Volunteers celebrated Earth Day 2025 by tearing out invasive plant species at Bowen Park.
Members of the public, some of whom normally put their efforts with organizations such as Nanaimo and Area Land Trust and Broombusters, spent much of the morning and afternoon Tuesday, April 22, around the park’s duck pond pulling up English ivy, daphne – also known as spurge-laurel, Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberries and holly, which all compete with plant species native to the Island.
“[Ivy] just kind of drowns out the native plants and we got rid of a lot of Himalayan blackberries, as well. That’s pretty brutal, though,” said Jan Weir.
Nanaimo-Gabriola MLA Sheila Malcolmson was among the volunteers in Bowen Park putting their backs into Earth Day.
“It’s very therapeutic,” Malcolmson said. “Any frustrations in the world, just pull English ivy and you’ll feel better.”
The City of Nanaimo normally holds invasive eradication work parties in May, which is Invasive Plant Removal Month. Tuesday’s invasive species removal activity celebrated Earth Day and lends itself to ongoing efforts by the City of Nanaimo and Regional District of Nanaimo to restore and enhance natural species growth within the Nanaimo area’s regional and community parks.
