Help give an invasive species a clean sweep Saturday by volunteering for the annual broom sweep at Mill Hill Regional Park.
Removing broom will help restore threatened native Garry oak ecosystems, including rare and endangered species. This is the 13th year of the sweep.
“The Mill Hill broom sweep is CRD Regional Parks’ largest volunteer initiative, with more than 100 individuals and groups joining up every fall,” said Susan Brice, CRD Regional Parks committee chairwoman.
“Working with this great team is an ideal way to learn about the most effective techniques for removing broom. It’s a great opportunity to assist with environmental stewardship of the park.”
Staff and volunteers last year removed 2.4 metric tonnes of invasive shrubs from the park’s meadows. Over the past 12 years, 65 tonnes have been removed throughout the park.
Before the project started, seven rare plant species were known to occur at 32 sites in the park. Now 13 rare species have now been found at about 180 sites, including an increase of two rare plant species — the purple sanicle and white-top aster — two to three years after broom removal.
The project is undertaken by CRD Regional Parks with financial support from the federal environment ministry.
Removal also takes place next Saturday. People can do a full day (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or a half day (9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m.)
People should meet at Mill Hill Regional Park, 490 Atkins Ave., in Langford. For details or to register, go to crd.bc.ca/parks/ millhill/broomsweep.htm or call 250-360-3329.
