MAHON PARK REHABILITATION PROJECTThe time has come for the Friends of Mahon Park to now get down and dirty and put shovels in earth to return native plants to where they belong. Please join us to help heal this precious urban forest and community treasure. NOVEMBER IVY PULL & PLANTINGWhen - Saturday, November 15th 2003 and Saturday November 22nd 2003 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm Where - Keith Road Trailhead (north side of Keith Road just east of Bewicke) Who - Everyone is welcome! Refreshments will be provided and exciting prizes donated by local businesses will be given away. For more information, contact Eva Antonijevic at Evergreen. Tel 604-689-0766 or Email eva@evergreen.ca Progress to Date November 2003 Clearwater Environmental Group under the supervision of Triton Environmental Consultants and the City of North Vancouver has recently completed rehabilitation works within the actual streambed of Wagg Creek in Mahon Park. Rocks were imported and hand-placed to stabilize eroding stream banks. This improves conditions for fish habitat (coho salmon and cutthroat trout). Trail and trailhead rehabilitation will continue into November. Please respect temporary trail closures and newly rehabilitated areas. Invasive Species Removed to Date The City of North Vancouver's contractor, Clearwater Environmental Group has removed 160 cubic meters of invasive species from 2023 square meters of hard-to-access areas in the Park. Friends of Mahon Park, during our monthly Ivy pulls with sweat and elbow grease, have cleared an impressive 2367 square meter area of invasive species. Greening the Park with Native Plants In October, Friends of Mahon Park planted 400 plants in the dead end alley. They replaced Himalayan Blackberry, Giant Hogweed and English Ivy. Facts about English Ivy The reason Ivy is so successful is that it can grow in 1% light and it has no natural predators. It has been coined the "cockroach of the plant world". In the state of Oregon, English Ivy is banned to the extent that state law prohibits growing, propagating or selling it. Mahon Park welcomes North Shore Neighbourhood House into its stewardship project. Special needs students toured the rehabilitation sites of Mahon Park as a first step towards active involvement in our ongoing stewardship events. Students Dig Mahon Park We are happy to report that St. Thomas Aquinas School located in the neighbourhood of Mahon Park has taken on stewardship responsibilities. Mr. Grenier's Environmental Studies 12 class has embraced our rehabilitation program and have joined in our stewardship activities while at the same time utilizing the park's ecology as an outdoor classroom. The class is thrilled to have this jewel of a forest close at hand and hopes to gain a clearer understanding of the threats that urbanization poses to the park's fragile ecology. Your Continued Support is Appreciated Thanks again for your commitment to the natural areas of Mahon Park. Your hard work contributes to protecting the biological diversity of Mahon Park and helps raise awareness of the park's ongoing rehabilitation program. If you have any thoughts or comments on the Mahon Park Project please feel free to call or e-mail me. The Mahon Park Stewardship Project is a partnership project between Evergreen and the City of North Vancouver. This project will focus primarily on the removal of exotic invaders and the revegetation of the park with native plants. A long-term environmental education program will be established through the involvement of local community members. Evergreen is a national, non-profit organization committed to bringing communities and nature together for the benefit of both. Eva AntonijevicStewardship Coordinator, Mahon Park EVERGREEN 404-134 Abbott St. Vancouver, BC, V6B 2K4 Telephone 604-689-0766 Fax 604-669-6222 http://www.evergreen.ca Bring Nature Back to Your City |