone!
Staff Who Made This Activity Happen!
Our dedicated team is passionate about creating engaging, high-quality activities that foster a sense of belonging, connection to nature while raising environmental awareness. We strive to make a positive impact on our environment and to build a thriving community that cares for it.
At the forefront is Kaitlin Warren, the Program Manager for the Greater Victoria Green Team, whose vision drives our efforts. She’s supported by Viloka Luna, our Partnerships Manager, ensuring every aspect runs smoothly behind the scenes. Together, they’re not just making plans; they’re building a brighter, greener future for our community.