Did you know that, worldwide, invasive plants are the second-biggest threat to biodiversity? Yes, these aggressive invaders are second only to habitat loss. Invasive plants are spreading in Golden, but there are non-toxic, effective ways we can slow them down and protect our local biodiversity. One of the best ways is to join in the upcoming Golden Community Weed Pull, on July 10, 2009.

“Invasive plants are commonly found in our own backyards,” said Rachel Darvill, who heads Wildsight’s Columbia Headwaters program and who is organizing the weed pull event. “Some of these invasive plants are very attractive plants — so people don’t pull them out. But because there are no natural predators to keep these species at bay, they out-compete our native plants for space. They can completely take over an area, pushing out our native plants, birds and animals.”

Darvill said that the upcoming weed pull—Golden’s second annual—will teach people how to identify some common invaders, such as Common Tansy, Spotted Knapweed and Orange Hawkweed The Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s (CSRD) Noxious Weed Inspector Paul Goodkey will be at the weed pull event and he’ll be talking about two bioagent releases that he has done in Golden. These bioagents are insect species that attack Spotted Knapweed.

“What’s really great about this event is that the CSRD is sponsoring a free and delicious lunch for participants,” Darvill said.

Golden’s 2nd Annual Community Weed Pull (and free lunch) will take place Friday, July 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Lunch to follow) at the Pedestrian Bridge in Golden. Gloves and plastic bags will be provided.

“Last year’s community weed pull was a great success,” said Darvill, adding, “About 20 people came out and pulled 58 bags of spotted knapweed along the Kicking Horse River. A lot of the knapweed is not back this year, which is a real accomplishment!”

Darvill knows her stuff: she also coordinates Wildsight’s Columbia Wetlands Invasive Plant Species Project, which is funded by the Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Wetland Stewardship Partners, the CSRD and the RDEK. “We are pleased to be helping Golden residents take care of the Kicking Horse River, a beautiful community resource,” she said.

Contact:
Rachel Darvill, Upper Columbia Program Coordinator
Wildsight at 250.344.4961 or by email at
 rachel@wildsight.ca.

~Submitted by Wildsight