A huge thank you to all the community participants who came together to remove invasive blackberry:
Alexis, Anim, Anwar, Avery, Amos, Asher, Brandon, Binuri, Candice, Chanuka, Devin, Hiel, Joseph, Kevin, Kirk, Leslie, Lydia, Mehdi, Michael C., Michael H., Mark, Olivia, Polly, Raon, Rael, Ryan, Suzanne, Semi, Shane, Shan, Sesame, Tim, YuGyeong, Yikyoung, Yeeun and two young children!
We spent a sunny saturday connecting with each other and reclaiming a natural area overtaken by invasive plants.
Impacts
- 37 community members were engaged
- 100 hours were contributed
- 23 participants were introduced to Routley Park
- 15 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
- 13 cubic metres (81 bathtubs) of invasive plants was removed
- 200 square metres of habitat was revitalized
- Invasive Himalayan blackberry, Evergreen Blackberry & Reed canary grass was removed
Highlights
- Community members transformed this area of the park
- Delicious juicy watermelon, carrots, tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, seaweed and home-baked invasive ivy shaped sugar cookies were enjoyed
- Local Township of Langley councillor Tim Baillie worked alongside community members
- Community members from across the Lower Mainland came together from Langley, Aldergrove, Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby, North Vancouver & Vancouver
- Kirk & Leslie who live in the neighbourhood walked to our activity
- Kyle and Cara, staff with Township of Langley, worked hard transporting the blackberry off site
- Avery did a great job setting up refreshments
- Ran a biggest himalayan blackberry crown contest and gave away a beautiful water bottle prize to Raon!
- A group of community members stuck around to helped us put away our tent, fold tarps, gather tools and supplies, and load up the vehicle! THANK YOU!!!
- Built on our past community & elementary school restoration work. To read about them and see photos:
What Community Members said
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 this activity possible!
Together we are achieving our common goals and creating connected, healthy and resilient communities engaged in environmental stewardship.
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 Happen!
Lyda, the founder of the Lower Mainland Green Team (LMGT), ran her first activity in a long time and had a blast! She was joined by past Program Manager, Ashton, who is now the LMGT Partnerships Manager. She will be focusing on the building of current and potential partnerships, as well as media relations for our team.