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Adopt a Patch!

The Sandown Forest Stewardship Program

Thanks to the enthusiasm of our local community, our Adopt-a-Patch program slots have been filled! Thank you to those who signed up to be Sandown forest stewards. It is wonderful to walk through the forest and see liberated stands of fir, cedar and cottonwood; stands of nettle and seas of sword ferns having a chance to reestablish themselves. And of course, there is still so much work to be done.... ivy management is an ongoing story, and the Sandown forest is big.

We'll be organising community ivy pulling events and other forest stewardship activities through the year, as we know that every forest steward needs to re-motivated from time to time! Stay tuned, we'll be in touch...

It may seem hard to believe...

but this English ivy that has escaped from gardens and window pots actually threatens the lives of trees and entire forests in our area.

Right now, the Sandown forest is engulfed in ivy. It needs the help of Forest Stewards-- people like you-- to make it a healthy, biodiverse forest ecosystem.

Adopted Patches

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Ivy Gone Wild

48.65944˚, -123.43051 ˚

82˚E

ADOPTED! Just off the beaten path! For the faint hearted this spot is easily accessible and front and center for others to admire.

Easy

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The Trifecta

48.65944˚, -123.43036˚

188˚S

Holy, ivy and blackberry. Three types of invasives, triple the fun.

Easy

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Iv(y) Got to Go

48.65941˚, -123.43024˚

21˚N

This Ivy has just got to go... to make way for all of our beautiful native plants.

Easy

Dinosaurs Or Ferns?

Love dinosaurs?! Ferns date back even further. Protect these precious pieces of history by removing the ivy!

48.65953˚, -123.43025˚

358˚N

Easy

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Sun! Sun! Sun!

ADOPTED! For the 4 months a year we have sunshine! This spot is the place to enjoy it!

48.65948˚, -123.42999˚

30˚NE

Medium

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Flower Lovers Meets Tree!

With just a little love this field of ivy could be a field of wildflowers circling around a cedar...

48.65965˚, -123.42974˚

342˚N

Easy

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The "Tree Of Life"

ADOPTED! Fun fact: the Western Red Cedar is often considered the "tree of life". Protect it's life by removing the ivy.

48.65972˚, -123.42952˚

15˚N

Easy

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I Smell Skunk Cabbage

With an excellent aroma of skunk cabbage this patch will take your breath away!

48.65973˚, -123.42878˚

59˚NE

Easy

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The Not So Big, Big Leaf Maple

Save this not so big Bigleaf Maple!

48.65985˚, -123.42882˚

306˚NW

Medium

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Shrek's Swamp

This swampy area nestled in a stand of cedars is the perfect place for those that don't mind a little mud.

48.65998˚, -123.42873˚

76˚E

Easy

Save The Cedar

Seeking a defender, this tree needs someone to protect it from the approaching ivy!

48.65948˚, -123.42999˚

30˚NE

Easy

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Good Golly That's A Lot Of Holly!

We need someone not afraid of some sharp leaves and some prickles! Only the brave will tame this patch.

48.65954˚, -123.42971˚

117˚SE

Hard

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Flower Lovers Needed Part 3

With just a little love this field of ivy could be a field of wildflowers!

48.65960˚, -123.42968˚

358˚N

Easy

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Salmon Berry Sanctuary

With just a little TLC this unruly patch could be transformed into a salmon berry oasis!

48.65987˚, -123.42908

334˚NW

Medium

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Vines Galore

Fun fact: English Ivy can grow up to 30 cm in diamater! With ivy this developed a small hand saw may be necessary.

48.65981˚, -123.42880˚

24˚NE

Medium

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Frog Haven

The perfect mix of decay, sunlight, and moisture. This spot may come with some frogs (and lots of slugs).

48.65995˚, -123.42868˚

340˚N

Easy

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Twin Trees

Seeking someone to release these two maples from the treacherous ivy.

48.65961˚, -123.42905˚

251˚W

Easy

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Are You A Snowberry Saviour?

A patch and a snack?! Save the snowberries from this sea of ivy and maybe you'll have a sweet treat.

48.65956˚, -123.42989˚

164˚S

Medium

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Flower Lovers Needed

With just a little love this field of ivy could be a field of wildflowers!

48.65959˚, -123.42974˚

117˚SE

Easy

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Flower Lovers Needed Part 4

With just a little love this field of ivy could be a field of wildflowers!

48.65969˚, -123.42969˚

335˚NW

Easy

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Classic Victoria Weather

Wet and sunny?! Want a patch that perfectly describes Victoria? Look no further!

48.65981˚, -123.42898˚

342˚N

Medium

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Sedge City

this lovely spot is right next to a big patch of water-loving sedge...evidence of an underground spring right here, perhaps? With just a little love, this area will thrive!

48.65981˚, -123.42869˚

124˚SE

Medium

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Guaranteed Wet Socks

Prepare to get your shoes a little wet! A perfect patch of wetland just waiting for some TLC.

48.66001˚, -123.42871˚

269˚W

Easy

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Funky Ferns

Bracken fern and snow berry patch! With direct sunlight this patch will thrive when replanted.

48.65967˚, -123.42915˚

224˚SW

Easy

Meet your fellow community stewards...

Yvonne

YVONNE So much to love about this project!...the opportunity to participate in community to restore the forest and rescue it from being choked by invasives for starters. There is also something super therapeutic & fun about weeding & invasive-busting! Being outdoors, meeting fellow forest-enthusiasts, observing through the seasons this little section of biome & nurturing it back to health. Indulging all the senses....forest-feast for the eyes, sounds of birds, bees, wind in the trees...

Future stewards coming soon! Tell us a bit about why you would like to become a steward, in 100 words or less!

CARLEY I am currently volunteering with the CRD and their habitat restoration program, currently clearing Scottish Broom at Mill Hill. I am very excited to be part of the restoration of the Sandown area. Being from Sidney, I've grown up in the area and often played in the fields of the abandoned race track as a kid, so helping out to restore the area is a pretty cool opportunity.

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” ― Arundhati Roy

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