Blueridge Creek
Restoration Project
We have in our area a lovely little pocket park on
We would like to highlight
the biodiversity that existed in the park only a few years ago and try to bring
back some of the Black Hawthorn, Huckleberries, Osier Dogwood; sword ferns and
Trilliums. Graham Knell, who works in Trails and Habitat with the District, is
guiding us with this endeavour and we appreciate his
support. This greenway and wildlife corridor extends the length of Blueridge Creek and our vision for the future is to expand
our cleanup efforts to include all the streamway
area. We want neighbours to remove tarps, garbage bags, broken chairs and
other debris from the creek as well as remove garden waste dump sites. There
were fish is this stream at one time and our hope is to restore it so it can
once again support a fish habitat. There were salamanders throughout the park as
well as frogs and these creatures always add interest to a walk through the
park. Please be aware of the damage
the many dogs entering the stream can cause to these habitats. Maybe we can work
on establishing a dog watering hole and play spot along the course of the stream
for this purpose only. We are open to any suggestions and encourage others to
get involved.
As
members of the Blueridge Community Association we
would like to draw your attention to the problem we have in our neighbourhood with yard debris dumping into local parks and
streambed areas. This dumping allows for invasive species of plants to enter
into our natural environment thus causing a loss of our native species of plants
and animals.
One
such plant is Lamium (Lamiastrum galeobdolon ‘Variegatum’) which is still sold as a hanging basket
plant. However when people dump their hanging baskets into the woods when they
are returning it to the soil, composting it or even greening the green belt
areas with good intentions they are actually causing harm unintentionally.
Please reconsider this practice as it creates a monoculture as seen in the woods
at the end of Bendale, Carnation,
Other
invasive species of plants include English Holly (Ilex aquifolium); English Ivy (Hedera
helix); Periwinkle (Vinca spp.); Impatiens glandulifera also
called Policeman’s Helmet; Giant Hogweed (Heracleum
mantegazzianum) which is a very large plant that
produces a toxin that causes severe blistering. Please buy from garden shops
that do not sell invasive species of plants. A list of invasive plants can be
obtained through the links listed below.
There
are economic benefits as well as health, social, aesthetic and habitat benefits
of maintaining biodiversity in our
community. For prevention of soil erosion, for prevention of the creation of
dead zones; for prevention of habitat degradation; for prevention of ocean
acidification from use of fertilizers become aware of the impacts of your
gardening practices. We can all make a tremendous difference to this wonderful
world if we become informed citizens of our community. There are many websites
with people offering insight into this concern.
For
more information about invasive plants visit: www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca;
www.evergreen.ca; http://www.gvrd.com/parks/index.html
; www.npsbc.org/
Submitted by Rhoda Irwin and Laura Well
Identify and dispose of invasive plants in your
backyard!
How to
dispose of Invasive species: dig up and enclosed in black plastic
bags and deposited in the garbage can as our composting practices do not reach a
high enough temperature to kill these seeds.
Identify Invasive species:
English Holly or Ilex aquifolium
English Ivy or Hedera heli
Periwinkle or Vinca spp
Impatiens glandulifera or Policeman’s Helmet
Giant
Hogweed or Heracleum mantegazzianum
