The Land Conservancy of BC

Passport to Nature: Abkhazi Garden
2021-03-12 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Presented by Abkhazi Garden Volunteers Sue Hara, Marg Palmer, and TLC’s Environmental Technician & Land Manager Karen Iwachow
Enjoy this video tour of Abkhazi Garden, filmed during the epic spring bloom. Abkhazi Garden is an exquisite heritage home and garden located in Victoria, British Columbia, a city known for its wonderful gardens. Prince and Princess Abkhazi began creating their garden in 1946. This was the year they married and settled in Victoria, after living separate lives touched by both privilege and tragedy. They immediately began to develop their one-acre property, and continued to maintain and improve the garden throughout their lives together.
The Abkhazi Garden video tour is now available online! Register for the event for the direct link!
You can visit Abkhazi Garden year round at 1964 Fairfield Road, Victoria. Visit https://conservancy.bc.ca/featured-projects/abkhazi-garden/hours-directions/ for current hours of operation.
View TLC’s 2021 VIRTUAL Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. This year the program has been adapted to a digital platform to accommodate safety precautions during the pandemic. For a hard copy of our 2021 Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Mushroom ID Walk
2020-10-23 10:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
Join Kevin Trim (former SVIMS President) and TLC’s Torrey Archer on a hunt to find and identify mushrooms in the beautiful mature forests at Second Lake. Participants will learn how to ID the most common species, deadly species, the parts of the mushroom fruiting body, and discuss the role of fungi in forests.
Please remember to bring a water bottle and snacks, wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Mushroom ID Walk today!
TLC’s Second Lake property is accessed via 377 Millstream Lake Road in the District of the Highlands. From Highway 1, turn north onto Millstream Road. Continue on Millstream Road, veering right at the Y to get onto Millstream Lake Road. At the next Y (with Munn Road) stay left to continue on Millstream Lake Road. Travel onward and turn right at 377 Millstream Lake Road. Continue down the long driveway and take the first right off the driveway to the parking area.

TLC's 2020 Virtual Annual General Meeting
2020-10-17 13:00 - 16:00 | British Columbia
This year TLC’s 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held online. We hope that members will be able to join us from the comfort of their own homes on Saturday, October 17 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. as members of our Board of Directors and staff report on TLC’s initiatives from the last fiscal year.
Please RSVP to membership@conservancy.bc.ca or 1-877-485-2422. Attendees will be able to attend via computer or phone. Access details will be sent to those who RSVP in early October. For those unable to attend, TLC’s Annual Report and Financial Statements will be available in September on our website or in hard copy by request.
In keeping with TLC’s bylaws, a Nominations Committee was struck to recruit and put forward candidates for the Board of Directors for your consideration. The maximum number of Directors is 13. Directors are elected for a three-year term with a limit of three consecutive terms.
There are currently seven Directors. Five Directors (whose terms are not ending) will be continuing. They include Mel Lehan, Lori Roter, Frances Sloan Sainas, Marika Smith, and Sara Wickham. There are eight positions open to nominations. Andrew Stewart and Tom Watson have reached the end of their terms and stand for re-election.
Please keep in mind the following election procedures and timetable:
• Following receipt of this letter, members may nominate other candidates. Further nominations are welcomed and must be received by TLC no later than August 21. They must be signed by five TLC Members and include a written confirmation from the nominee that he/she/they agrees to stand for election. A short biography of the nominee must also be included.
• If we receive more nominations than vacant positions, an election will be held. If the same number or fewer nominations are received than vacant positions, nominees will be elected by acclamation.
• Should an election be required, election materials and ballots will be sent to all TLC Members in good standing. Ballots will be sent by email to each member for whom we have a valid email address and by mail to all others. Ballots will be sent by September 11. Ballots must be returned in the manner set out in the election materials. Successful candidates will be announced at the AGM.
• Please note that to be eligible to vote you must be a member in good standing by July 29.
The Nominations Committee is pleased to announce the following candidate for your consideration:
Andrew Stewart
Occupation: Retired Lawyer.
Skills, knowledge and/or experience: Involvement in various not for profit boards with a particular focus on governance, finance and member communication. Problem solving and analytical skills developed during a 38 year career as a practising solicitor in Victoria, B.C. My legal practice included corporate small businesses, not for profits, First Nations, professionals and individuals. I also acted as the Managing Partner for Cook Roberts LLP, a Victoria law firm, which included as many as 24 lawyers and 30 plus support staff during my management tenure. I gained considerable experience in managing professionals and organizing an extensive and varied support structure.
Interest in TLC: To assist TLC in fulfilling its mandate of long term support for and growth in conservation covenants in B.C. To promote and enhance the reputation of TLC as a stable and effective agent for conservation for the benefit of many future generations. To promote TLC’s development of collaborative relationships with other conservation organizations, First Nations and all levels of government.
Other Organizations: Board Member/VP – YM-YWCA of Victoria; Board Member/Chair – Maxwell International Baha’i School; Board Member/Treasurer – Victoria Bar Association; Board Member – Bays United Youth Soccer Association; Partner/ Managing Partner – Cook Roberts LLP; and Legal Advisor – Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Society.
Tom Watson
Occupation: Investment Advisor / Father
Skills, knowledge and/or experience: I have a good knowledge of finances and have served as both Chair and Secretary for the Gorge View Housing Society. I am also a volunteer coach with Doncaster and Reynolds Soccer.
Interest and Vision for TLC: I have a lifetime belief in working to support the environment and protect special places. I want to work to help TLC be on a stronger financial footing through an increase in its membership and profile.
Involvement with TLC: I have been a member of TLC since 2010.
Other Organizations: Previously worked with the Lakehill Soccer Association.

