It was all sunshine and smiles at EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 scenic Saxe Point Park as volunteers came out for an opportunity to help improve ecosystem health.
On Saturday (Oct. 1) morning, the Greater Victoria Green Team (GVGT) and Township of Esquimalt hosted a TD Tree Days event, an initiative with a goal of planting one million trees and shrubs by 2030.
More than 40 community members of all ages, backgrounds and abilities took to the waterfront park to remove invasive plants B次元官网网址� such as English ivy, holly and daphne B次元官网网址� and replace them with approximately 200 plants native to the region.
Maria Varem, GVGT interim program manager, said removing invasive plants creates habitat for native wildlife in addition to expanding the parkB次元官网网址檚 natural biodiversity.
B次元官网网址淲hen invasive species come in, they basically throw everything out of balance in the local ecosystems,B次元官网网址� she told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淭hey tend to overgrow everything B次元官网网址� and with ivy specifically, it blocks out light from the ground. If you have existing trees throwing down seeds, those seeds cannot grow because theyB次元官网网址檙e not getting any light.B次元官网网址�
Among the native species planted were Douglas fir, western yew, alder, ScoulerB次元官网网址檚 willow, Oregon grape and western sword fern. But only around an estimated 70 per cent of the plants introduced are expected to survive, said Varem.
Still, thatB次元官网网址檚 enough to make a significant impact, she added.
B次元官网网址淗aving a lot of different native species growing in an ecosystem is really, really important. It helps build resiliency in the ecosystem towards any kind of disturbance or climate change.B次元官网网址�
Tillie Stanger-Ross, an Esquimalt High School student, said she came out to collect some volunteer hours for her leadership class, but more importantly because she recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship.
B次元官网网址淚t seemed like a really great opportunity to get involved in the community and help get rid of invasive species in our local park,B次元官网网址� she said.
GVGT will be hosting another TD Tree Days event at the end of the month on Oct. 29 in View Royal.
To get involved, visit .
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