‘A monumental amount of work:’ tonnes of invasive species pulled & burned from Gerald Island

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Volunteers worked tirelessly across the six days, in different teams, to clear tarp loads of English Ivy, Scotch broom and other non-native species from Gerald Island (Image Credit: Sam Cutcliffe/BC Marine Trails)

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'A monumental amount of work:' tonnes of invasive species pulled & burned from Gerald Island

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Crews visit the 30-acre island twice annually, typically in April and then in late September or early October, to clear rapidly growing invasives.

With around three times the number of volunteers on island over the six days, a comparative amount of plant material was cut away and burned on the beach.

Working with local high school classes was the result of connections made over the last few years with outdoor education programs, with five groups wanting to help out but scheduling only being able to work with two this year.

Cutcliffe said while a few more years of work is needed, the end is very much in sight for their work to restore trails and the natural beauty of Gerald Island.

Volunteers are able to make more inroads to the island’s centre than in years past, thanks to the work already done clearing invasive species. (Image Credit: Sam Cutcliffe/BC Marine Trails)

“It’s just absolutely incredible to see all of the sensitive ecosystems of the coastal bluff are essentially restored. We’re seeing no real evidence of invasives there and all kinds of return of native species, wildflowers, camas, and coastal wood fern, which is just incredible.”

English Ivy continued to be the main species found, however pockets of Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom were also found.

Many of the introduced species stem from a homestead which burned down several years ago.

Cutcliffe said it was a mammoth effort by all involved, with the results evident once the final group departed for the spring.

“It was really incredible this year at the last day of our event to look around and realize that it was a completely different group from what we had started with. It is really tough work, so it’s definitely good to get new blood in every day, as folks do get tired. It’s not something you can do for six days straight.”

Over 80 volunteers worked on Gerald Island throughout the six day mission, with crews poised to return in the fall. (Image Credit: Sam Cutcliffe/BC Marine Trails)

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