Invasive Species Removal Project Continues in the Highlands

TLC’s Covenant Coordinator Torrey on the massive pile of broom collected in the Highlands.
Photo Credit George Van.

TLC’s Scotch broom removal project has continued with gusto during the past few weeks. Whether there are three volunteers or ten, the broom is no match for our tenacious volunteers! Working in the Highlands region, TLC staff and volunteers attacked several thickets of broom, cutting it down and stuffing it into the truck. As the day wore on, the stuffing got better and better, or worse and worse, depending on how you look at it.

Taking before and after photos is a great way to showcase how extensive Scotch broom coverage can be. Because it is so green and dense, it can make an area appear more lush and healthy than it really is. After clearing away the broom, you can tell how few native plants are actually in the area.

Working up a sweat by cutting and clearing away broom can make you feel very powerful, and satisfied! It’s a wonderful feeling to look at an area you’ve worked hard at clearing all day, and to actually see progress occurring. Times like these make some staff and volunteers feel like the muscle of a gang – behold Andrew and George, broom gangsters!

Some volunteers were only able to make it out for a short while, but every helping hand makes a huge difference, even if they’re only around for an hour or two. Fresh recruits Meagan and Eirin were delightful to work with as we showed them the basics of how to tackle broom.

After cutting and pulling, the broom was piled higher and higher. So high, in fact, that it became difficult to load it all into the truck at the end of the day! Thankfully, jumping up on down on the broom works well to compact it, and does wonders for the kid inside us all.

If you would like to feel the satisfaction of getting your hands dirty making a tremendous impact on your local community, all while entertaining the child within, please contact TLC today to find out how you can join us for our next broom bash at (250) 479-8053 or covenants@conservancy.bc.ca.

You can help TLC continue to protect important ecosystems sustainably across BC by supporting the monitoring and enforcement of our covenants. Please complete our online donation form to show your support today!