Repelling the Green Invaders: The Friends of North Saanich Parks

by Mark Brownlie

When you walk along some trails around North Saanich, you would be excused if you thought that English ivy and Himalayan blackberry plants were naturally occurring, since they look so at home here. But that’s not the case. These two plants are primary interlopers, and when you add in holly bushes, Scotch broom, daphne, and a host of other offenders, it becomes an invasion.

Invasive plants are non-native species that quickly and aggressively take over native species and their natural ecosystems. Invasive plant species in North Saanich parks are decreasing biodiversity, suffocating native species, and negatively affecting the ecosystem and its soils.

On the other hand, because native plants have been part of their environment for so long, they are interconnected with fungal networks, soil health, and wildlife in a way that introduced species are not. Native plants lead to better pollination, increased genetic variety, and resilience in local ecosystems. Ninety percent of insects only eat the leaves of plants with which they co-evolved, and are crucial food sources for birds and other wildlife. Native plants are also adapted to our dry summers and require no irrigation.

To help support local native plants, we are a local group dedicated to mobilizing volunteers to remove invasive plant species and restore ecosystems in North Saanich parks. The Friends of North Saanich Parks (FNSP) holds work bees on most Saturdays throughout the year to do just that.

Removing invasive plant species sounds a lot like weeding, which sounds like not much fun. Believe it or not, we often hear from volunteers how rewarding it is to remove the roots of a holly bush, or to pull out a ten metre ivy vine. We actually show off our extractions to each other. And we recount our victories at lunchtime over coffee and home-baked treats provided to our volunteers.

Anyone can join one of our events. We’re not talking about rocket science. Group leaders show volunteers what invasive species to remove, how to remove them, and how to protect native species. We also provide gloves and the right tools to use. Volunteers just need to show up with a go-get-em attitude and wearing protective clothing.

In 2025, FNSP is active in 15 parks and along one trail. We have been successful in moving several parks along from a sorry state, to a state where we’re monitoring, and returning once or twice a year to remove only a few invasives that pop up. It takes persistence and tenacity, but it can and has been done. For most parks it will take several years of numerous removal events to eradicate invasive species.

The parks where FNSP is most active in currently, which means they need the most attention, include Denham Till, Green, Lillian Hoffar, and Reay Creek. But it all began with two determined women and one park.

In 2016, our co-founder, Sharon Hope was hired by the District of North Saanich to conduct an assessment of all the parks and trails in North Saanich for fire hazards and ecological concerns. The most striking finding was that many parks were overrun with invasive species. Others contained significant dumping of debris, garbage, and other organic material.

On the heels of that report, Sharon met Ashlee Scanlon, who worked for Central Saanich and had taken some ecology courses at Camosun. Despite a 30-year difference in age, they were definitely on the same page about improving the ecology of the parks. They decided to initiate a “friends group” to start operating in the parks as a sort of model for best ecological practices.

They held their first event in February, 2017 at R.O. Bull Park, because it represents one of the only North Saanich parks with old-growth trees. Sharon bought some ancient farm tools at a garage sale for ten dollars and Ashlee brought her own gardening tools in the back of her red pickup truck. After 14 half-day work sessions with a handful of volunteers in the park we were able to declare it essentially invasive-free. We felt like we had conquered Mount Everest. Meanwhile, people began to ask if we could do the same for other parks, so we carried on.

Today, when you walk along trails in parks where the Friends of North Saanich Parks have held numerous events to remove invasive species, you’ll see thriving Oregon grape, sword ferns, salal and other gems of the temperate rainforest. This transformation is due to the persistence of a dedicated group of local volunteers who care deeply about North Saanich.