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Navigation in the Woods
2020-10-17 10:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
Join Sid Jorna and TLC to learn the basics of navigation in the woods. Technology has provided convenient tools to orient you in the woods but what happens when the battery dies? Learn how to plan a course on a map to get to a destination and compensate for unexpected arisings. The workshop will include theoretical knowledge, reading a compass and trying out the skills on a short hike. Equipment will be provided.
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Navigation in the Woods event today as space is limited!
Please meet us at the William Simmons Memorial Park in Sooke at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 17th. William Simmons Memorial Park is located in Otter Point adjacent to Otter Point Road and Poirier Lake.

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Clearwater Community Day
2020-09-05 11:00 - 14:00 | British Columbia
Join TLC on site at our Clearwater Ecoreserve to enjoy some family fun activities. There will be guided walks, displays, and naturalists on site. Learn about TLC’s new naturalist education program and meet some of the instructors and participants. We look forward to sharing our vision for the future, and hearing from the community as we work together to create opportunities for learning more about our natural world and how we can collectively effect change. Bring the whole family, kids of all ages most welcome! Please dress for the weather including appropriate footwear for walking through the forest.
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Clearwater Community Day today!

Deertrails Naturalist Program in the Clearwater River Valley
2020-08-30 19:00 - 2020-09-06 11:00 | British Columbia
NEWS RELEASE
ANNOUNCING TLC’S SECOND DEERTRAILS NATURALIST PROGRAM SESSIONS IN 2020
Participants to learn from seasoned naturalists in the Clearwater River Valley
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2020
Clearwater, BC –The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) is pleased to announce that the second session of the Deertrails Naturalist Program will explore the transition of the Clearwater River Valley to Autumn: attend to the uprising of mushrooms, the blushing of leaves, and the cool exhalations of blue forest shadow. An intergenerational, place-based learning opportunity designed to facilitate the transfer of naturalist knowledge, both scientific and traditional, TLC launched the Deertrails Naturalist Program in 2019 with an inaugural session in Clearwater.
From August 30 to September 6, 2020, in the Clearwater River Valley, naturalist participants will explore a range of habitats including following the paths of the deer, pausing awhile in their places of sanctuary and places of power. Participants will learn about and deepen their connection to the natural world from seasoned naturalists and teachers Lyn Baldwin (ecologist and artist), Maleea Acker (poet and teacher) and Trevor Goward (lichenologist and place-based naturalist), with special guest instructor Nancy Turner (ethnobiologist and botanist). Nancy Flood (ornithologist and ecologist) will make a cameo appearance. Aspiring naturalists will develop a wide array of skills needed to steward local natural places, educate the public and new naturalists, engage in research and inform conservation efforts. The program fees are $695 per person and include meals and basic accommodations.
“This program sparked a fire within me that I didn’t even know existed. Every second of the time that I got to spend in Wells Grey felt like magic, full of extravagant landscapes, and compelling, passionate souls,” said 2019 Deertrails Naturalist Program participant Zoey. “The safe spaces that were created during our week together allowed for me to learn and grow exponentially. The community that was fostered in such a small amount of time truly showed me the power of knowledge, passion, compassion, and intention.”
Aspiring naturalists can apply online on TLC’s website at www.conservancy.bc.ca. Deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020.
Thanks to an endowment fund with the Victoria Foundation, bursaries are available for participants. For more details regarding the Deertrails Naturalist Program please view the program backgrounder or contact TLC at (250) 479-8053 or admin@conservancy.bc.ca.
The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia. TLC’s primary mandate is to benefit the community by protecting habitat for natural communities of plants and animals. Founded in 1997, TLC is membership-based and governed by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors. TLC relies on a strong membership and volunteer base to help maintain its operations.
