Invasive Blackberry removal at Routley Park, Langley

November 16, 2024

Thank you to everyone who participated in this invasive blackberry removal & for not letting the rain stop you!

Aden, Alexander, Alexis, Andrea, Angela, Anudeep, Baron, Chen, Doug, Emma, Etsuko, Fairy, Francis, Harveen, Huishan, Icy, Jané, Jorge, Joshua, Kelsey, Kim, Kirk, Lena, Leslie, Lexie, Lily, Lincoln, Linda, Lyvia, Nobu, Olivia, Rizwan, Rongkun, Shawn, Simrin, Steven, Tarek, Travis, Xiang & Xingyi!

It started out as light rain and turned into a downpour but it didn’t stop us from removing lots of invasive blackberry (particularly root crowns) that were threatening native plants and trees in the area!

Impacts

40 community members were engaged
- 30 participants visited Routley Park for the first time
- 17 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
Community members joined us from across the Lower Mainland including from Langley, Surrey, Delta, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, Vancouver, Port Moody, West Vancouver and New Westminster!
- 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
90.5 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
3.6 cubic metres (22 bathtubs) of invasive Himalayan Blackberry and Evergreen Blackberry was removed

Highlights

We built on work we’ve done at this park in the past. Read summaries and check out photos of past activities at this location:
All ages, backgrounds, abilities & experience levels came out including families, students, working professionals, retirees, first timers, & returning LMGTers!
We enjoyed delicious snacks including Shiitake mushrooms, salmon jerkies, seaweed, grapes, home baked sugar cookies, carrots, bananas, madeleines, granola bars and strawberries
Shawn helped set up the tent and lay out tarps
Kim encouraged 15 people (families mostly) to come out and join us!!
A group of participants helped set out the refreshments, with Simrin leading the charge
A group of participants helped pack up the car, with Travis leading the charge!

What Community Members Said

"I brought my two children today, and they were happy to do what they could to help. It was a meaningful experience for me. I learned how invasive species can harm the local environment and disrupt native ecosystems. While the work was physically challenging, it felt rewarding to contribute to protecting nature. I also enjoyed working with other volunteers—it was great to meet people who share the same passion for the environment. Overall, this activity not only helped improve the area but also deepened my understanding of the importance of environmental conservation. "

"This was my first time attending this event and I was happy to help my mom clean up this infestation of blackberries. I learned how to place the tools safely."

"your volunteer experience today?: My first time here, learned how to use tools and place tools more safely. Met new species. The snacks prepared by the organizers were great."

"Always fun to dig up blackberries. Fun group. "

"I with family first time join this and we like Lyda much, we appreciate this activity and we will join again. We love this"

"I enjoyed the physical work and getting my hands dirty! I also enjoyed the healthy snacks! 😋 I feel the impact of this program is: Positive impact on the environment giving the native plants space to thrive. A positive impact on the community by bringing people together for a good cause. A positive impact on human health through exposure to the earth elements and physical activity. "

Video of Jané, talking about feeling like a kid again!

Video of Lena, saying she really enjoyed meeting new people

Video of Emma, talking about enjoying helping the environment

Video of Angela & Kelsey talking about good it felt impacting the environment

Community Investment Partner

Thank you to the Township of Langley for being a Community Investment Partner to make our work in Langley possible.

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 Mitch helped ensure everyone had a great time and transported the invasive plants! Thomas, another Township of Langley staff who has supported Lower Mainland Green Team activities in the past, came by to say hello. It was great to see him!

In-Kind Support

A big thank you to our in-kind supporters: Blume & Myni for providing their health focused products to our community participants to take home. These businesses have great products that support more responsible consumer choices!

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!

Lyda Salatian, our Founder and Executive Director led this activity with behind the scenes support from Ashton Kerr, the Lower Mainland Green Team’s Partnerships Manager.