New FOUP Website at friendsofuplandspark.org

In November 2015, a new Friends of Uplands Park (FOUP) website was launched at http://friendsofuplandspark.org.

Please connect to http://friendsofuplandspark.org. Bookmark this new FOUP website and sign up, at the new website, to receive news of forthcoming FOUP events and activities.

The original Friends of Uplands Park website, under the title Friends of Uplands Park – The First Six Years (2010 – 2015), will remain available to celebrate the activities and accomplishments of the first 6 years of FOUP. The URL of the original FOUP website remains https://friendsofuplandspark.wordpress.com.

Image from the new FOUP website:

Help Plant [and learn about] Native Plants at Uplands Park Oct 25, 2015

The Friends of Uplands Park invites you to bring family and friends to help with the restoration of the Garry Oak Ecosystems in Uplands Park. Native plants will be planted where invasive plants have recently been removed. Bring gloves, shovels and dibbles. Some tools will be available and refreshments too.

Meeting Place: Uplands Park sign on Beach Drive
Time: 1 – 3:pm
Date: Sunday, October 25-2015.

Friends of Uplands Park Bird Walk – October 31, 2015 – 9:00am- Cattle Point

David Newell sends the following announcement about the October Bird Walk in Uplands Park and at Cattle Point:

Hello Friends:
On Saturday, Oct.,31, Geoffrey will be leading his next Friends of
Uplands Park Bird Walk. Please meet at 9:00 a.m. in the large parking
lot out at the end of Cattle Point. Uplands Park is at the north end
of Willlows Beach in Oak Bay. After spending time observing sea birds
out at the point, we will head inland to observe wintering birds: Fox
Sparrows and Purple Finches may even be singing…

Photos by Wayne Matthews.

Oak Bay Urban Forest Symposium – November 3 – 2015

Margaret Lidkea sends the following announcement, and invitation, to attend the important Oak Bay Urban Forest Symposium, to be held at Windsor Park Pavilion, November 3, 2015, 7-9pm.

Dear Friends
Oak Bay Parks, Friends of Uplands Park and Habitat Acquisition Trust are hosting this important event. This is the first public meeting in Greater Victoria about the Urban Forest. Strategies will be developed by each municipality. Please arrive early for a seat. Refreshments. Donations welcome. Poster PDF: https://www.oakbay.ca/sites/default/files/recreation/documents/parks_symposium_flyer.pdf
Margaret Lidkea, Chair of FOUP

This local Oak Bay focused Urban Forest Symposium follows from the Canadian Urban Forest Conference held in Victoria Fall 2014. [2014 Conference presentations available at http://www.cufn.ca/#!cufc11-victoria-british-columbia/c7rb]

Urban Tree Symposium Poster 2015-11-03 parks_symposium_flyer

Uplands Park Ivy & Broom Bash – October 17 & 18, 2015 [Friends of Uplands Park]

The Friends of Uplands Park and the Greater Victoria Green Team are collaborating in hosting the Annual Uplands Park Ivy & Broom Bash weekend event.

Saturday, October 17, 2015 [1:00-4:00pm]
Sunday, October 18, 2015 [1:00-4:00pm]

This is a family friendly “rain or shine” work party event. Tools (loppers & pruners) and gloves will be provided, but please bring your own tools and gloves if you have them. The goal is to continue with the removal of Scotch Broom, Ivy, Daphne and European Ash. Refreshments will be on hand, but it is a good idea to bring your water bottle.

Meet at the Beach Drive entrance to Cattle Point to sign in and to be given a work area.

Thanks in advance for your participation in this important work.

RBCM Insect Walk in Uplands Park – Sunday, Sept 20, 1-3pm [Friends of Uplands Park event]

The Friends of Uplands Park invites you to join RBCM entomologist Claudia Copley, on a walk through Uplands Park exploring for insects.
Meet at the Beach Drive entrance at the Uplands Park sign.
Sunday, September 20, 1-3pm.

September 2015 Bird Walks with Geoffrey Newell – Uplands Park & CRD Hawk Watches

David Newell sends the following:

Join Geoffrey Newell on these three blrd walks with the CRD
and the Friends of Uplands Park

#1 On Saturday, September 19, Geoffrey will lead the Friends of Uplands Park bird Walk. Please meet at 8:00 a.m. in the large parking lot out at the end of Cattle Point. Uplands Park is at the north end of Willows Beach in Oak Bay. After observing sea and shore birds, we will head inland into the park to listen to and search for the many songbirds in this fabulous Garry Oak Meadow Community. On his August walk 65 species, including a Common Tern were observed!

#2 On Saturday, September 26 , Geoffrey will be attending the CRD Hawk Watch (Capital Regional District) in East Sooke Regional Park. This event is put on by the CRD in conjunction with the Victoria Natural History Sociey . The event is from 12 to 3 p.m. Typically, many types of raptors, Band-tailed Pigeons, Vaux’s Swifts and other migrants will be observed in large numbers. There will be a display tent regarding this mass migration at Aylard Farm. However, Geoffrey will be up at Beechey Head hoping to see you. You will be walking up and then down, a fairly steep and long path to Beechey Head from Aylard Farm. The hike takes about 30 minutes each way. The Aylard Farm entrance into East Sooke Regional Park is off Becher Bay Road.

#3 On Saturday, October 3 , from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Geoffrey will be continuing with a second Hawk Watch for the CRD, entitled The Birds of Beechey Head.Meet at the Aylard Farm Parking Lot at 10:00 a.m. for the hike up to Beechey Head.