Lyn Baldwin (instructor) is an award-winning teacher, artist-naturalist and ecologist who calls the sagebrush-steppe and coniferous forests of the South Thompson Valley home. Working from the belief that restoring the world must include our own re-storying within it, Lyn uses the practice of illustrated field journaling to help re-imagine her relationship with home and community, place and dwelling. Lyn has shared the stories, expressed in image and text, that result from this practice in art galleries and science museum, and within the pages of journals such as The Goose, Terrain.org and The Journal of Natural History Education and Experience. Through a series of hands-on field journaling exercises completed in the field, Lyn will help participants transform the land’s line and shadow, its poetry and science, into meaningful lessons for their own lives.
Maleea Acker (instructor) is the author of two poetry collections, The Reflecting Pool and Air-Proof Green (Pedlar 2009, 2013), and the non-fiction book Gardens Aflame: Garry Oak Meadows of BC’s South Coast (New Star Books, 2012). She has 20 years experience as an interpretive writer, journalist, writer and teacher, creating materials that allow both children and adults to learn more about nature and culture. As a freelance journalist, she thrives on work that helps to nurture natural history and cultural heritage, through translation of science into story. She teaches Human Geography and Canadian Studies at the University of Victoria, where she is a PhD candidate in Geopoetics. She also teaches Literature and Writing at Camosun College.
Nancy Turner (instructor) is an ethnobotanist, Professor Emeritus and former Hakai Professor in Ethnoecology with the School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria. She has worked with First Nations elders and cultural specialists in northwestern North America for over 50 years, helping to document, retain and promote their traditional knowledge of plants and environments, including Indigenous foods, materials and traditional medicines. Her two-volume book, Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge: Ethnobotany and Ecological Wisdom of Indigenous Peoples of Northwestern North America represents an integration of her long term research. She has authored or co-authored/co-edited over 20 other books, including: Plants of Haida Gwaii; The Earth’s Blanket; “Keeping it Living”: Traditions of Plant Use and Cultivation on the Northwest Coast of North America (with Doug Deur); Saanich Ethnobotany: Culturally Important Plants of the WSÁNEC’ People (with Richard Hebda), and Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples, and over 135 book chapters and papers. She has received a number of awards for her work, including membership in Order of British Columbia (1999) and the Order of Canada (2009), and honorary degrees from VIU, UBC, UNBC and SFU.
Trevor Goward (instructor) is an accomplished field naturalist, lichenologist and self-appointed inspector of deer trails. He’s also author/co-author of more than 120 scientific papers, scores of popular pieces, and four books. When not gardening or wandering/pondering the wilds of his home valley in south-central British Columbia, Trevor engages in numerous seemingly random pursuits and thought experiments including designer living, land apprenticeship, naturalist mentorship, wilderness advocacy, systems theory, poetic ecology, the mythic universe of J.R.R. Tolkien, and (through this last) a stewardship practice he calls elven work. Lately he has woven these and other preoccupations into his Naturalists of the Middle Way teachings, grounded in the perception that seasoned naturalists, together with their indigenous counterparts, must sooner or later take on a crucial cultural role as “ambassadors to the wild.” Trevor’s long apprenticeship to this calling is ably assisted by Purple, his far-seeing canine companion.
Nancy Flood (cameo) is an award-winning teacher—of a diversity of subjects, from general biology to ecology, ornithology and biostatistics (her favourite). She has studied a variety of bird species, in locales from the arctic to the subtropics and lots of places in between. She has authored and/or co-authored over 50 scientific papers and articles in the popular press, chapters in about 20 in text books, and even a slim book on North American orioles—and has edited or reviewed those same sorts of writings. She is thus a jack of many trades, but a master of none. Currently, she teaches at TRU, where is she is co-chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. She has lived in Kamloops for almost 30 years, where she helped raise two wonderful young adults, and has been active in various groups related to nature and environment, including the Kamloops Naturalist Club, of which she is currently president.
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Media contact
Cathy Armstrong
TLC Executive Director
Local: (250) 479-8053
Toll free: 1-877-485-2422
carmstrong@conservancy.bc.ca

