The Greater Victoria Green Team spent the day engaging 11 community members at Lund Rd Protection Area removing invasive species. We primarily removed Himalayan Blackberry as well as Yellow Hawkweed, Queen Anne’s Lace. These invasive species were starting to taking over the wonderful natural biodiversity of this park. By cutting these species back, this created more sunlight and space for native species to grow back and encourage the native biodiversity. Some of the native species we saw in the area were Nootka Rose, June Plum, Snowberry and Oceanspray!

THANK YOU

Thank-you to everyone for participating: Michele, Travis, Chloe, Stewart, Robin, Tristan, Richard, Julian, Heather, Sky, Laird, and Chris from View Royal for coming out and helping to facilitate!

Thank-you very much to Town of View Royal for partnering with us and contributing to our Green Team activities and for recognizing the importance of collaboration in community engagement and ecological restoration!

Group Photo!

Highlights

• In total 11 community members participated and contributed to 32 volunteer hours!
• All 11 volunteers were introduced to Lund Rd Protection Area, while 5 volunteers had never removed invasive species before!
• We removed 5.5 cubic metres of invasive plants!
• There was a friendly kitten that kept us company throughout the activity!

Before and After Photos

This activity not only benefitted the environment, but also the participants themselves. By being out in nature doing something positive as a team, our community members:

• Develop a sense of belonging to community and place
• Have improved mental and physical health
• Connect to nature, which leads to environmentally responsible behaviour
• Learn about local environmental issues and actions they can take
• Learn the value of bringing together people to work towards a common goal
• Become leaders in their communities
• Increase confidence, resilience and perseverance

Volunteer Testimonials

” The program is a great way to learn about invasive plants, how to remove them, be part of community, and I really enjoy finding out about new parks since I’m newish to the island. With invasives it is hard sometimes to feel it’s long term impactful as they are tenacious. But like every drop of water makes the ocean bigger, so too do Green Team efforts make a difference.” – Michele

” Well organized and friendly, it was great to meet like minded people from around the community! Removal of invasive species is paramount to the protection of native ecosystems. I think this program helps make this task a community endeavor which is important in raising awareness of the issue” – Travis

Action Shots

Volunteers Enjoying In-kind Gifts from Ed’s Soup Shack, Level Ground Coffee and Green Beaver Co!