Lampson Covenant: Invasive Species Removal

The Covenant Team with their pile of invasive English ivy. Photo Credit Sophia Malczewska.

TLC staff and volunteers re-visited the Lampson covenant located in Esquimalt to help combat invasive species in the area that have been encroaching on the covenant. With permission from the owners, TLC staff member Torrey and two volunteers, Kristen and Melanie, attacked an area that had become overgrown with English ivy and Himalayan blackberry. Although the area was fairly small, the amount of invasive species they pulled out was staggering – a pile that was almost as tall as they were!

Removing invasive species requires patience and persistence – you almost never get it all the first time. Commit to repeated efforts before you begin, otherwise you can actually worsen the problem by disturbing the soil and creating additional avenues for the invasive species to spread. English ivy is staff member Torrey’s favourite invasive species to pull as it a) has no thorns, and b) is a ground cover so when it is removed you can suddenly see the area again! Because of this, it makes for very satisfying work in regards to removal.

English ivy is a nuisance as it slowly strangles anything that it climbs, and out competes the surrounding plants for sunshine as it can grow up almost anything, thereby shading the native vegetation. Once it has grown up a tree, its tiny rootlets sink their teeth into the tree’s bark and make removal almost impossible. However, there is no need to remove the ivy all the way up a tree. Simply girdle the ivy by cutting all the way around the tree trunk, and repeat this again another foot up so there is at least one foot in between the remaining ivy on the tree and the ground. Then you can safely clear away the ground ivy and watch for regrowth in the following years. The ivy that remains on the tree will slowly die due to lack of water and nutrients as it no longer has a root system.

Last year, TLC removed ivy, daphne, blackberry and broom from the Lampson covenant, and they were pleased to see that although the invasive species did come back, there was much less and it was much easier to clear away. Persistent effort is key! TLC is hopeful that next year will be even easier, with even less ivy, and in time our efforts won’t be needed at all.

Brian the Brontosaurus. Photo Credit Torrey Archer.

The nearby Garry oaks were saved from a terrible, slow strangling death thanks to the volunteers. Brian the Brontosaurus also looked on, giving his wordless encouragement. Thanks, Brian. And even bigger thanks to Melanie and Kristen for all their hard work. You girls rock!

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!