Invasive Blackberry Removal at Routley Park, Langley

THANK YOU to the 22 community members who joined us to connect and make an impact at this park: Alexis, Amos, Ankit, Anwar, Avery, Betty, Cheryl, Fadia, Fairy Wei, Joseph, Joy, Kim Haiyan, Kirk, Leslie, Lydia, Michael, Rael, Ranjit, Raon, Sesame, Yeeun, & YuGyeong!

We spent a beautiful, sunny Saturday outside connecting with one another while reclaiming a natural area that had been overtaken by invasive plants. It was a warm day, perfectly spent in a local park! Keep reading for our impacts, highlights and more from the day…

Impacts

  • 22 community members engaged
  • 18 people visited Routley Park for the first time
  • 9 people removed invasive plants for the first time
  •  73 hours contributed to habitat restoration
  • 6 cubic metres of invasive Himalayan blackberry and Reed canary grass were removed (equivalent to the volume of 22 bathtubs!) 
  • 166 square metres of habitat revitalized 

Highlights

  • We were BLOWN AWAY by what was accomplished by our team at this activity – the before and after photos above show it all!
  • Our efforts built on previous restoration work completed by our team and local elementary students!
  • Not only did we dig up roots to reduce the spread of invasive blackberry, but we ate the yummy berries that were ripe too!
  • We refuelled with yummy snacks during our break including fresh watermelon, cucumber and vegan brownies baked by Andrea!
  • A cool looking bengal cat even came by and kept us company from the bushes nearby!
  • Community members joined us from across the Lower Mainland, including from Langley, Surrey, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Burnaby, North Vancouver & Vancouver
    • Ranjit ran 14 km from Surrey!
    • Anwar spent 2 hours on the bus from Vancouver!
    • Kirk lives in the neighbourhood and walked!
  • People of all ages, backgrounds, abilities & experience levels came out including families, students, working professionals, retirees, first timers, & returning LMGTers
  • Special thank you to:
    • Township of Langley staff Justin and Alysha who stayed onsite to help carry tarps and empty green waste into the truck
    • Wei Fairy and Yeeun for helping us set up snacks
    • Everyone who helped us fold tarps, gather tools and supplies, and load up the vehicle!

Community Investment Partner

THANK YOU to the Township of Langley for providing the financial support and direction to make this activity possible!

Together we are achieving our common goals and creating connected, healthy and resilient communities engaged in environmental stewardship.

Join our next activity here at Routley Park in Langley on Saturday August 17, 2024 – SIGN UP HERE!

Why We Do This Work

The Lower Mainland Green Team organizes hands-on educational activities that have a positive environmental impact to empower people. Through activities such as invasive plant removals, plantings, litter cleanups and more, we are fostering connections with others and nature so that health and well-being is prioritized, lifelong environmental stewardship is promoted, and community members are enabled to take care of themselves, each other and the places they live. We all have the power to make a difference!

We all experience mental and physical health benefits from spending time in nature, including reduced stress and anxiety, and improved mood, focus, memory and more. While doing so, we can also have a positive impact on the environment as demonstrated through this activity!

Staff Who Made This Activity Possible

Back left to right: Lyda, Shelley, Justin (TOL), Alysha (TOL), Lyda. Front: Ashton, Andrea

Past Program Manager, Ashton Kerr, is excited to have transitioned into the newly created role of LMGT Partnerships Manager. She will be focusing on the building of current and potential partnerships, as well as media relations for our team.

GTC staff, Ashton, Andrea, Shelley and Lyda worked together to run this activity!

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