PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy planted trees and unveiled new sites at the park Saturday (Nov. 26) to mark the 30th anniversary of the grant which placed the park under the District of SaanichB次元官网网址檚 care.
The conservancy, formerly known as The Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society, announced the name change as part of the 30th-anniversary celebrations of British Columbia granting PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) to the district.
B次元官网网址淚t was 30 years ago this week that Saanich council met to formally accept this grant for care of the park to Saanich,B次元官网网址� said Darrell Wick, who works with the conservancy. B次元官网网址淎s park custodians, we need renewed energy to uphold the park.B次元官网网址�
To commemorate the anniversary, the conservancy presented a restored area for students within the park dubbed the B次元官网网址榦utdoor classroom.B次元官网网址�
This area features a bridge with new interpretive signs that help visitors connect with the surrounding nature, as well as a place to learn about the outdoors and engage with Douglas Creek, out of the way of dead or dangerous trees.
For the new outdoor classroom and bridge, the conservancy presented Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock with a cheque for $10,000, which is a part of a larger donation of $25,000 for restoration projects.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to say how much I appreciate what has been done here today,B次元官网网址� Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Murray Rankin said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if youB次元官网网址檝e ever seen a group give money to government B次元官网网址� that in itself is worth noting.B次元官网网址�
To celebrate the 30th anniversary, volunteers helped to plant 30 trees on the trail leading up to the bridge as well as near the beach.
B次元官网网址淐onservancy connotes stewardship, it connotes hard work, and youB次元官网网址檝e seen it in action,B次元官网网址� Rankin said. B次元官网网址淭o think this will be used for children for years to come, it makes me so proud.B次元官网网址�
Rankin said the fact that salmon are returning to the area and students can use the creek to hatch eggs and learn about their life cycle and nature is a testament to the hard work of conservationists.
The trees planted were just 30 of 400 other shrubs and plants that will be put in the ground by the conservancy this winter.
For the first few years of the treeB次元官网网址檚 lives, volunteers will have to water them weekly, but after that, the native trees are able to flourish alone, adding life to an already green and luscious forest.
A ribbon cutting for a new set of stairs down to the beach was planned, however, weather has delayed construction. Barring any more heavy rains, the steps should be completed by the first week of December.
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