Youth Activity! Invasive blackberry & Scotch broom Removal at Murray’s Pond Park, Colwood

Group photo of Ms. Allen’s grade 10 French Science class & Ms. Lemmen’s Environmental Science 11 class

Group photo of Ms. Allen’s grade 10 French Science class & Ms. Lemmen’s Life Science 11 class

Thank you students and teachers! We had a great time together making a positive impact at Murray’s Pond Park, right behind the secondary school.

Impacts

  • 63 students, 3 student teachers, and 2 teachers were engaged in this activity
  • 85 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
  • 4.5 cubic metres (28 bathtubs) of invasive Himalayan blackberry and Scotch Broom were removed
  • 170 square metres of habitat revitalized 

Highlights

  • We had a great day working together to improve the habitat and increase biodiversity in this park located in the heart of Royal Bay, right behind the secondary school!
  • The students were joined by student teachers from UVic’s faculty of Education, who participated in the field trip to help supervise and guide the students 
  • It was a lovely fall day with a mix of cloud and blue sky: a perfect day to be outside in nature! 
  • Murray’s Pond Park has undergone enhancements with the development of the Royal Bay neighbourhood and features a beautiful walking trail and viewing platform. The pond in the park was created many years ago from a piece of melted glacier. You can learn more about this park and the pond on the City of Colwood’s website here
  • Students had the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a hands-on setting by learning about how to identify and remove invasive plants safely and effectively 
  • At the end of each session, students enjoyed: granola bars, oranges, hot chocolate, warm tea & juice
  • We built on our previous work at this park! Check out previous summaries from our activities earlier this year working with many different classes of Royal Bay Secondary School students and members of the community: Oct 27 2024 , Oct 9, 2024, Sept 25, 2024, July 7 2024
  • Students learned about the importance of ongoing ecological restoration through seeing the slow transformation of this area over time from repeated invasive plant removals in this area.

Community Investment Partner & Sponsor

We sincerely thank the City of Colwood for their ecological expertise and guidance for this activity. 

Together we are creating opportunities for community members to come together, connect with each other and nature, and take care of the environment!

We sincerely thank our sponsor, GableCraft Homes for their financial support, which have made a significant impact on both our community members and the environment!

Through this sponsorship we have been able to host twice as many activities in this area, increasing community engagement & education and improving the health of the greenspaces in Royal Bay! 

Together we are creating opportunities for community members to come together, connect with each other and nature, and take care of the environment!

Staff Who Made This Activity Happen!

Viloka & Kaitlin

 

Our dedicated team is passionate about creating engaging, high-quality activities that foster a sense of belonging, connection to nature while raising environmental awareness. We strive to make a positive impact on our environment and to build a thriving community that cares for it.

At the forefront is Kaitlin Warren, the Program Manager for the Greater Victoria Green Team, whose vision drives our efforts. She’s supported by Viloka Luna, our Partnerships Manager, ensuring every aspect runs smoothly behind the scenes. Together, they’re not just making plans; they’re building a brighter, greener future for our community.

Share this Post!

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn