Connected stands of broom can lead to ground fires spreading to tree tops, but the plant’s removal can interrupt fire pathways and allow native species to return.
A group of 24 volunteers showed up on a recent rainy day to remove Scotch broom and forest debris from Langford’s Solstice Park — part of a FireSmart effort to lessen wildfire risk for homes near the wooded area.
A total of 14 cubic metres of broom and debris was removed, which project co-leader Green Teams of Canada said was the equivalent of 90 bathtubs full of unwanted material.
The group, a national environmental charity, joined forces with Langford Fire Rescue’s FireSmart team and FireSmart B.C. to put on the event at the park in Westhills.
“It makes total sense, we don’t want Scotch broom by houses,” said one Green Teams member. “I like doing this stuff because I meet my neighbours, my community and like-minded people. We’re helping prevent problems from occurring later on.”
Scotch broom is not only an invasive species, but its high oil content, dense and woody structure, and rapid growth pose a critical fire risk, Green Teams of Canada said.
Connected stands of broom can lead to ground fires spreading to tree tops, but the plant’s removal can interrupt fire pathways and allow native species to return.
“It’s super-smart to FireSmart our forests, the houses are right here,” said Langford Coun. Mary Wagner, who helped with the project. “For safety, it’s critical. But it also just feels good to work with people in the community.”
FireSmart B.C. promotes homeowners taking practical steps to keep wildfires away from their property, especially during dry spring and summer weather.
Useful steps include keeping lawns short, making sure roofs and gutters are clear of leaves and debris, cutting back dry or dead branches around homes and cleaning off decks.
Volunteers are needed for another outdoor-cleanup session this Saturday from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Colwood Creek Park courtesy of the Greater Victoria Green Team — part of Green Teams of Canada.
Graduating students from the fine furniture program at Camosun College are taking their work to the public with a show at the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill.
The Arts Centre is in Cedar Hill Recreation Centre at 3220 Cedar Hill Rd.
The student exhibition, an annual event, had an opening reception last week and will be in place until July 20, with chairs and seating the general focus of their projects.
The college said the student show comes “after 10 months of learning, sketching and making sawdust.”
Included are rocking chairs, folding chairs, loungers, a chair designed for people playing music, a child’s chair and a carved bench.
“Students experimented with custom-fabricated hardware in brass and steel, wove seating from seagrass and straw grass, upholstered with materials like corduroy, and more,” the college said.
Student Rachel Aske, who came from Nova Scotia to learn from instructor Sandra Carr, praised the work of her fellow students.
“I’ve become so used to seeing such great work, it’s really exciting to see everyone’s personal styles coming out and how they feel reflective of each person,” Aske said. “I can’t wait to share with everyone.”
The District of Saanich is looking for more neighbourhood groups wanting to lead projects involving emergency preparedness, climate action and nature conservancy — part of the Neighbour to Neighbour Resilience Initiative.
The initiative began as a pilot project in 2022 and is designed to connect neighbours and help them develop projects with a boost from $5oo community grants.
Previous projects that have had success include invasive-species removal at Mystic Vale — a wooded ravine in the southeast portion of the University of Victoria campus. Area residents joined forces to restore the natural surroundings by removing unwanted growth and replacing it with native plants, becoming a closer-knit community in the process.
In Quadra/Cedar Hill, residents put on a sustainable-living home tour to encourage sustainable practices and climate-friendly living.
They learned about solar power, heat pumps, energy conservation, heat-loss prevention, urban food growing, and e-bikes and electric cars.
Each home on the tour focused on a different climate-friendly subject.
On Camelot Road in Cadboro Bay, residents invited members of Saanich staff into their homes for four presentations on a variety of topics.
An emergency-preparedness workshop was conducted by Saanich Emergency Program staff and volunteers, while Michael Eby led a climate-change workshop on climate science that looked at ways homeowners can make a difference.
Barbara Hawkins was in charge of an event looking at native and invasive plants, and there was a scavenger hunt in Haro Woods that concentrated on plant identification.
For more on previous projects or details on how to apply go tosaanich.ca/n2n.
The City of Langford and the B.C. Automobile Association’s Evolve group have combined to create a program offering 150 e-bikes and e-scooters for Langford residents to rent.
There are 75 e-bikes and 75 e-scooters available for “seamless and user-friendly” rentals, the city said.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Evolve’s e-bikes and e-scooters to Langford as part of our commitment to building a greener, more connected city,” said Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson. “This initiative gives residents and visitors a fun, affordable and sustainable way to move around our community.”
The program fits in with Langford’s efforts to create a transportation master plan and an active transportation master plan — the latter focuses on activities such as walking and cycling, and on easing road congestion.
BCAA and Evolve marked the program’s recent launch with a commitment to donate $1 from every ride taken from June 19 to 30 to the Goldstream Food Bank.
To access the program, residents can download the Evo app from the App Store or Google Play Store and follow the registration process — then scan the QR code on the e-bike or e-scooter being rented to unlock it.
E-bikes and e-scooters can be dropped off at any of 30 locations on the app.
Safety activities and demonstrations will be held at community events through the summer.
The rental cost is 35 cents a minute or $12.99 an hour, whichever is the cheapest, along with a $1.25 unlocking fee.
BCAA members get a 10 per cent discount.
Riders must be at least 18 and helmets are mandatory. Riders can use their own helmets or those supplied by the program, which are regularly cleaned.
Evolve also runs share programs in Nanaimo, Comox Valley and Whistler, on the North Shore and at Simon Fraser University.
More information is available atlangford.ca/evolve.
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