Armed with hand shovels, buckets, and patience, a dozen dedicated volunteers gathered beneath the Garry oak canopy at Cattle Point to tackle an invasive threat endangering these trees. 

Every week, Margaret Lidkea, president of the Friends of Upland Park, leads a team of nature enthusiasts along Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 coast to remove invasive species crippling the fragile Garry oak ecosystemB次元官网网址攐ne of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 most endangered environments.

On the early afternoon of Nov. 10, Lidkea could be found kneeling on the ground tearing away plants just north of Scenic Drive. 

She explained that plants from other countries have the potential become invasive when introduced to a new environment. Whether intentionally or by accident, foreign plants can cause significant harm to areas where they are not native.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes the seeds were brought in on purpose like grass seeds to grow grain for the cattle,B次元官网网址� said Lidkea. B次元官网网址淪ometimes, they were involuntarily introduced as people move all through the world, accidentally carrying seeds with them.B次元官网网址�

Among those species is the daphne laureola, perennial evergreen shrub native to Eurasia and northern Africa

B次元官网网址淭his plant is poisonous and can cause rashes,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚ts small little blackberries are not poisonous to rats and they are probably the main animal that comes along and eats the berries."

As the sole consumers of these fruits, Lidkea noted that rodents are the primary spreaders of the seeds, which explains why the plant now grows throughout Greater Victoria.

Covering the forest floor, daphnes cast shade over native flowers, shrubs, and other species, preventing them from blooming. This, in turn, deprives animals, like birds, of their food sources, including insects, seeds, and berries.

However, the daphne's destruction doesnB次元官网网址檛 end there as it forms a deadly symbiotic relationship with another equally harmful plant: the English ivy.

Lidkea explained that the daphne, killing everything beneath its shade, creates the perfect, unobstructed path for the ivy to reach surrounding Garry oaks. Once this fast-growing, aggressive plant takes hold of a tree, few stand a chance at surviving the ivyB次元官网网址檚 deadly grip.

B次元官网网址淭he ivy basically forms a coil around the tree and that becomes hard,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hen the tree grows out, that rigid coil holds the bark in. Underneath the bark, you have tubes that carry water up to the top of the tree. [The ivy can] impede the movement of water by squeezing it and then the tree dies.B次元官网网址�

Lidkea also mentioned that scientists believe the ivy may release a chemical into the soil, inhibiting the growth of native bushes and other plants as a strategy to maintain dominance.

For the past 30 years, the Oak Bay resident has been working to clean municipalityB次元官网网址檚 Garry oak forests, starting independently with her Girl Guide group. After establishing annual public clean-ups, and noticing a growing interest from the community, she transitioned to hosting weekly events when she co-founded the Friends of Upland Park in 2010.

Since its inception, these clean-ups have removed countless tons of invasive species, helping to save numerous Garry oaks and protect fragile ecosystems.

Among the dozen volunteers gathered at Cattle Point this past Sunday was Rebecca Simmons, who joined the group during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, she has made this B次元官网网址渆xtreme weedingB次元官网网址� session a part of her weekly routine.

B次元官网网址淚t's an excellent excuse for being outside, with like-minded people,B次元官网网址� said Simmons. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great way to interact with people on a very gentle level without getting too close. ItB次元官网网址檚 a little exercise with fresh-air interactions.B次元官网网址�

However, despite drawing a consistent flow of volunteers, Lidkea invites everyone to join her and the team as the area they cover is significant. 

B次元官网网址淵ou don't have to stay the whole two hours and you don't have to come every week to help,B次元官网网址� said Lidkea. B次元官网网址淚t's an opportunity for people to come in and get connected to the land, feel the power of the trees, and feel relaxed.B次元官网网址�

Lidkea also mentioned it would be a perfect family-friendly event to get everyone outside for a couple of hours and raise the next generation of guardians of this precarious environment.

"[Children] are part of the ecosystem, and if they feel they belong, they learn to have fun in the area, grow to love it, and they will become the stewards of tomorrow."

An area like this of Cattle Point, without such efforts from LidkeaB次元官网网址檚 troop, could have been overtaken by invasive species long ago and decimated. In addition to protecting a local plot of land, these volunteers have preserved Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 broader ecosystem and its surroundings.

Scientists highlight the critical role of pollinators, noting they thrive in native plant areas where they evolved, said Lidkea. In turn, these insects help pollinate neighbouring gardens and agricultural regions, supporting food security, while maintaining local green spaces important for the tourism industry.

B次元官网网址淭ourism is one of our biggest industries and people come to our area to see our wild, natural areas and garden,B次元官网网址� said Lidkea. 

For more information about the Friends of Upland Park or to join their next clean-up, visit