GVGT in Action

The Greater Victoria Green Team organized a volunteer and community engagement activity in Sidney at Robert’s Bay Park. It was the very first GVGT activity in Sidney, and it was a huge hit! More than 40 people participated and cleared over 10 cubic metres of invasive plants from the park.

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Ania, Cathryn, Chad, Chris and Laura, Clark, Cui, Dennis, Derek, Elaine, Helena, Huang, Jialu, Joan, Jocelyn, Kelvin, Kerry, Kevin, Leisheng, Li, Liz, Lynda, Rheona, Riley, Roger, Rong, Scott, Shangdi, Shaodong, Tian, Tom, Xie, Xinghong, Yingxin, Yixuan, Yizhang, Yu, Yuxiang and Yvonne.

Thank you very much to the Town of Sidney Parks Department for providing funds to this activity! A special thanks to the Parks’ Department Managers – Brian and Cliff for recognizing the importance of collaboration and partnership! Your support made it all possible.

Thank you very much to the Sidney Community Association for your passion, appreciation and hard-work! It was great meeting you all!

Thank-you to Starbucks in Sidney for donating coffee, and Sidney Bakery for offering a discount on your delicious baked goods! Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank-you gifts to our volunteers: West Coast Seeds for providing veggie and flower seeds, and Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 43 volunteers participated and contributed 140 volunteer hours
• 33 volunteers had never been to Robert’s Bay Park before!
• 35 of the volunteers were introduced to removing invasive English Ivy!
• We removed 12 cubic metres of English Ivy (and some holly and blackberry) from an area measuring approximately 350 square metres.
• We removed approximately 80% of the invasive plants from the park! Way to go!
• We had a group from the Saanich Community Association – thanks so much for attending and all of your support for community engagement!
• We had a group of students from the Beifang Leadership Program. The students are all from China and are here in Victoria for three months participating in leadership activities! Welcome!

What participants said about their experience“

Amanda has a gift of organizing groups of all sizes and making everyone feel welcome and appreciated. Thank-you!

Before and After photos

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

The Greater Victoria Green Team and Friends of Havenwood Park removed about 8 cubic metres of invasive blackberry from the beautiful forest habitat!

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Aasmita, Barbara, Carol Siobhan, Andre, Clark, David, Josephine, Yvonne, Alfred, Sam, Anna, Henry, Robbie, Tom, Stephen, Kelvin, Jason, Satoe, Chad, Phaedra, Riley and Ruby!

Thank you very much to the City of Colwood for helping to fund our Green Team activities this year in your municipality! Your support makes it possible to engage community and restore habitat! Thank you!!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank you gifts to our volunteers:West Coast Seeds for providing veggie and flower seeds, Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate, and EarthRated for providing dog poop bags. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 21 GVGT volunteers participated (25 people in total) and contributed 70 volunteer hours
• 15 GVGT volunteers had never been to Havenwood Park before!
• 11 of the volunteers were introduced to removing Himalayan Blackberry!
• We removed 8 cubic metres of invasive plants from approximately 250 square metres.
• The forest habitat was quite diverse – we were excited to see lots of native plants including a Red-Flowering Currant!

What participants said about their experience“

I enjoyed meeting and working with new/energetic/experienced people. Thank you.

On the way home, I found many places were filled with invasive blackberry.
It’s funny that I noticed myself instantly thinking the process how those invasive plants should be removed. (Cut them short and grub up the roots by a shovel etc.)

Before and After photos

  

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

The Greater Victoria Green Team volunteers continued efforts to remove English Ivy and other invasive plants from the riparian area in Mystic Vale at the University of Victoria!

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Alden, Andre, Autumn, Barbara, Catherine, Catrina, Courtney, Darrin, Dazhong, Emileigh, Emily, Hailey, Henry, Ida, Jasper, Jodie, Jon, Katie, Madeline, Natan, Peter, Riley H, Riley C, Sam, Sarah, Scott, Spencer and Vanessa!