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Second Lake Trail Maintenance
2020-07-11 09:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
Join TLC in taking some much needed love and care at Second Lake. Second Lake is an important part of the upper Millstream Creek watershed and protects the endangered forests of the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem. This conservation area is not open to the public to preserve the sensitive natural systems but guided events provide the community a unique experience. We will conduct some trail clearing and offer a naturalist guided walk around the lake. Facilities are limited.
Please remember your water, snacks, and appropriate footwear.
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Second Lake Trail Maintenance event today!
TLC’s Second Lake property is accessed via 377 Millstream Lake Road in the District of the Highlands. From Highway 1, turn north onto Millstream Road. Continue on Millstream Road, veering right at the Y to get onto Millstream Lake Road. At the next Y (with Munn Road) stay left to continue on Millstream Lake Road. Travel onward and turn right at 377 Millstream Lake Road. Continue down the long driveway and take the first right off the driveway to the parking area.

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Naturalist Walk
2020-05-30 10:00 - 13:00 | British Columbia
Join naturalist Juliet Pendray and TLC on their annual monitoring visit to the Sooke Hills and learn about the natural history of the area along with the special plants and animals that call this place home. We will begin at the Sooke Potholes and explore the species that live along the creek, Mary Vine waterfall, and on the mossy bluffs above with an emphasis on lichen and fungi.
Please remember your water, snacks, and appropriate footwear.
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Naturalist Walk today as space is limited!
Please meet us at the Sooke Potholes second parking lot at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 30. Travelling west on Sooke Road from Victoria, turn right onto Sooke River Road and follow the road to the park at the end. We’ll meet at the second parking lot.

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Critter Day
2020-05-09 13:00 - 17:00 | British Columbia
Join TLC at Critter Day, hosted by Kootenay Conservation Program at Beaver Creek Provincial Park in Trail, to learn more about our Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area and enjoy some family fun activities. There will be displays, fun activities, and naturalists on site. Critter Day offers a free fun way to learn about the special ecosystems in the Trail and Pend D’Oreille region where unique and at-risk plants and animals call home.
Beaver Creek Provincial Park is located 7 k.m. south of Trail on the Old Waneta Road (Hwy 22A).
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for Critter Day today to let us know you’re coming!

