Routley Park has been getting a facelift thanks to students and volunteers.
The Lower Mainland Green Team has been organizing weed pulls in the park at 199 Street and 70 Avenue.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, more than 50 students in Grades 3 and 4 from R.C. Garnett Demonstration Elementary were at the park to help remove ivy, an invasive plant.
This builds upon work by students from Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary on Oct. 16. The Grade 5 students worked at James Anderson Park. Four cubic metres (the equivalent of 24 bathtubs full) of invasive Himalayan blackberry and English ivy were removed by the 29 students, one teacher, and two parents.
"These students did a fantastic job and demonstrated their commitment to being better stewards of the environment," said Ashton Kerr, the green team's partnerships manager.
The green team also enlisted the public for invasives removal events at Routley Park on July 27 when 22 members of the public participated and on Aug. 17 when 33 members of the public pulled 81 bathtubs worth of invasive weeds.
The green team will wrap up local activities for 2024 with another attack on invasives at Routley Park on Saturday, Nov. 16. Between 9:45 a.m. and 1 p.m., the team and volunteers will be doing blackberry removal. All ages, abilities and experience levels are welcome. Gloves, tools, snacks and educational instruction will be provided. Sign up or get more information at the group's page (www.meetup.com/the-lower-mainland-green-team/events/303644135) or email lyda@greenteamscanada.ca.
"At this invasive blackberry removal, we will continue fostering a sense of community, raising environmental awareness and building on our restoration efforts in the area. We invite anyone interested in trying something new, meeting new people and making a difference locally to come out and join us," she sad.
The work around 91原创 Township is because of a partnership between the municipality and the green group.
"Combining the Township's financial support, direction and local expertise with our community engagement expertise is enabling us to achieve our common goals around supporting meaningful community engagement and youth programs, increasing biodiversity and promoting native habitat restoration, enhancing environmental education, nurturing a mindset of sustainability and promoting life-long stewardship, and much more," Kerr said.