From Plants to Bees: Volunteers Transform Everett Crowley Park!

On May 11th, 2024, the weather in Vancouver, BC was scorching, but that didn't deter the Captain Scott Legacy Society’s Volunteer Ambassadors and the Everett Crowley Park Stewardship Committee! Together, they took on the task of removing invasive Himalayan blackberry plants and two other smaller invasive species!

From 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, a group of 11 children, youth, and adults worked diligently to uproot these thorny and prickly plants, aiming to safeguard the native biodiversity of Everett Crowley Park! For many of the Volunteer Ambassadors, it was their inaugural visit to the park, which was once a landfill, and their first experience in tackling Himalayan blackberry removal!

The day kicked off with an educational session, providing insights into the history of Everett Crowley Park and details about the invasive species targeted for removal! Then, they dove into the task at hand! Despite the heat and sweat, their perseverance paid off, and they were surprised with a mason bee release organized by the Everett Crowley Park Stewardship Committee!

During this event, a park steward shared intriguing facts about mason bees, including how they are kept in refrigeration for most of the year and brought out when the weather turns sunny! When the conditions are favorable, these bees emerge from their cocoons and begin their vital role in pollinating plants! A particularly fascinating tidbit? Mason bees lack stingers! It's a wonderful example of nature's own "volunteers" aiding in the pollination process.

Take a look at the fantastic pictures captured from that memorable day!