Deertrails Naturalist Program on Cortes Island
2020-04-27 18:00 - 2020-05-03 11:00 | British Columbia
NEWS RELEASE
TLC ANNOUNCES FIRST DEERTRAILS NATURALIST PROGRAM SESSION FOR 2020
Students to learn from seasoned naturalists and artists Cortes Island
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2020
Cortes Island, BC – The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) is pleased to announce that the Deertrails Naturalist Program will include two sessions in 2020 and will explore the beauty and brilliance of Cortes Island and the Clearwater River Valley. An intergenerational, place-based learning opportunity designed to facilitate the transfer of naturalist knowledge, both scientific and traditional, TLC launched the Deertrails Naturalist Program in 2019 with an inaugural session in Clearwater.
“The Deertrails Naturalist Program reminded me how to reconnect with the living world after so many years studying and analyzing conservation problems from behind a screen,” said 2019 Deertrails Naturalist Program participant Beatrice.
From April 27 to May 3, 2020, participants will explore Cortes Island – the meeting place of tidal waters, biogeoclimatic zones, and cultural territories – through a series of naturalist-led walks and talks. Students will walk island shorelines, swim in bracingly cold waters, explore a tapestry of sensitive ecosystems, and search for northern goshawk plucking posts. Students will learn about and deepen their connection to the natural world from seasoned naturalists and artists Briony Penn, Ann Mortifee, Rex Weyler, Sabina Leader Mense, and a cast of Cortesians covering a full spectrum of disciplines. The program fees are $695 for those tenting and $845 for indoor accommodations. Fees include meals catered by Linnaea Farm and access to Linnaea Farm’s ECOlab and Cortes Wild! Natural History Centre.
Aspiring naturalists can apply online on TLC’s website at www.conservancy.bc.ca. Deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Details including application forms for the Clearwater session will be made available this spring.
Thanks to an endowment fund with the Victoria Foundation, bursaries are for one naturalist student each year. For more details regarding the Deertrails Naturalist Program and the spring 2020 Cortes Island session please view the program backgrounder or contact TLC at (250) 479-8053 or admin@conservancy.bc.ca.
About The Land Conservancy of BC:
The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia. TLC’s primary mandate is to benefit the community by protecting habitat for natural communities of plants and animals. Founded in 1997, TLC is membership-based and governed by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors. TLC relies on a strong membership and volunteer base to help maintain its operations.
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Media contact
Cathy Armstrong
TLC Executive Director
Cell: (250) 588-4945
Email: carmstrong@conservancy.bc.ca

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Abkhazi Garden Tour
2020-04-19 11:30 - 12:30 | Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Abkhazi Garden is an exquisite heritage home and garden. Prince and Princess Abkhazi began creating their garden in 1946, after living separate lives touched by both privilege and tragedy. On this tour you will learn about the couple’s history and the legacy that continues to this day.
Please meet TLC’s volunteers at the entrance to Abkhazi Garden at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 19th. From downtown Victoria, take Fairfield Road towards Oak Bay. The Garden is located at 1964 Fairfield Road, just past Foul Bay Road on the left. Street parking is available.
Please remember to wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.

POSTPONED: Abkhazi Garden Open House
2020-04-04 11:00 - 17:00 | Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Passport to Nature: Bird Walk
2020-03-15 08:00 - 10:00 | Ayum Creek, Laidlaw Road, Sooke, British Columbia, V9Z 0C7, Canada
Join local naturalist Ian Cruickshank to learn about and see a wide suite of birds found in the forests and shores of Ayum Creek, and get a crash course in birding by ear. We will also identify plants and discuss natural history along the way.
Please meet us at Ayum Creek Regional Park Reserve at 8 a.m. on Sunday, March 15. From Victoria, drive west towards Sooke on Sooke Road. Ayum Creek Regional Park Reserve is located adjacent to Sooke Road, approximately 40 km west of Victoria, just after the Shell gas station on the left. Park along Sooke Road on the gravel shoulder.
This walk will be moderately difficult due to crossing the creek itself. Please remember to bring a water bottle, sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Don’t forget your binoculars!
View TLC’s 2020 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Bird Walk today as space may fill up quickly!

FULLY RESERVED! Passport to Nature: Moss Walk
2019-12-07 10:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Moss Walk today as space may fill up quickly!

