Comox Valley Nature is inviting the community to participate in an invasive English Ivy pull in the Dogwood Park/Rotary Trail area. The event, weather dependent, will be on Sept. 27, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participants will meet at the 21st Street entrance to the trail, just off Piercy Avenue.
According to the Invasive Species Council of BC, English Ivy was intentionally introduced from its native range of Europe. It has since spread throughout rainforest understories, where it can grow as a dense mat that suppresses native plants or climbs up trees, reducing their lifespan and leaving them more susceptible to wind damage.
Megan Ardyche had noticed ivy growing between her property on Piercy Ave. and the railroad tracks. Knowing it was invasive, she started removing it. Surprisingly, she found that pulling ivy can be very satisfying as it’s not deeply rooted.
Ardyche has been walking the Rotary Trail stretch between Cumberland Road and 26th Street for two years now. Over time, she has noticed a number of invasive plants growing along the Trail, primarily English Ivy. The Rotary Trail in Courtenay is a gem worth protecting, as is the second-growth forest surrounding Dogwood Park. So, Ardyche contacted Comox Valley Nature to see what could be done about it. Karen Cummins from CV Nature, in turn, contacted the City of Courtenay as Dogwood is a City park.
The result is an inaugural “Pulling Together” event, with the aim to pull as much English Ivy (and potentially other invasives) as possible in one afternoon. Join us for one hour, two hours, or all three hours with friends and neighbours in what will be a “surprisingly satisfying” afternoon.
Please pre-register by emailing [email protected]. Pre-registration lets us know how many people to expect, and also allows us to notify you if the event is cancelled.
Bring gardening gloves, as well as loppers, hand pruners or garden forks, if you have them. Also bring water. Please wear appropriate sturdy footwear.
For a handy video on pulling ivy, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP7FNjpnNvw.
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