Adopt A Patch

Interested in ecological stewardship, but don’t know where to start?

Come to the Nature Sanctuary to gain hands-on invasive plant management skills you can use in your own backyard.

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary launched a new program in 2022 Adopt A Patch, where volunteer groups embrace and rehabilitate designated plots on the Nature Sanctuary grounds or waterways.  This program is ideal for families, schools, organizations, or other community service groups as a team building, learning and restoration activity.  Activities are adaptive and accessible for a variety of abilities, group sizes and knowledge levels.

As we saw throughout British Columbia in the fall of 2021, flooding and subsequent erosion of river, lake, and wetland banks can be catastrophic! That is what makes it particularly important to restore riparian habitats (any land next to a water body) and increase the capacity of these areas to prevent excessive flooding, provide homes for native species, and filter pollution. There are many patches around Swan Lake which are overrun with invasive plant species and afford great opportunities for high impact rehabilitation.

Your Adopt A Patch stewardship team will be trained to remove invasive species and restore native plants with hands-on activities. As the program develops, videos will supplement in-person learning, and participants will be able to advance through modules, learning restoration concepts and earning badges. This program will build your practical knowledge which you can then translate to conservation activities in your own backyard and neighbourhood.

Consider the Adopt A Patch program at the Nature Sanctuary this year, and see the positive impact you can make for climate resilience!  For more information contact volunteer@swanlake.bc.ca

 

Youth Volunteers from the Invasive Species Council of BC adopted their patch in January 2023. Approximately 10 bags of invasive Himalayan blackberry was removed (shown here) in their first session!
Youth Volunteers from the Invasive Species Council of BC adopted their patch in January 2023. Approximately 10 bags of invasive Himalayan blackberry was removed (shown here) in their first session!
The Adopt a Patch program supplies groups of volunteers with the necessary tools to restore their patch.
The Adopt a Patch program supplies groups of volunteers with the necessary tools to restore their patch.
Youth Stewards from the Youth Climate Stewardship Collective through Good Food Network & Capital Region Food & Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable and the Compost Ed Centre work to remove invasive species.
Youth Stewards from the Youth Climate Stewardship Collective through Good Food Network & Capital Region Food & Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable and the Compost Ed Centre work to remove invasive species.
Riparian habitat that was adopted by Reynold's Highschool in Fall 2022.
Riparian habitat that was adopted by Reynold's Highschool in Fall 2022.
Every week, Reynold's students in grades 9 and 10 remove bags and bags of English Ivy, Daphne, and Himalayan Blackberry.
Every week, Reynold's students in grades 9 and 10 remove bags and bags of English Ivy, Daphne, and Himalayan Blackberry.