News
SOUL Service
School community fights invasive species
On a warm and sunny day in May, Shawnigan students and staff gathered together near our upper fields for a very important task: to fight invasive species in order to support the growth of a new forest. Five years ago we planted 500 saplings in this area, but over the years these young trees have been overtaken by two fast-growing and well-known invasive species: Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom.
“We really need to get out there every year and chip away at the blackberry and broom,” says Environmental Science teacher Laura Robson, who helped to organize the event. She explains that some of the saplings had started to become choked by the blackberry vines, which was causing the young trees to topple over, while the broom was quickly taking over the area and inhibiting the growth of the trees.
Volunteers arrived bearing their own saws, snips, and gloves, and spread out across the open area. In such a large space, social distance was easy to maintain, and there was work to be done as far as the eye could see. “It felt great to see students and staff come together for this project!” shares Ms Robson. “It was a beautiful day so everyone was happy to be out, taking a break from virtual learning.”
While these hardworking volunteers made good progress, Ms Robson admits that many more hours of work are needed to complete this important project.
As stewards of a 150 hectare campus, it is essential that our community care for our beautiful home, keeping in mind the wider effects of our actions. “We have deforested several significant sites on campus, like the area where Renfrew was built, and more recently, the arena,” explains Ms Robson. “It is important to replace the trees we removed as forests are major carbon sinks and provide habitat for wildlife.”
“We really need to get out there every year and chip away at the blackberry and broom,” says Environmental Science teacher Laura Robson, who helped to organize the event. She explains that some of the saplings had started to become choked by the blackberry vines, which was causing the young trees to topple over, while the broom was quickly taking over the area and inhibiting the growth of the trees.
Volunteers arrived bearing their own saws, snips, and gloves, and spread out across the open area. In such a large space, social distance was easy to maintain, and there was work to be done as far as the eye could see. “It felt great to see students and staff come together for this project!” shares Ms Robson. “It was a beautiful day so everyone was happy to be out, taking a break from virtual learning.”
While these hardworking volunteers made good progress, Ms Robson admits that many more hours of work are needed to complete this important project.
As stewards of a 150 hectare campus, it is essential that our community care for our beautiful home, keeping in mind the wider effects of our actions. “We have deforested several significant sites on campus, like the area where Renfrew was built, and more recently, the arena,” explains Ms Robson. “It is important to replace the trees we removed as forests are major carbon sinks and provide habitat for wildlife.”
“It was nice to see that people do care about our campus,” she concludes. “The original boys of Shawnigan built this campus with sweat equity and I believe we need to get back to that ideal. It makes us all appreciate the place where we live, play and learn all the more.”
A tip for Scotch broom removal from Laura Robson: “We sawed the broom instead of pulling it. The idea is if you cut it in bloom when it is putting all of its energy into flowering, it will have a harder time growing back. Broom is so invasive because each plant releases tens of thousands of seeds from these little pods that look like peas, and those seeds can lie in the soil dormant for over 100 years. Their growth is triggered by soil disturbances, like when someone pulls it up by the root. Cutting in bloom does not get rid of the plant, but it buys other plants time to grow up taller and shade out the broom.”
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
