Submitted by Nigel Peck

In December 2021 Nature Vancouver approached the Vancouver Park Board to see if we could assist in the removal of invasive plants on the west side of New Brighton Park in Vancouver’s northeast corner just next to the Workers’ Memorial Second Narrow Bridge. 

The hillock on the park’s west side was a byproduct of an award-winning Marine Restoration collaboration between the Vancouver Park Board, the Port of Vancouver and the and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation begun in 2015 on the east side of the park. Industrial fill was removed from the area to create a tidal wetland feature which improved habitat in Burrard Inlet for the rearing of juvenile salmon and generally enhanced marine productivity in the area.

The Habitat Enhancement Project was a success but the fill, dumped to create a hillock on the west side of the park next to the Port of Vancouver tractor-trailer staging lot was soon populated with invasive plants, particularly Scotch Broom, Himalayan Blackberry and Bull Thistle. Seeing the increasing invasive plant population at the park we approached the Vancouver Park Board who accepted our offer to remove Broom and Blackberry.

We then met with the Port of Vancouver to see if we could be allowed to remove invasive plants on the Port of Vancouver strip next to the park. This was critical to an effective program as without the Port invasive removal, the park would just be continuously repopulated by Portside invasive species. The Port agreed to Nature Vancouver’s involvement in invasive plant removal and applied for a one-year permit to allow New Brighton volunteers to work on Port property.

Year One – 2022: Broom & Blackberry Removal on Park Hillock and Portside Strip

Work started January 24th and over the next 3 months in 15 work parties (totalling 149 individual work days) we cleared all the Scotch Broom and Blackberry from both the hillock and the 5 metres strip between the Park / Port fence and the Portside truck staging area. Over 100 broom plants up to 3 metres in height were pulled out of the ground and stands of blackberry 3 metres by 5 metres were dug out.

The Port of Vancouver also contributed significantly and substantially to the effort by suggesting and insisting that Nature Vancouver ‘bill’ the Port for the work to be completed. We had no idea what to ask for so Charlotte’s suggestion of $5000 was a huge and very much appreciated surprise. That payment from the Port funded our equipment purchases and work party costs for the first two years.

Invasive plant clearing continued to the end of March 2022, immediately followed on April 2nd by a planting effort instigated by the Vancouver Park Board who provided 800+ native perennial flowers plugs and shrubs for planting. Perennial flowers included Nodding Onion, Pearly Everlasting and Woolly Sunflower while shrubs were of the rose family, specifically: Nootka, Prickly Wild, and Wood’s roses.

Invasive removal at a reduced rate, continued over the summer of 2022 focussing primarily on the invasive Bull Thistle which was cropping up everywhere. Initially BT plants were dug out but with a very dry summer, the ground hardened into a concrete like rigidity forcing the plants to just be cut down and piled.

Full scale activities resumed in late October with multiple invasive removal work parties plus three days of intense activity in November to plant a second order of 300 plants over three days just before the first heavy freeze of the fall and winter.

Year Two – 2023: Shoreline Blackberry Removal & Transplant Watering

In January 2023 – almost a year to the day of the project start, we began the next phase of the project focussing on blackberry removal along the 1.2 km stretch of shoreline. This extended from the Park / Port fence to the furthest eastern stand of trees along the shoreline. It was a massive undertaking.

To complete the initial cane removal before nesting season started in late March we packed in 17 work parties in only 8 weeks. The scale of the effort was indicated by the three huge piles of invasives built up along the pathway, each larger than a vehicle and one which was 2 metres high and 4 x 6 metres in size.

The weather turned hot and dry early in 2023 so watering of our transplants became a priority. We did not have any onsite water source so procurement was complicated with eight 5 gallon pails being filled near Britannia, driven to New Brighton and then distributed by volunteers. Our capacity increased when nearby local resident Jacqueline allowed us to fill the pails at her home for a second watering on each work party.

July saw two major ‘system’ improvements. The first was the design, construction and installation entirely by volunteer labour of a storage container at the park (generously funded by a $1500 RBC community initiative grant). The container was constructed in a carport near Britannia, loaded onto a trailer by NB and local neighbours and then unloaded at the park by RBC and other New Brighton volunteers. The set up of the container meant that ‘4-Runner’ loads of tools did not have be transported to the park each work party saving organizers five to six hours extra work each work party date.

July saw two major ‘system’ improvements. The first was the design, construction and installation entirely by volunteer labour of a storage container at the park (generously funded by a $1500 RBC community initiative grant). The container was constructed in a carport near Britannia, loaded onto a trailer by NB and local neighbours and then unloaded at the park by RBC and other New Brighton volunteers. The set up of the container meant that ‘4-Runner’ loads of tools did not have be transported to the park each work party saving organizers five to six hours extra work each work party date.

Second was the provision by the Vancouver Park Board of a 330 gallon water cistern installed on August 5th.  The cistern eliminated the need to haul water and its efficacy was illustrated when 330 gallons were distributed to several hundred transplanted flowers and shrubs around the site in only an hour and a half.

Second was the provision by the Vancouver Park Board of a 330 gallon water cistern installed on August 5th.  The cistern eliminated the need to haul water and its efficacy was illustrated when 330 gallons were distributed to several hundred transplanted flowers and shrubs around the site in only an hour and a half.

The container also allowed work parties to be hosted by guest hosts (Melanie & Richard, Kitty & Mike, Ros and Sheila, and Vivian) during August, September and October to water first year transplanted perennials and to try to keep Bull Thistle and Sweet-white Clover in check. That attention made a huge difference in the overall effectiveness of the 2023 effort!

In mid-October 2023, the Vancouver Park Board provided our largest plant order 1200 plants consisting of 600 native perennial flowers and 600 native shrubs. We started planting November 4th and managed to plant everything in 7 separate November work parties involving the help of 70 volunteers. Of particular note was the participation of the Templeton High School Environment club that was a big help on a couple days.

Year Three – 2024: Blackberry Clipping, Broom & Thistle Pulling, & Perennial Transplant ‘LIberation’

Our third year started with continued clipping of returning blackberry, pulling up broom and bull thistle as new shoots appeared. With the year almost halfway gone the latest challenge is liberating the 1000+ perennial transplants from enveloping tall grasses.

Now well into the year, the current challenge is a result of the plentiful rainfall we’ve had this spring. Last year we had no rain from the beginning of May so the grasses at the site died back while this year, they are well watered so are growing ‘gangbusters’.

Consequently the 1000+ native perennial flowers we planted are being crowded out and smothered by the grasses. Our last four work parties have focussed on finding the transplants and then clearing about 30 cm around each one. This gives room for the perennial to grow, reduces competition for water once the rains stop and will make it easier to spot the transplants once we have to start watering them.

Once we have ‘liberated’ as many transplanted flowers and shrubs as possible in both the park and on Port property, we can return to clipping blackberry along the shoreline which is growing back vigorously, pulling broom shoots as they appear and taking advantage of the moist soil to pull out Bull Thistle and White-sweet Clover.

We are now into the ‘long haul’ of the project consisting of the less dramatic work of revisiting, pulling and clipping returning invasives and working to promote the growth and spread of transplanted native perennial flowers and shrubs by clearing and watering. It’s a bit less exciting but is what ensure the success of the effort to improve the biological diversity of New Brighton in the long term. With the vegetative biodiversity we’ll see more and different bees, butterflies, other insects and bird life.

It’s something worth getting excited about!

We acknowledge that the land we live on is the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.