FULLY RESERVED: Passport to Nature: Wreath Making
2019-11-22 10:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for Wreath Making today as space may fill up quickly!

FULLY RESERVED! Passport to Nature: Mushroom ID Walk
2019-10-30 10:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Mushroom ID Walk today as space may fill up quickly!

Passport to Nature: Deadheading and Seed Collecting
2019-10-11 13:00 - 14:30 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for Deadheading and Seed Collecting today as space may fill up quickly!

CANCELLED: Passport to Nature: Outdoor Portrait Photography Basics
2019-09-21 13:00 - 16:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for Outdoor Portrait Photography Basics today as space may fill up quickly!

Passport to Nature: Nature Sketch
2019-07-06 09:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for Nature Sketch today as space may fill up quickly!

Ayum Creek Conservation Covenant Monitoring
2019-06-19 10:00 - 15:00 | British Columbia
Join TLC at our Ayum Creek Covenant, the hidden gem of the Sooke Basin! This gorgeous salmon-bearing stream and estuary is 7 hectares of Capital Regional District (CRD) Park Reserve which is the southwest anchor for the Sea to Sea Green/Blue Belt established by CRD Parks. This year TLC will be mapping areas where invasive species in the park have established. Expect to traverse across the rocky streambed and measure out areas of scotch broom while taking in beautiful views of the estuary and nesting Purple Martins.
Learning opportunities: Species identification, invasive species management, repeat photography protocols, wetland ecosystem functions, orienteering, bushwhacking, covenant monitoring protocols, mapping and more.
Registration is required. Please let us know if you would like to join by sending TLC’s Environmental Technician Karen Iwachow an email at kiwachow@conservancy.bc.ca with the subject line: Ayum Creek Monitoring Volunteer.
We ask that volunteers be comfortable hiking for two to six hours both on and off trail (bushwhacking), with a full backpack containing water, lunch and any personal needs. We are often in areas where washroom facilities are not available. We are hiking in uneven terrain where slips, trips and falls are possible. Please take caution while walking through steep and unmaintained terrain. Please note that TLC staff are trained in First Aid and carry a kit.
We encourage carpooling to reduce our carbon footprint. Please indicate if you are interested in carpooling with other volunteers. TLC can provide rides for up to three people in TLC’s car.

Passport to Nature: Tax Talk and Forest Walk
2019-06-08 13:00 - 15:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Tax Talk and Forest Walk today as space may fill up quickly!

Atkins Road Conservation Covenant Monitoring
2019-06-08 10:00 - 14:00 | British Columbia
TLC holds a conservation covenant on Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Park Reserve which sits between the Galloping Goose Trail and Millstream Creek near Mill Hill Regional Park. The 2 hectare protected area features a beautiful Garry Oak savanna above the riparian area and creek. We will start the trek from Atkins Road and walk down to the creek to observe and record the invasive species present. Last year TLC reported and removed Policeman’s Helmet (Impatiens glandulifera) from the stream. We will also check out the restoration site where TLC, the CRD and Greater Victoria Green Team have been working on removing Aaron’s beard (a.k.a. St. John’s wort), which has been degrading the Garry Oak habitat. As well, we will be conducting repeat photography, a method to track ecosystem changes over time at our established sites.
We will be staying on the maintained trails and expect a 1 km round trip with a light elevation change of 30 meters as we trek down and up the creek. Pack plenty of water, a lunch and appropriate clothes for the weather.
Learning opportunities: Species identification, invasive species management, repeat photography protocols, riparian and Garry oak ecosystem functions, orienteering, covenant monitoring protocols, mapping and more.
Registration is required. Please let us know if you would like to join by sending TLC’s Environmental Technician Karen Iwachow an email at kiwachow@conservancy.bc.ca with the subject line: Atkins Road Monitoring Volunteer.
We ask that volunteers be comfortable hiking for two to six hours both on and off trail (bushwhacking), with a full backpack containing water, lunch and any personal needs. We are often in areas where washroom facilities are not available. We are hiking in uneven terrain where slips, trips and falls are possible. Please take caution while walking through steep and unmaintained terrain. Please note that TLC staff are trained in First Aid and carry a kit.
We encourage carpooling to reduce our carbon footprint. Please indicate if you are interested in carpooling with other volunteers. TLC can provide rides for up to three people in TLC’s car.

