Atkins Road Covenant Monitoring: Fish Fry and Turkey Tail Mushrooms

Volunteers Milen, Sophia, and Nathan at Millstream Creek. Photo credit Torrey Archer.

TLC’s visit to the Atkins Road covenant on Tuesday was a treat. The covenant is bordered by the beautiful Millstream Creek, complete with fish fry within. The area is well used, evidenced by the many trails that run through the park. Unfortunately, this also meant a fair amount of garbage was present on site – one of the reasons we monitor is to make sure that our parks don’t turn into dumping grounds.

TLC staff and volunteers conducted ecological monitoring in riparian areas near the creek and in a Garry oak meadow. The difference in the species composition between the two riparian areas was notable! It’s amazing how many different things are present when you really start looking.

The crew also spotted an old log covered in turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor). Studies have shown these mushrooms have immune-boosting aspects, beneficial to those who have undergone cancer therapy.

Species encountered at Atkins Road included: Mallard ducks, fish fry, crayfish, and butterflies. There were many native plant species, including: Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum), St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis), Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus), and Oregon beaked moss (Kindbergia oregano). Invasives included: Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), daphne (Daphne laureola), and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). One naturalised species that was in bloom was particularly photogenic, the common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).