As the sun shines atop the now-cleared McNeill Bay bluff, local biologist and restoration volunteer Jacques Sirois says the B次元官网网址渉eavy liftingB次元官网网址� is already over and maintenance of this section of the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary has begun.

Sirois returned to the bluff Friday to admire the quick work he and fellow Community Association of Oak Bay member Leo Gauthier have made since commencing their restoration of the area in September 2019.

Together, they have cleared truckloads of invasive English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, daphne and English hawthorn in a district-sponsored project inspired by the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. And now, having gotten through the thick of their invasive species removal by March despite initially aiming to finish restoration work there by 2031, Sirois and Gauthier are well ahead of schedule.

RELATED READ:

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the B次元官网网址榡ust do itB次元官网网址� technique,B次元官网网址� Sirois explained, pointing out the B次元官网网址渞esilientB次元官网网址� June plum, B次元官网网址渆xtremely toughB次元官网网址� Pacific crabapple and B次元官网网址渂loomingB次元官网网址� Saskatoons to his right.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a regime change for them, a completely new set of circumstances,B次元官网网址� he said of the Saskatoons, which now stand free from the once-encroaching ivy and blackberry.

B次元官网网址淭hey removed a massive amount of ivy,B次元官网网址� said Wylie Thomas, a local biologist and vice-president of the Friends of Uplands Park Society.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a phenomenal amount of work,B次元官网网址� he said, adding it was a wonder people could even see the ScoulerB次元官网网址檚 willows at Kitty Islet previously.

B次元官网网址淭he trees were just draped in ivy.B次元官网网址�

To heighten restoration efforts, Sirois and Gauthier also cleared space for a soil bed the size of two cars to plant fresh Garry oaks and camas. Despite older camas already existing there in abundance, the newer ones have turned out to be a favourite snack for deer.

B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 want to plant too many things,B次元官网网址� Sirois reseasoned. B次元官网网址淲e just want the vegetation to grow.B次元官网网址�

He said they also uncovered Oregon grape beneath the hoards of ivy. Other native trees and shrubs along the bluff and Kitty Islet shoreline include black hawthorn, Nootka rose and common snowberry, although Sirois said the latter two started to dominate and have needed to be controlled.

B次元官网网址淲e gave Mother Nature a chance to grow, and we let it happen.B次元官网网址�

He said the goal with maintaining the bluff is to generate a good source of berries for birds. The cleared spaces arenB次元官网网址檛 intended for human use and pedestrians are encouraged to keep to the sidewalk and make use of the public space at Kitty Islet.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the beauty of this whole place,B次元官网网址� said Sirois, a frequent visitor to Kitty Islet himself.

ALSO READ:

Chris Hyde-Lay, parks services manager for Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture, called the restoration work a B次元官网网址渨onderful step in the right direction.B次元官网网址�

He commended the B次元官网网址減henomenalB次元官网网址� progress at the bluff under SiroisB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渢utelageB次元官网网址� for helping B次元官网网址渞ewireB次元官网网址� the land.

Whenever needed, the district sent a truck to haul out the masses of invasive brush Sirois and Gauthier cleared each week.

B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 tell you how many dump-truck loads of plants (were removed),B次元官网网址� Hyde-Lay remarked.

Sirois plans to maintain the bluff himself B次元官网网址渋ndefinitely,B次元官网网址� at least for the next few years. After that, however, it may be up to a new generation to carry on the work and legacy.

B次元官网网址淗opefully thereB次元官网网址檒l be a caretaker coming along,B次元官网网址� he said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: evert.lindquist@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on and and like us on