Since 2021, Free the Fern Stewardship Society has been busy restoring the Champlain Heights Trails, in South East Vancouver. Combining community engagement with practical ecological restoration, they coordinate regular work parties to remove invasive species such as English ivy (Hedera helix), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), and yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon).  Management approaches have emphasized manual techniques—hand-pulling, root removal, and monitoring to reduce re-invasion and support native regeneration.

On Thursday, March 19, Free the Fern founder and Executive Director Grace Nombrado will share the history of how Free the Fern formed and the transformation that has occurred along the Champlain Heights Trails. Grace will highlight three key sites – Douglas Fir Teaching Garden, Community Food Forest, and Pollinator Garden – that were planted along the trails by Free the Fern volunteers.  She will describe species selection and layering (canopy, shrub, and herbaceous strata) and provide examples of ecologically significant species, such as Western sword fern (Polystivhum munitum), woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca), low Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa), Western wild ginger (Asarum caudate) as well as a variety of pollinator-supporting perennials. The talk will demonstrate how community-led stewardship can contribute to urban biodiversity and habitat resilience, and how a botanical restoration project can contribute  to building community and increasing human resilience.

This presentation will take place at Vancouver Unitarians Hewett Hall, 949 w 49th ave, and online via Zoom.  On the Monday preceding the event, Nature Vancouver members will receive the Zoom link in the weekly e-News.  The talk will begin at 7:30 pm.  Non-members are welcome and should Email zoom-request@NatureVancouver.ca between the preceding Friday and Wednesday to register for the link.