FULLY RESERVED! Passport to Nature: Edible Plant Walk and Nursery Tour
2019-06-01 13:00 - 15:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Edible Plant Walk and Nursery Tour today as space may fill up quickly!

Passport to Nature: Clearwater Community Day
2019-05-11 13:00 - 16:00 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Clearwater Community Day today as space may fill up quickly!

Deertrails Naturalist Program
2019-05-07 19:00 - 2019-05-13 12:00 | British Columbia
NEWS RELEASE
TLC LAUNCHES DEERTRAILS NATURALIST PROGRAM
Students to learn from seasoned naturalists and teachers
Lyn Baldwin, Trevor Goward and Briony Penn
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 14, 2019
Clearwater, BC – The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) is pleased to announce the launch of the Deertrails Naturalist Program: an intergenerational, place-based learning opportunity designed to facilitate the transfer of naturalist knowledge, both scientific and traditional.
From May 7 to 13, 2019, participants will explore a range of habitats from following deer trails to experiencing spring bird migration. Students will learn about and deepen their connection to the natural world from seasoned naturalists and teachers Lyn Baldwin, Trevor Goward and Briony Penn. Cameo instruction this year includes sessions with Nancy Flood (ornithology), Cathie Hickson (volcanology) and Andy MacKinnon (mycology). Aspiring naturalists will develop a wide array of skills needed to steward local natural places, educate the public and new naturalists, engage in research and inform conservation efforts.
The program fee of $595 plus GST includes meals and accommodations in Clearwater, B.C. Aspiring naturalists can apply online on TLC’s website at www.conservancy.bc.ca. Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on February 28, 2019.
Thanks to a generous donation from a TLC Member who wishes to remain anonymous, the charity has created a $40,000 endowment fund with the Victoria Foundation to provide a bursary for one naturalist student each year.
“Building a network of naturalists is one of the means by which TLC is addressing the interrelated issues of biodiversity loss and climate change,” said Cathy Armstrong, TLC Executive Director. “We are looking forward to our first Deertrails Naturalist Program and sharing the natural world TLC Members have protected in the Clearwater Valley with up-and-coming naturalists.”
The land trust launched an acquisition campaign last spring to protect 38 acres of wildlife corridor in the Upper Clearwater River Valley. TLC’s Clearwater Wetland and Wildlife Corridor now protects more than 113 acres of adjacent lands for their ongoing protection and appropriate use for research and educational programming.
For more details regarding the Deertrails Naturalist Program and the May 2019 session please view the program backgrounder or contact TLC at (250) 479-8053 or admin@conservancy.bc.ca.
About The Land Conservancy of BC:
The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia. TLC’s primary mandate is to benefit the community by protecting habitat for natural communities of plants and animals. Founded in 1997, TLC is membership-based and governed by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors. TLC relies on a strong membership and volunteer base to help maintain its operations.
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Media contact
Cathy Armstrong
TLC Executive Director
Cell: (250) 588-4945
Email: carmstrong@conservancy.bc.ca

Abkhazi Garden Plant Sale
2019-04-28 09:00 - 12:00 | British Columbia
TLC’s Abkhazi Garden Head Gardener Jo Wyld and the Friends of Abkhazi Garden Society are holding a plant sale at the Garden! If you lost some plants over the winter or just want to freshen up your garden, here’s your chance to purchase interesting and exciting new plants, mostly grown at Abkhazi Garden. Irises, shade perennials and unique garden gems will all be on sale, rain or shine. The money raised will be used by Friends of Abkhazi Garden Society for projects at Abkhazi Garden. Cash or cheques accepted. For more information email info@friendsofabkhazi.ca