Thank you very much to the University of Victoria Sustainability and Campus Planning Department for funding this activity and other Green Team volunteer activities at UVic this year!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank you gifts to our volunteers:West Coast Seeds for providing veggie and flower seeds, Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate, and EarthRated for providing dog poop bags. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 28 volunteers participated and contributed 86 volunteer hours
• 15 volunteers had never been to Mystic Vale before!
• 10 of the volunteers were introduced to removing invasive English Ivy!
• We removed 7 cubic metres of English Ivy (and some holly) from an area measuring approximately 250 square metres.

What participants said about their experience“

To be added…

Before and After photos

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

The Greater Victoria Green Team organized the ENTIRE school of View Royal Elementary to help restore Portage Park over two days and several different sessions throughout the days. On the second day (March 15) the remaining classes participated! See what we accomplished below.

Thank-you to everyone who participated: students from the following awesome teachers: K. Higginbotham/N. Hill, Corrie Ballard, Pickwick, Ryan Stevens, Karen Mills, Rob Crawford.

Thank you very much to the Town of View Royal for contributing funding to this activity and other Green Team volunteer activities in View Royal this year! Also, THANK YOU to students, parents and teachers from View Royal Elementary for making donations to help us cover costs of organizing these activities!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsor for providing thank you soap to all of the participants: LUSH Cosmetics

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 154 students, teachers and parents participated and contributed 130 volunteer hours
• 15 volunteers had never been to Portage Park before!
• 10 of the volunteers were introduced to removing invasive English Ivy!
• Over the two days we removed 6 cubic metres of invasive plants, planted 14 native trees and shrubs and revitalized an area measuring approx. 200 square metres

What participants said about their experience

“It was amazing for our students to revisit our site from last year and reflect on all they had accomplished. Introducing new native shrubs and trees was incredibly rewarding. We will look forward to checking in on them on our nature walks. I love how the program gives our students the opportunity to be stewards of our own backyard and how I can see some of my students in a new light – from the quiet ones that become leaders and organize others, to the busy ones that become highly focused. – Mrs. Stevens, teacher

Before and After photos

  

  

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

The Greater Victoria Green Team organized the ENTIRE school of View Royal Elementary to help restore Portage Park over two days and several different sessions throughout the days.

Thank-you to everyone who participated: students from the following awesome teachers: Amanda Bjork, Morgane Michael, Sarah Winkler, Kayla Myles, Zahara/Miller, Davis/Mostyn, Moreau/Hein/Jassal, Shelley Stevens, Pam Lelonde and Jessica Leger.

Thank you very much to the Town of View Royal for contributing funding to this activity and other Green Team volunteer activities in View Royal this year! Also, THANK YOU to students, parents and teachers from View Royal Elementary for donating some funding to help us cover costs of organizing these activities!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsor for providing thank you soap to all of the participants: LUSH Cosmetics

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 188 students, teachers and parents participated and contributed 160 volunteer hours
• 20 volunteers had never been to Portage Park before!
• 18 of the volunteers were introduced to removing invasive English Ivy!
• We removed 5 cubic metres of invasive plants, planted 14 native trees and shrubs and revitalized an area measuring approx. 200 square metres

What participants said about their experience

“It was amazing for our students to revisit our site from last year and reflect on all they had accomplished. Introducing new native shrubs and trees was incredibly rewarding. We will look forward to checking in on them on our nature walks. I love how the program gives our students the opportunity to be stewards of our own backyard and how I can see some of my students in a new light – from the quiet ones that become leaders and organize others, to the busy ones that become highly focused. – Mrs. Stevens, teacher

Before and After photos

  

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

The Greater Victoria Green Team spent the day planting 170 native trees and shrubs, and removing an assortment of invasive plants from Esquimalt Gorge Park as part of their Branch Out event!

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Annie, Cailee, Carolyn, Cedar, Christophe, Esther, Jeremy, Jon, Kai, Karen, Kris, Mira, Moran, Moraine, Nahele, Oki, Patricia, Riley, Rob, Robb, Satoe, Shoma, Simon and Tom!

