Technician Report – Tuesday, December 7th
Volunteer Team ~ By Z. Cilliers
Volunteer Team ~ By Z. Cilliers
Volunteer Geotech Mulching ~ By Z. Cilliers
Planting with Geotech Mulch ~ By Z. Cilliers
Planting with Mulch ~ By Z. Cilliers
Earlier in the fall, the technician team removed thickets of Himalayan blackberry and set up fenced areas for new plantings along Glen Urquhart Creek. These fences will provide protection from deer and other browsers. Once the plants are well established and grow above browsing height, the fencing will be removed.
Volunteer groups have been bringing native plants into the site, planting them in the fenced areas, and mulching them for the winter. These conifers, deciduous trees, and shrubs will prevent the blackberry from regrowing and provide diverse habitat resources for wildlife. Plants were surrounded with two layers of mulch: a geotech style paper mulch, then wood mulch on top. The thick geotech paper will prevent weeds and invasives from taking root, which would compete with the plants for space and nutrients. The layer of wood mulch helps insulate the plants for winter, and in the summer will help with water retention. Over time, both of these mulch layers will biodegrade, providing the plants with nutrients.
Are you interested in joining future planting events? Follow our Facebook page for event announcements and sign ups, or click the link below.
With the help of the Healthy Watersheds Initiative funding Project Watershed has hired environmental technicians to assist with our projects over the summer and early fall. The Healthy Watersheds Initiative is delivered by the Real Estate Foundation of BC and Watersheds BC, with financial support from the Province of British Columbia as part of its $10-billion COVID-19 response. Jamie Lund, one of these technicians, will be posting a brief report every Tuesday to update the Project Watershed community on what they have been up to.