On Thursday, Nov 13, 2025, we welcomed 7 partner artists to collaborate with us for lantern building. This is in preparation for our 5th annual Light up the Night in Champlain Heights Festival. The session was led by crafter extraordinaire Kiki Nombrado Together, we learned how… Read More »Artist Lantern Making Collaboration
On Sat, Nov 1, we held our monthly Invasive Pull. For the first time in the history of Free the Fern our invasive pull fell on a very wet, rainy day. But, the rain didn’t keep our volunteers away! 17 people gathered at the Douglas… Read More »Singing in the rain!
On Oct 30, 2025, we welcomed 6 staff from B.C. Housing for a Healing Forest Walk. This was part of their effort to support their staff’s mental health and healing. For this walk, we were honoured to partner with Leona Brown. Leona is a Gitxsan mother… Read More »Healing Forest Walk
50 amazing volunteers gathered at the Douglas Fir Teaching Garden on Sat, Oct 18, 2025 for our Nature is for Everyone Planting. Joshua Ralph & Connie Henry, two of our friendly board directors, signed everyone in and assigned them to plot A, B, or C.… Read More »Nature is for Everyone Planting – Oct 18, 2025
On Oct 8, 2025, a number of Free the Fern allies spoke to Vancouver City Council in support of the Motion: Protect the Champlain Heights Forest Trail Network for Future Generations and Residents. The motion had been brought forward by Vancouver Greens Councillor Pete Fry.… Read More »City Council Motion to Protect the Trails!
On Oct 15, 2025, Free the Fern Executive Director, Grace Nombrado, was honoured to accept a Heritage Award from the City of Vancouver. The Award was under the catagory of “Education and Awareness” and was in acknowledgment of the stewardship & reconciliation effort that has… Read More »Vancouver Heritage Award!
We were honoured to welcome Tamiko Suzuki, certified Forest Bather & Senior Park Champion, to the Champlain Heights Trails today. She guided participants on a Forest Bathing walk, providing several “invitations” to connect with nature. Invitations included: “walk and notice something moving”, “introduce yourself to… Read More »Forest Bathing – Oct 9, 2025
On Oct 4, 2025, 20 volunteers gathered at the Douglas Fir Teaching Garden for our monthly Invasive Pull. The event was co-led by Grace Nombrado, our Executive Director, and board President, Erin Knock. After a welcome and a stretch we headed down the Red Alder… Read More »Invasive Pull – Oct 4, 2025
Today, Free the Fern Executive Director, Grace Nombrado, and Free the Fern board director, Joe Boyd, led a Weeding & Weaving Workshop at the Douglas Fir Teaching Garden. 11 participants gathered in the garden to learn how to gather, prep, and weave ivy into a… Read More »Weeding & Weaving – Sept 20, 2025
On Wednesday, Sept 17, Vancouver Green Party Councillor, Pete Fry, made an important motion at City Council: Greening the City – Enhancing Livability and the Tree Canopy Through HealthyAfforestation. This was an important motion to Free the Fern, as it was focused on expanding our… Read More »City Council Motion: Greening the City – Sept 17, 2025