by Marian McCoy, Saanich Parks Natural Areas Technician
Photos by Marian except where noted
Red triangle indicates restoration site; green area shows Cuthbert Holmes Park (Image: Saanich GIS)
In 2010 Saanich undertook several ecological restoration projects. Two of these were Garry Oak related: the Cuthbert Holmes Garry Oak Compensation Area near Admirals Bridge, and Falaise Park Garry Oak Meadow.
Cuthbert Holmes Garry Oak Compensation Area
Tucked beside the north bank of Colquitz River and the northeast approach to the Admirals Bridge is the Garry Oak Compensation Area. This former residential lot, now part of Cuthbert Holmes Park, was set aside as compensation for Garry Oak habitat that was disturbed during bridge re-construction in 2009.
To the untrained eye, and to busy commuters zooming by, the site might look like bare soil dotted with leafless stems, some patchy grass, and scattered pieces of wood. But those with a keener eye will see that there are more than 500 native shrubs, 24 Garry Oaks, and dozens of native grass plugs planted in a matrix of coarse and fine woody debris.
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The view from Matson Conservation Area (MCA) (photo by Todd Carnahan)
We’re happy to have this success story to tell about the conservation of Garry oak habitat during land development. Owned and managed by Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT), Matson Conservation Area along the WestSong Walkway on the Esquimalt waterfront features Victoria Harbour’s last remaining Garry oak ecosystems. Through many partnerships and hours of dedicated community involvement, the land was donated by Mandalay Developments (Swallow’s Landing), and is now managed as a demonstration site for urban habitat conservation and community education.
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Restoration for Species at Risk, Somenos Style
-from a PowerPoint presentation by Dave Polster
Biologist Tracy Fleming conducts a plant survey at Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area
Garry oak ecosystem restoration is a relatively new field and we are gradually figuring out what works. This is a project I have been involved with for about 15 years – mostly trying to keep this rare deep soil Garry oak site in Duncan, BC from becoming a housing development. After a lot of effort, eventually BC Parks forged a deal with the owner and the site became protected parkland. We didn’t want it to become an ecological reserve because we knew that we would need to do some experimenting to develop effective restoration strategies for this and other Garry oak sites, so it remains ‘Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area’.
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Kings Road Native Plant Garden: an urban restoration project
Corner of Kings Road and Roseberry Avenue, Victoria, BC, Canada
Kings Road Native Plant Garden in Victoria
Over a period of four years, Pat Johnston and seven friends from Victoria’s Native Plant Study Group met consistently two hours per week to transform her city lot into a thriving native plant demonstration garden. Although Pat has recently sold the property, it remains a native plant garden and can be viewed from the sidewalk in the Oaklands neighbourhood of Victoria. The project has spawned several other native plant gardens in the region. To begin with, the front yard was home to a rock outcrop, lawn and two Garry oak trees. Over the years, the crew transformed the yard by: READ MORE >
Anticipation of Spring on Eagle Island
by Fran Spencer, Parks Canada Agency
As I sit here listening to the wind and rain rattling my window I dream of bright spring days on Eagle Island. I can almost feel the sun warming my shoulders and see the bright spring flowers carpeting the ground beneath the oaks. Could there be a better picture of paradise?
Eagle Island, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, cradled in the Hook Spit of Sidney Island (photo © Parks Canada/Nick Irving)
But this is a dream of spring to come, not a reminiscence of springs recently past. To bring this vision back to life, this once lush and idyllic island is in need of help, for its spring meadows and fragile ecosystems are threatened by invasive plant and animal species. Parks Canada has taken up this challenge and in 2007 began restoring the ecological integrity of Eagle Island. READ MORE >