The Greater Victoria Green Team organized a community and environmental activity at Roberts Bay Park in Sidney. We removed English ivy from old cedar trees that flank the park. Without intervention, these invasive species would choke these trees and eventually cause them to die off. Thanks to years of intervention by the Greater Victoria Green Team, this park is supporting more native biodiversity. For example, the Nootka Rose and Snowberry bushes have grown much bigger with less competition from ivy since the last Greater Victoria Green Team Activity in 2019. A special thank you to Cliff Halliday, Parks Foreman at the Town of Sidney who helped coordinate and supervise this activity.

THANK YOU

Thank-you to everyone for participating: Jade, Artem, Olga, Pieta, Karen, Marianne, Chris, Tatyana, Ilka, Kai, Julian, Richard, Helena, Amanda, Raiya and Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith!

Thank-you very much to the Town of Sidney 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!

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• In total 18 volunteers participated and contributed 55 volunteer hours.
• 12 volunteers were introduced to Roberts Bay Park, while 2 volunteers had never removed invasive species before!
• We removed 10 cubic metres of invasive plants!
• Previous GVGT event at this park: March 30th, 2019

Before and After

Community Members in Action

Volunteers Enjoying In-kind Gifts from Salt Spring Coffee

Volunteer Testimonials

“This program offers a wide variety of benefits. Meeting others, accomplishing a visible goal in a short time and the therapy of digging in the dirt and spending time in the great outdoors. Works wonders for the soul. Also takes me places I have not seen or stopped at before increasing my appreciation for my geographic area.” – Marianne

“Feeling I was doing something useful. It was fun and nice to be outdoors. People in the neighbourhood might be encouraged to join in.” – Chris