CEDARDALE Park is just a postage stamp-sized piece of land tucked into a corner of West Vancouver, but for Saba Farmand it's worth making it shine.
The UBC landscape architecture masters student has taken it upon himself to start clearing invasive plants and to document his progress as part of a project starting this summer, with plans to set up a neighbourhood group to continue the monitoring.
"I had been thinking about it for a long time, because I pass through it almost every day, and I could see the invasive plants were really taking over this patch," he said.
It's just one example, but it's part of a growing effort across the North Shore to trim back the growth of invasive species. Groups are seeing an increase in volunteers, and the three North Shore municipalities are moving forward with efforts to get a handle on the problem.
Japanese Knotweed, Scotch broom, English Ivy and, in particular recently, Giant Hogweed are some of the prime targets on the Greater Vancouver Invasive Plant Council's list.
The city of North Vancouver this year expanded its area of focus to cover the entire municipality after several years working in just Mahon Park, and has seen a similar boost in the number of volunteers and the number of business sponsors. City environmental technician Angela Negenman said it's too early to see if this is a long-term trend, but she's keeping her fingers crossed.
"There are way more this year than there were last year," she said.
West Vancouver is undertaking mapping and working with community groups to address the problem, but volunteers will remain an essential part of any strategy, said Corrine Ambor, manager of parks, planning and community stewardship.
"It's a new way of working with people, because in the past invasive species issues haven't been addressed to the degree we would like," she said.
tholloway@nsnews.com