Thank you very much to the Township of Esquimalt for funding this activity and other Green Team volunteer activities in Esquimalt this year!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank you gifts to our volunteers: West Coast Seeds for providing veggie and flower seeds, Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 24 GVGT volunteers participated and contributed 74 volunteer hours
• 17 volunteers had never been to Esquimalt Gorge Park before!
• 20 of the volunteers were introduced to planting native shrubs!
• We removed approximately 2 cubic metres of invasive plants, planted 170 native shrubs and trees and revitalized an area measuring approx. 300 square metres
• In total, we have had 8 GVGT activities in Esquimalt Gorge Park. Read the reports from our last activities below:
  • March 3, 2018
  • March 22, 2016
  • November 21, 2015
  • February 24, 2015 AM AND February 24, 2015 PM
  • September 23, 2015 AM AND September 23, 2015 PM

What participants said about their experience

“Think it’s great to get people out learning about and helping in our parks. Plus local users of the park may be inspired to help with invasive plant removal when they see others doing this. The more you can get people out contributing to their communities the better.The sun on my back, the smell of the forest, and the sense of accomplishment by filling the big disposal bag and saving the world one blackberry cane at a time.”

“I feel this program makes a positive effect on our ways to involve in and contribute to the community, and our behavior toward the environment around us.”

Before and After photos

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

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The Greater Victoria Green Team worked to remove 11 cubic metres of invasive Daphne and Blackberry from Lund Road Protection Area in View Royal!

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Anne, Annie, Candice, Cedar, Conway, Daniela, Jeremy, Jesse, Chris, Matthew, Moraine, Nahele, Nathan and Simon.

Thank you to Volunteer View Royal and the park stewards of Lund Road for all of your work restoring local habitat! To join the ongoing efforts, please head to Volunteer View Royal FACEBOOK PAGE here. You can also email Chris here:

Thank you very much to the Town of View Royal for funding this activity and other Green Team volunteer activities in View Royal this year!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank you gifts to our volunteers: LUSH Cosmetics for providing great bath items, Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 14 GVGT volunteers participated and contributed 37 volunteer hours
• 14 volunteers had never been to Lund Protection Area before
• 11 of the volunteers were introduced to removing Daphne
• We removed approximately 11 cubic metres of invasive plants and revitalized an area measuring approx. 250 square metres

What participants said about their experience

I really feel this program helps people appreciate parks they may have never been to and to see the important of how we can have a positive impact on our environments.

Being able to work together as a team to improve our ecosystem. I like that our kids got to participate, they really enjoyed it.

The sun on my back, the smell of the forest, and the sense of accomplishment by filling the big disposal bag and saving the world one blackberry cane at a time.

Before and After photos

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

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The Greater Victoria Green Team organized the first volunteer activity of 2019 in Mystic Vale at the University of Victoria! Almost 50 volunteers spent the morning removing English Ivy, Holly and a bit of Daphne from the riparian habitat in the woods!

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Abby, Abi, Abigail, Alex, Alexandra, Alfred, Alistair, Anastasia, Andre, Andrea, Barbara, Breila, Brenna, Brian, Brittany, Carina, Charlotte, Christie, Colin, Conway, Dana, Darrin, Eban, Emma, Ethan, Genie, Hannah, Janey, Jasper, Jayde, Johnson, Kai, Kaylie, Khea, Lucas, Martin, Mattanyu, Matthew, Paige, Peter, Samara, Sarah, Shreena, Sophia, Spencer, Theresa, Zachary and Ziyi.

Thank you to the Ecological Restoration Volunteer Network who helped spread the word about the event! If you want to join the ERVN, head to their FACEBOOK PAGE HERE

Thank you very much to the University of Victoria Campus Planning and Sustainability Office for funding this activity and other Green Team volunteer activities in Mystic Vale this year!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank you gifts to our volunteers: LUSH Cosmetics for providing great bath items, Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

Highlights

• 48 GVGT volunteers participated and contributed 150 volunteer hours
• 24 volunteers had never been to Mystic Vale before
• 29 of the volunteers were introduced to removing English Ivy  
• We removed approximately 20 cubic metres of invasive plants and revitalized an area measuring approx. 450 square metres.
• We had 38 UVic students attend, and many of them walked over from the residence building!

What volunteers said about their experience

With everybody working together, it’s easy to make significant change in the community, so the impact of programs that bring people together is limitless.

I felt very accomplished seeing just how much ivy we could pull in such a short amount of time.

It gives people a sense of accomplishment. Our climate issue can feel daunting and scary, but this can help ya feel more like we are part of the change!

I loved being able to give back. I got to meet a lot of new people, while helping the environment.