Volunteer Covenant Monitoring at TLC's Covenant on Mount Work Regional Park
2019-04-24 10:00 - 14:00 | British Columbia
TLC holds conservation covenants on the south west side of Mount Work. Starting from the Munn Rd entrance we will trek through the mossy forest lowlands and see fairy slipper and coralroot orchids on the way to the secret cabin for lunch. We will conduct repeat photography at our wetland sites and monitor any landscape changes from the wet winter. We will be staying on the maintained trails and expect a 2 to 3 km round trip with a slow elevation change of about 100 meters. Pack plenty of water, a lunch and appropriate clothes for the weather.
We ask that volunteers be comfortable hiking for two to six hours both on and off trail (bushwhacking), with a full backpack containing water, lunch and any personal needs. We are often in areas where washroom facilities are not available. We are hiking in uneven terrain where slips, trips and falls are possible. Please take caution while walking through steep and unmaintained terrain. Please note that TLC staff are trained in First Aid and carry a kit.
We encourage carpooling to reduce our carbon footprint. Please indicate if you are interested in carpooling with other volunteers. TLC can provide rides for up to three people in TLC’s car.
Register online today!

FULLY RESERVED! Passport to Nature: Abkhazi Garden Tour
2019-04-14 11:30 - 12:30 | British Columbia
View TLC’s 2019 Passport to Nature for a full listing of our nature events designed with you in mind – those who want to explore the wild outdoors, learn new skills and meet like-minded people. For a hard copy of our Passport to Nature, contact TLC at 1-877-485-2422 or email membership@conservancy.bc.ca.
Register for the Abkhazi Garden Tour today as space may fill up quickly!

Volunteer Covenant Monitoring at TLC's Sea to Sea Regional Park Covenant
2019-04-13 10:00 - 15:00 | British Columbia
In the summer of 2017, a one hectare piece of this park experienced a wildfire. Covenant holders TLC and Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) have been monitoring the regeneration of vegetation at the site since the fire. We will return to the site to count what species and how many are returning. After, we will hike over to Mt Brule for scenic views and lunch. Expect a 160 meter elevation change and a 3 to 4 km round trip.We will be staying on the designated trails; however, during the wildfire site survey we will be stepping off trail. Pack plenty of water, a lunch and appropriate clothes for the weather.
We ask that volunteers be comfortable hiking for two to six hours both on and off trail (bushwhacking), with a full backpack containing water, lunch and any personal needs. We are often in areas where washroom facilities are not available. We are hiking in uneven terrain where slips, trips and falls are possible. Please take caution while walking through steep and unmaintained terrain. Please note that TLC staff are trained in First Aid and carry a kit.
We encourage carpooling to reduce our carbon footprint. Please indicate if you are interested in carpooling with other volunteers. TLC can provide rides for up to three people in TLC’s car.
Register online today!

Volunteer Covenant Monitoring at TLC's Packford Covenant in Sooke
2019-04-10 10:00 - 15:00 | British Columbia
This bushwhacking adventure will see us travel along the southern boundaries of a lush parcel of conservation land, monitoring for edge effects. Be prepared to see a beautiful diversity of spring plants, learn about bluff ecosystems and gain some serious bushwhacking experience. Expect about a 3 km round trip and an elevation change of about 120 meters. Time permitting, we will also have the opportunity to traverse the old water pipeline to access the upper rocky bluffs to conduct repeat photography for landscape changes where we will be treated to fantastic views of the Sooke basin and Olympic mountain range. Pack plenty of water, a lunch and appropriate clothes for the weather.
We ask that volunteers be comfortable hiking for two to six hours both on and off trail (bushwhacking), with a full backpack containing water, lunch and any personal needs. We are often in areas where washroom facilities are not available. We are hiking in uneven terrain where slips, trips and falls are possible. Please take caution while walking through steep and unmaintained terrain. Please note that TLC staff are trained in First Aid and carry a kit.
We encourage carpooling to reduce our carbon footprint. Please indicate if you are interested in carpooling with other volunteers. TLC can provide rides for up to three people in TLC’s car.
Register online today!
