The Burnaby Lake Park Association will be busy on Sunday doing its part to mitigate the effects of climate change.
It is working with TD to deliver a TD Tree Days event that will see 90 volunteers plant more than 550 native trees, shrubs and plants at the Lenson Field restoration site, located at the southeast end of Burnaby Lake Regional Park near Cariboo Dam.
Since 2018, the association, with support from Metro Vancouver Regional Parks staff, has held 12 work parties at the Lenson Field site with over 280 volunteers from Burnaby and neighbouring communities. These hard-working volunteers have put in over 760 hours removing over 1,600 kg of invasive species, which include English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, and Himalayan balsam. These non-native organisms can alter habitats and often displace native vegetation through competition for water, nutrients, and space.
“Restoring the Lenson Field site has focused on improving the terrestrial ecosystem healthm” said Irene Lau, chair of the association. “The first step is removing invasive plants. Once established, these non-native species have many negative impacts including creating monocultures which threaten biodiversity and also reduce productivity of soil and water quality. Replanting these areas with a diverse range of native species is better for the native birds and wildlife, and helps the ecosystem to become more resilient to future changes.”
Lau said the association has worked with TD to plant 15 different native species on this site. In 2018, they put 400 of these in the ground. They include recognizable varieties such as Vine Maples and Sword Ferns.
However, the plants are also chosen for characteristics that are valuable in restoration projects such as the Salmonberry. Not only are its blooms one of the first signs of spring, it grows into dense thickets to provide habitat, provide a food source and its deep roots and suckering habits help prevent erosion by holding soil intact.
This event is one of 158 TD Tree Days events taking place across North America this fall.
The Burnaby Lake Park Association was founded in 1972 and has been an active volunteer organization leading stewardship activities that preserve, restore, and protect Burnaby Lake Regional Park’s ecological integrity.
