The Greater Victoria Green Team organized a youth activity at Portage Park in View Royal. We planted about 25 Douglas-fir saplings in areas where Shoreline students had removed invasive species in previous years and we removed English ivy from this lovely forest! Without intervention, these invasive species would shade out native species, choke the trees and greatly reduce biodiversity. Thanks to years of intervention by students Shoreline Middle School and the Greater Victoria Green Team, this park is supporting more native biodiversity. A special thanks to Chris Junck, the Restoration Specialist with the Parks and Recreation Department at the Town of View Royal who helped organize and supervise the activity.

THANK YOU

Thank-you to all of the Students and Teachers from Shoreline Middle School for participating!

Thank-you very much to the 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!

Before and After Pictures

Group Photos!

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• In total 78 students, 3 teachers and 1 community member participated and contributed 86 volunteer hours.
• We removed 5 cubic metres of invasive plants!
• Students patrolled deep into the forest to clip climbing ivy from many trees in the inner canopy which had been missed by previous work parties.
• We saw a Merlin and two Barred Owls fly through the forest canopy!

Volunteer Testimonials

“Being outside, feeling like we were part of something good. Seeing kids very excited and engaged. I think it raises awareness. Maybe encourages students to do more of this in their own neighbourhoods.” – Jen

“We were able to connect learning in the classroom about invasive species, bio and ecological systems, and our local area. Students were engaged from the beginning to the end – we will definitely look to participate again. This is their neighbourhood and they are able to see the progress of their work and they take pride in knowing they have helped to maintain the ecosystem in an area they frequent.” – Alex