Thank you to everyone who participated in this invasive blackberry removal!
Addison, Amos, Chenghua, Daniel, Devin, Eli, Elvis, Emily, Emma, Erija, Eunseo, Fairy Wei, Hailee, Haiyan, Hank, Heather, Icy, Irene, Iris, Ivy I., Ivy S., Jennifer, Julia, Kathy, Kenzie, Kore, Kurtis, Leslie, Lexie, Lincoln, Lyvia, Nehemiah, Nelson, Peyton, Rainy, Sara, Steven, Winnie, and Ying!
It was a beautiful sunny morning at Meadows Edge Park!
Our new Program Manager, Max, had a great time leading his first activity and we all had a blast clearing this blackberry along the stream!
Impacts
- 39 community members were engaged
- 21 participants visited Meadows Edge Park for the first time
- 13 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
- 126 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
- 5 cubic metres (31 bathtubs) of invasive Himalayan Blackberry was removed, mostly smaller stubborn root crowns that are so important to preventing regrowth!
- 56 square metres of habitat was revitalized!
- Community members joined us from across the Lower Mainland including from Langley, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Coquitlam, and Burnaby!
- Our activities are designed to foster a sense of community that extends beyond municipal borders. By engaging community members from across the region, we are reminded that we are part of a larger, interconnected community and have a shared responsibility of creating a cleaner, healthier environment regardless of where we call home!
Highlights
- This activity built on the work of the awesome Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS), as well as our team and the Township of Langley!
- Check out some photos and summaries from past activities at this location:
- All ages, backgrounds, abilities & experience levels came out including families, students, working professionals, first timers, & returning LMGTers!
- A big thank you to Brad and Braden from the Township of Langley for their support and leadership!
- Shoutout to Hank & Elvis working to spread the word of our activities to their school’s Community Service Club!
- Amos & Eli did a great job setting up our snack table today!
- Thanks to Kurtis, Amos, Heather, Emma, Leslie, Nelson, Nehemiah, and others for helping pack up at the end of the day!
- Thanks as well to the R.E. Mountain Newspaper Club who came out to cover our activity, keep an eye out for their next issue in May!
What Community Members Said
Video of Nelson, talking about doing something so positive!
Video of Nehemiah, talking about working hard, making friends, and having a great time!
Community Investment Partner
Thank you to the Township of Langley for being a Community Investment Partner and providing the financial support and direction to make our work in Langley possible.
This was the FIRST OF 9 activities we are organizing in partnership with the Township this year – and what a fantastic start!
This activity was a great success and together we made a significant impact on both the health and well-being of community members and the environment!
Township staff Brad and Braden helped ensure everyone had a great time and transported the invasive plants! Justin, another Township of Langley staff who has supported Lower Mainland Green Team activities in the past, came by to say hello. Thank you all!
We’re so grateful for this partnership and excited for our BIGGEST YEAR YET!
In-Kind Support
A big thank you to our in-kind supporters: Green Beaver for providing their amazing 100% natural maple lip balm for community participants to take home. Green Beaver has great products working to help people access a natural and healthier lifestyle, while contributing to a more sustainable world!
If you’re interested in contributing in-kind or have ideas for potential partnerships, please contact Ashton Kerr. Your support makes a difference!
Why We Do This Work
The Lower Mainland 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, litter clean-ups and more, 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 behaviour 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!
GTC Staff Who Made This Activity Happen!
Our staff work hard to run high-quality community activities. Outreach, activity logistics, social media, reporting on impacts, partnership building and more – they do it all!
Max Muehlen, our Lower Mainland Green Team’s Program Manager led this activity with support from Ashton Kerr, the Lower Mainland Green Team’s Partnerships Manager and from Lyda Salatian, our Founder and Executive Director who works hard behind the scenes as a key part of making these activities happen!