I feel the impact of this group is positive education to others about invasive species as well as pulling the invasive species themselves which helps the environment/plants in the ecosystem. I enjoyed speaking with people with the same interests as me, as well as pulling the ivy and holly as I felt my time was used for a greater cause (helping the environment).

Before and After photos

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Volunteers in Action

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The Greater Victoria Green Team and Volunteer View Royal removed an assortment of invasive plants including English Ivy, English Holly and Daphne from the forested park in View Royal, Portage Park. This activity marked the last GV Green Team volunteer activity of 2018! What an amazing way to end a great year! 

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Alan, Alisa, Beth, Bethany, Clark, Connie, David, John, Linh, Marc, Marjorie, Monika, Patrick, Peter, Robb, Simon, Sophia, Stephen and Val.

Thank you to Chris Junck, the invasive species coordinator of View Royal for hosting us and all the work you do revitalizing habitat in View Royal! To join the Volunteer View Royal team, please email Chris at , and find the team on FACEBOOK HERE

Thank you very much to the Town of View Royal for your continual support for our GV Green Team program in your municipality! Your funding makes it possible for us to engage community and help revitalize habitat throughout your parks !

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank you gifts to our volunteers: LUSH Cosmetics for providing great bath items, Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

 

Highlights

• 19 GVGT volunteers participated and contributed 56 volunteer hours
• 11 volunteers had never been to Portage Park before
• 12 of the volunteers were introduced to planting native trees.  
• 8 of the volunteers were introduced to removing invasive English Ivy!
• We removed approximately 10 cubic metres of invasive plants and revitalized an area measuring approx. 100 square metres.
• We planted 10 grand-fir trees! 
• We had 3 volunteers from the awesome Benevity!

 

What volunteers said about their experience

 

Gives the opportunity to experience activities to improve the natural surroundings. Creates awareness among the people who participate, even if they know things – there is always some more learning. And of course, it improves the park to regain itself in its real natural form. Keep it up! Good to collaborate with other agencies.

 

Great group of folks to work with. View Royal staff (Chris) was very welcoming too and a pleasure to work with.

 

There are two kinds of impact created. The primary one is, of course, is helping to return the land in question to its original state by removing invasive species; and the other is creating an opportunity for like-minded people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to do something useful. This secondary result is community-building and, to my mind, equally as valuable.

 

The Greater Victoria Green Team spent the day working with The Land Conservancy of BC and CRD Parks to continue efforts restoring a section of habitat called, Atkins Restoration area, along the Galloping Goose Trail in Langford. Together 19 staff and volunteers moved 20 cubic metres of mulch and large pieces of cardboard to smother the highly invasive St. John’s Wort.  

Thank-you to everyone who participated: Alisa, Andre, Barbara, Casey, Doreen, Linh, Lori, Margaret, Miaoju, Miles, Nancy, Peter, Rheona, Simon, Tegan and Terra. 

Thank you to Torrey and Karen from The Land Conservancy of BC for their wonderful and ongoing partnership! Thank you to Liz of CRD Parks for your energy and enthusiasm in making the day so great!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors for providing thank you gifts to our volunteers: LUSH Cosmetics for providing great bath items, Camino Chocolate for providing chocolate. Plus our granola bars were donated by the awesome Nature’s Path

 

PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT IS FOUND HERE

 

Highlights

• 16 volunteers participated (10 GVGT volunteers) and contributed 55 volunteer hours (35 GVGT hours)
• 11 of the volunteers were introduced to removing St. Johns Wort! 
• 10 volunteers had never been to Atkins Restoration Area before
• We moved approximately 20 cubic metres of mulch and revitalized an area measuring 100 square metres

 

What volunteers said about their experience

 

“It was nice to get out and see a new place while hanging out with some good people and doing something to help restore an area”

 

“Wonderful in so many ways. Tackling invasive species is SO important to try and maintain the health of Canada’s native plants. It’s great for getting to meet lots of nice people working hard together. And, it gets people to see and appreciate natural areas they probably otherwise wouldn’t even realise existed. Which brings greater appreciation for the wonders and delights of Canada.”

 

“The overall camaraderie and sense of progress as we could see our work in concrete terms.”