Invasive Plant Removal at Thurston Woods Trail, Port Moody – November 18, 2023

Highlights From The Day

• 45 wonderful community members of diverse ages, backgrounds and experience levels joined us and contributed 138 hours total!
  • Thank you so much for your hard work and enthusiasm: Aaron, Ammar, Amos, Andrea, Andrew, Angel, Anwar, Athena, Bo, Bodam, Caitlyn, Cathy, Corban, Daniel, Diana, Eliska, Emma, Gail, Han, Harry, Hoi Ning (Helin), Jake, Jashandeep, Jiaming, Jim, Kaleb, Kalpesh, Kavya, Kevin, Lenita, Liyuan, Louis, Miyu, Phillipp, Rayoon, Ryo, Sadie, Sesame, Shonna, Sylvie, Tin Yau (Tiann), Vaibhav, William, Yan Chak and Yanan!
    • Special thanks to:
      • Anwar for arriving early to help us get set up and staying late to get us packed up
      • Emma and Kavya for helping us pack the vehicle and scavenge for any pruners left behind
      • Aaron, Angel and Andrew for bringing back our signs
      • Everyone who helped by bringing back their tools and folding tarps
• Our Green Team brought together people from across the region including from Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Burnaby, Richmond, Delta and Vancouver!
• 37 people visited Thurston Woods Trail for the first time
• 21 people removed invasive plants for the first time

• Together our team:
  • Removed 14 cubic metres (87.5 bathtubs full) of invasive English ivy and Cherry (English) Laurel
  • Removed invasive plants from an area of 560 metres squared
  • This activity built on restoration work by our Green Team on November 19, 2022, as well as work by the City of Port Moody and local volunteers over the past year!
• Scroll down to see the pile of invasive plants we removed, as well as some in-action shots!

• This activity was featured in the Tri-City News TWICE! Read the article published on November 12, 2023 HERE and read the article published on November 20, 2023 HERE!

• Our Community Investment Partner, the City of Port Moody, provided direction and funding to make this activity possible!

• This was the 4th activity led by our Program Coordinator, Andrea!

Before & After Photos

Photos of the Massive Piles of Invasive Plants We Removed!

Photo of This Site Before Restoration Work

This was our second time working at this beautiful trail in Port Moody. Check out what this site looked like the first time we visited it on November 19, 2022!

Why Do 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!

Partner For This Activity

A huge THANK YOU to the City of Port Moody for partnering with our charity, Green Teams of Canada, and making this activity possible with their financial support and direction!

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

We’ve been working with the City of Port Moody since 2013 and have accomplished lots for the environment and community. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2024 and beyond!

Check out the City of Port Moody’s calendar to join their restoration events!

What Volunteers Said

“There is a huge impact to nature, we are helping let the good species thrive. While doing so, I got to meet a few people and work in groups where everyone was just willing to help everyone else out. It was really good to see so many people out and even a waitlist happening!”

– Gail

“I enjoyed removing invasive plant English ivy, it was new for me and wonderful experience. As usual, the preparation, organization and communication by the Green Team is indescribable and we thank them for providing us with such opportunities.”

– Anwar

“I enjoyed seeing how many people joined. I feel the impact of this program is environment restoration, helping people socialize through something meaningful, helping people cope with owning property on untreated first Nations land, coping with mental health problems related to negative impact on the wild nature by humans. Educational.”

– Eliska

In-Action Photos

Snack time included homemade vegan brownies baked by Andrea!

Caitlyn, Corban and Jake found and pulled out a tire while removing ivy!

Lucas (Yanan) uprooted an invasive Laurel tree and found a frisbee attached at the end!

In-Kind Supporters

Thank you to the following businesses for donating items to thank our amazing volunteers:

• LUSH for providing Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner

Our Staff

This was the 4th activity led by the Lower Mainland Green Team‘s Program Coordinator, Andrea Robles (left)!

The Lower Mainland Green Team‘s Program Manager, Ashton Kerr (right), provided support and training for this activity.

THANK YOU!