STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship
Free the Fern is a nonprofit society with many volunteer stewards.
We volunteer along the Champlain Heights Trail system, a second growth forest in the City of Vancouver.
We organize invasive removal and native planting events along the trail system.
Map
Since 2021, Free the Fern stewards have been actively working together to remove invasive plants and replant native plants along the Champlain Heights Trail system.
Check out the map (left) to see what areas we have stewarded along the trail system.
The dates indicate when primary invasive removal and native planting events occured. Although, our volunteer stewards continue to maintain each area and watch for regrowth of invasive species.
Stewardship Site History
Click on the past events below to learn more & see photos
Alexander Laidlaw Co-op
Invasive Pulls: May 29, 2021, Nov 6, 2021, April 2, 2022, Sept 24, 2022, Sept 16, 2023,
Plantings: Sept 18, 2021, Nov 4, 2023
Cartier Place
Invasive Pulls: Dec 4, 2021, May 7, 2022, Oct 16, 2022,
Plantings: Community Planting Event – Oct 24, 2021, Mini Planting – Oct 29, 2021, Grow Wild – Oct 22, 2022
Fir Trail
Invasive Pulls: March 5, 2022, Oct 16, 2022, Oct 31, 2022
Native Planting: Grow Wild – Oct 22, 2022
Douglas Fir Teaching Garden
Invasive Pull: Invasive ED 101 – June 12, 2021, Summer Weaving Workshop – Aug 13, 2022, Nov 5, 2022
Plantings: Youth Planting Event – Oct 30, 2021, Community Planting Event – Oct 24, 2021
Matheson Heights Co-op
Invasive Pulls: Feb 5, 2022, May 21, 2022, Oct 16, 2022, January 6, 2024, Feb 3, 2024, March 2, 2024, March 26, 2024, April 6, 2024, June 1, 2024, Sept 7, 2024, Oct 5, 2024
Plantings: Oct 22, 2022, Dec 2, 2023, April 6, 2024, May 4, 2024, Truth & Reconciliation Planting – Sept 30, 2024, Healing Forest – Oct 20, 2024
The Triangle
Invasive Pulls: Feb 2022, April 2, 2022, Oct 16, 2022, Nov 5, 2022, Jan 7, 2023, Feb 4, 2023
Planting: Grow Wild – Oct 22, 2022
Food Forest
Invasive Pulls: March 4, 2023, April 1, 2023, May 6, 2023, June 3, 2023, May 6, 2023, June 3, 2023, Sept 2, 2023, Oct 6, 2023
Plantings: Native Food Forest Planting – Oct 2, 2023, Dec 2, 2023
Special Planting Sites
Douglas Fir Teaching Garden
In 2021, Free the Fern volunteers created the Douglas Fir Teaching Garden, just east of Kinross Creek Co-op
Native Food Forest
In 2023, Free the Fern stewardship volunteers are joining together to create a Native Food Forest.