Birding in Uplands Park – Sunday Nov 27, 2011

Birding

Last Sunday of each month with Ralph Archibald.  This November 27th at 8:30, meet at Cattle Point near the boat launch.  Bring your binoculars, scopes, bird guides and dress for the weather.

Reminder – Friends of Uplands Park Steering Committee – Thursday, November 24, 2011

FOUP Steering Committee Reminder

Date: Thursday, November 24

TIme:7:30 to 9:30

Place: Margaret’s house:  1894 St. Ann Street

Agenda Topics: We are interested in new Steering Committee members and also in people that would like to be involved in one of our projects like the Signage Project, the Earth Day Celebration on April 22, organizing Public Meetings like our next one on Thursday March 8 at 7 pm, Windsor Park Pavilion, or Education events….

New Members Welcome: Come to this meeting and discover new information about FOUP!

Margaret Lidkea Trains Six Team Leaders for Invasive Plant Removal in Uplands Park

Report from Margaret:

Congratulations to our new Team Leaders for the Invasive Plant Removal Project:  Louise Goulet, Anna Graham, Val Aloian, Gavin Gentles, Margaret MCCullough and Christina Johnson-Dean

On Sunday these wonderful volunteers took a 2 hour training to become registered with the Oak Bay Parks Department. As Team Leadersm, they can supervise groups wanting to remove invasive plants throughout the Fall, and in some circumstances at other times of the year is specified sections of Uplands Park.

This means the Friends of Uplands Park can remove much more ivy and Daphne and we can educate more people.

If anyone is interested in a specific date please email me and I will contact the group to see if anyone is available.

Remember that you must have a Team Leader to supervise any invasive removal in Uplands Park.  People removing invasives without OB Parks permission create problems.  One year a bunch of dry weeded Scotch broom caught on fire and threatened the neighbouring houses.  In the meadow the fire destroyed several plants and resulted in a hugh regrowth of Scotch broom from seeds. Other people have really disturbed the soil and this has an adverse effect on native plants.  Other people have also planted non native plants to make the park “more beautiful”.  This desecrates the Garry Oak ecosystem.

FOUP Steering Committee Meeting – Thursday November 24, 2011 – 7:30 pm

Friends of uplands Park Steering Committee Meeting

DATE: Thursday November 24, 2011
TIME: – 7:30 pm –
ADDRESS: 1894 St. Ann St
CONTACTS: Margaret Lidkea 250-595-8084; Kathleen Matthews 250 -598-7995

Agenda: The agenda will include reports on the September Uplands Park Panel with OB Parks, the Fall Invasive Plants Removal, (133 people on the weekend of October 22 & 23 volunteering 265 hours and 17 Scouts and Friends volunteering for 34 hours. This will allow the Oak Bay Parks Department to apply for another Habitat Stewardship Plan Grant for 2012. Last year this federal grant of $20,000 was used to continue the management of invasives in areas of rare plants.), the Signage Project, and the status of Future Events 2012: Public Meeting and Earth Day Celebrations April 22. People interested in planning and organizing these, please come to the meeting or contact Margaret or Kathleen.

Regular Steering Committee Members include: Ralph Archibald, Helen Johnson, Ron Carter, John Henigman, David Blundon, Abee Abed, Kathleen Matthews, Margaret Lidkea

Special event members and consultants include Matt Fairbarns, Britt Karlstrom, Elizabeth Garrett, Carrina Maslovat.

New Committee Members welcome. Contact Margaret

 

Training Workshop for Leaders of Invasive Plant Removal – Sunday November 20, 2011 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Training Workshop for Leaders of Invasive Plant Removal

This workshop, supported by Oak Bay Parks, is open to people that would like to remove invasive plants with groups of volunteers.  Oak Bay Parks approval is mandatory.  Currently Margaret Lidkea has permission in Uplands Park and would like others to become team leaders.

DATE:  Sunday November 20, 2011
MEETING PLACE: We will meet at the Beach Drive entrance to Cattle Point.
TIME: 1:30 – 3:30 pm  
REGISTRATION: Please phone Margaret at 250-595-8084 to register.

Birding in Uplands Park – Sunday November 27, 2011 – 8:30 am

Join Birder Ralph Archibald of the Friends of Uplands Park in a bird walk from Cattle Point through Uplands Park. Meet at Cattle Point by the kiosks. Bring binoculars, bird books or checklists or simply show up to enjoy the outing, rain or shine.

DATE:  Sunday November 27, 2011
TIME:  8:30 am
FREE
CONTACT:  Margaret Lidkea         250-595-8084

October – November 2011 Broom Bashing Activites

From Margaret Lidkea, Broom Bash Coordinator Extraordinaire:

“We had 133 people on the Broom Bash weekend (Oct 22-23, 2011) and I have had another group of 17 last Sunday (October 30, 2011).  The Anderson Hill ivy removal by Monterey Middle School has 28 students that will continue each Wednesday afternoon during November.”