In Action: Lower Mainland Green Team

Highlights 18 community members participated and contributed 59 hours total 17 participants visited Reg Franklin Park for the first time 14 participants removed invasive plant species for the first time Over 10.5 cubic metres of invasive Himalayan blackberry was removed (equivalent to the volume of about 67 bathtubs!) Students from 3 school districts joined us at this activity (Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows, Coquitlam, Langley) We were featured in the Maple Ridge News for this activity! Read the article published prior to the activity HERE. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful fall day! Yummy refreshments were had by all during our break, and a game of basketball ensued in the school yard beside the park when a basketball was found! Greta from the Alouette River Management Society came dressed as a banana and one of our volunteers, Alexis, brought a very cool wolf mask! Action Shots Summary On Saturday October

Highlights 69 local students and 9 adults removed invasive plants and contributed 92.5 hours total 24 participants visited Ruth Johnson Park for the first time 45 participants removed invasive plants for the first time Over 10.5 cubic metres of invasive plants was removed (equivalent to the volume of about 65 bathtubs!) including English Ivy, English Holly and English Laurel Action Shots Summary On Wednesday October 27, 2021 the Lower Mainland Green Team partnered up with the City of White Rock to engage local youth in removing invasive plants from Ruth Johnson Park. This was our 5th time at Ruth Johnson Park in 2021, with our other visits on March 3, April 22, June 9 and October 23, 2021. We have been working in this gorgeous park since 2013! Local students grades 4-11 walked from their schools to Ruth Johnson Park to restore this urban forest and spend valuable time in

Highlights 33 community members of all ages participated and contributed 108.5 hours total 29 participants visited Hoy Creek for the first time 23 participants removed invasive plant species for the first time Almost 10 cubic metres of invasive Himalayan blackberry and English ivy was removed (equivalent to the volume of about 62 bathtubs!) 2 salmon were seen spawning up Hoy Creek! We were featured in the Tri-City News for this activity! Read the article HERE. We found a variety of things mixed in with blackberry brambles, including bottles, cans, and a DVD of National Lampoon’s Senior Trip! Yummy refreshments was had by all and set up beautifully thanks to Swetha! Everyone took home a thank you gift donated by a local sustainable business, including Toothpaste Tablets from Nelson Naturals! Action Shots Summary On Sunday October 24, 2021 the Lower Mainland Green Team teamed up with the City of Coquitlam to

Highlights 11 community members joined us for our very first interpretive walk 14 community members removed invasive plants and contributed 54 hours total 8 participants visited Ruth Johnson Park for the first time 7 participants went on an interpretive walk for the first time 6 participants removed invasive plant species for the first time 11.5 cubic metres of invasive plants was removed (equivalent to the volume of about 72 bathtubs!) including Himalayan blackberry, English Ivy, English Holly and English Laurel We were featured in the news TWICE for this activity, Read the first article HERE and second article HERE. Everyone took home a thank you gift donated by a local sustainable business, including tea light candles from Honey Candles, Swedish dishcloths from Swede Things, organic, fair trade coffee from Salt Spring Coffee, lip balm from Green Beaver and organic, fair trade chocolate bars from Camino! Interpretive Walk Photos Invasive Plant

Highlights 51 people (35 local Langley students) participated and contributed 70 hours total Almost 5 cubic metres of invasive plants was removed (equivalent to the volume of about 30 bathtubs!) including Himalayan blackberry, English and Portuguese laurel and Morning glory 65 native shrubs and trees were planted including Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, Pacific dogwood, Salal, Salmonberry, Deer fern and Oregon grape 31 people visited Williams Park for the first time 26 people removed invasive plant species for the first time 8 people planted native shrubs and trees for the first time On Thursday October 21, 2021 the Lower Mainland Green Team partnered with the Township of Langley to remove invasive plants and plant native shrubs and trees at Williams Park. 35 students and 16 parents, teachers and education assistants were met with perfect weather as they came ready to restore this local park through the power of teamwork. 3 classes

Highlights 34 community members of all ages participated and contributed 107 hours total 17 participants visited West Beach for the first time 21 participants removed invasive plant species for the first time Almost 10.5 cubic metres of invasive Himalayan blackberry was removed (equivalent to the volume of about 65 bathtubs!) including some MASSIVE root crowns, which require more effort to remove but take up less volume Some root crowns were estimated to weigh close to ~20-25 pounds! We found tools to build a sand castle: a small sand shovel and a large spoon We heard a crow repeatedly bark like a dog We received lots of support from passersby who cheered on the efforts of our Green Team One of our participants, Richard, runs an awesome blog about flowers called Flowerishness! He wrote a great post about Himalayan blackberry and our activity, so make sure you check it out HERE!

Highlights 54 Grade 7 students from the Langley Fine Arts School participated and contributed 135 hours total Almost 11 cubic metres of invasive Himalayan blackberry was removed (equivalent to the volume of almost 68 bathtubs!), including dozens of stubborn root crowns which require more effort to remove but take up less volume 4 students visited the Fort-to-Fort Trail for the first time 14 students removed invasive plant species for the first time On Thursday October 7, 2021 the Lower Mainland Green Team joined forces with the Township of Langley to tackle invasive Himalayan blackberry at the Fort-to-Fort Trail. 54 students, 2 teachers and 4 parent volunteers walked from the Langley Fine Arts School to the Fort-to-Fort Trail to rescue trees being overtaken by blackberry and increase biodiversity in this natural area. The sun shone down on the students as they cut back the thorny brambles and dug up root crowns

On Sunday September 26, 2021 the Lower Mainland Green Team celebrated BC and World Rivers Day with the City of Burnaby at Ron McLean Park! This activity was the second of two activities being run this weekend at this location. Read about the activity that happened the day before. Despite a forecast of 100% rain, community members of all ages came prepared to tackle invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry and were met with only 15 minutes of rain and temperatures not too hot or cold. However rain gear was welcomed as everyone soon learned how easy it is to get carried away and covered in mud! In joining this activity, participants were able to connect to nature and each other, which has benefits for our health and the health of the environment. By building on the hard work of participants who attended our activity at this site the day

On Saturday September 25, 2021 the Lower Mainland Green Team celebrated BC and World Rivers Day weekend with the City of Burnaby at Ron McLean Park! This activity was the first of two activities being run this weekend at this location. Read about the activity that happened the next day. The efforts of our Green Team were met with a beautiful day as community members of all ages geared up to remove invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry from a trail near the Byrne Creek Tennis Courts. Not only were participants improving the health of this local ecosystem, but also their own mental and physical health by being out in nature and connecting with others. The impact of one person can sometimes feel small, but when we work together towards a common goal it is clear that we can achieve a lot. We had a huge impact at this local