The Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Greenways Land Trust are calling on volunteers who like to get their hands dirty to help with a spring planting and pulling party on Baikie Island Nature Reserve on Friday.
Once an industrial landscape, Baikie Island Nature Reserve is now a world-renowned example of how land can be restored back to health.
However, yearly tending is required to rebuild native plant populations and to control a showy yellow ornamental plant known as yellow flag iris.
While it can be an attractive plant, yellow flag iris is an invasive species that poses a great threat to fragile wetland ecosystems.
Unless tackled early, the iris can rapidly form dense cover, preventing the establishment of native wetland plants and damaging important habitat for native animal species. Volunteers are needed to help clear early growth of this invasive plant.
Volunteers can also help plant the hundreds of native seedlings that are waiting to be planted around the nature reserve.
Creating a healthy, self-sustaining population of native plants like red-flowering current, Oregon grape and elderberry will limit the ability of invasive plants like yellow flag iris to take root.
Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday March 11.
Meet at the parking lot at the end of Robinson Road at 10 a.m. Bring water, gardening gloves and gumboots. Tools and snacks will be provided.
To register and for more information email bc@conservationvolunteers.ca