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April 1, 2022
Hello Park Ambassadors, Members, and Friends.
In this newsletter you'll find:
- Upcoming Volunteer Events
- Annual General Meeting Recap
- Volunteer Celebrations
- City Nature Challenge: Greater Vancouver
- 3 Interesting Uses for Mushrooms
- April 30: DRBIPA River Walk & Talk
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Upcoming Volunteer Events
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Do you want to get involved as a park association volunteer to give back to nature and help out at fun community events? We invite you to sign up as a DRBIPA Park Ambassador! Information can be found on our website HERE. Reach out to us anytime with questions about being a Park Ambassador or to sign up as a one-time volunteer.
Upcoming events include:
- April 9th: plant whip staking at the living retaining wall bio-engineering project along Bedford Channel to combat shoreline erosion
- May 7th: Scotch broom clipping at Derby Reach to prevent the spread of this invasive plant that can increase risk of forest fire
- Spring/Summer: potential invasive species removal, native vegetation planting, and tree swallow nest box monitoring events
- July 16th: support the Bedford Channel Paddle annual event day activities (a chance for local park users and nature lovers to try using a kayak or voyageur canoe in a safe environment)
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Our Annual General Meeting was on February 24th. We enjoyed an amazing presentation about climate change, watermelon snow, and the arctic exploration experiences of local biologist Lynne Quarmby. We learned so much! Plus, we reviewed DRBIPA annual reports and finances for our park association members and community partners.
You can find our 2021 annual activity report HERE. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to get involved as a DRBIPA volunteer or donor.
Thanks so much to everyone who came to our AGM. This event is held on the last Thursday evening of February each year. We hope you can join us at the next one!
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Sending a shout out to the Langley Leos! The Leo Club is a group of students from different Langley high schools who volunteer and work on community projects together. The Leos are a big part of environmental conservation in our parks.
Thank you to the hardworking and dedicated volunteers who come out to support invasive species removal, bird monitoring, planting, clean up events, and more. Even in the pouring rain and no matter the challenge — thank you Leos!
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For the first time ever, the entire Greater Vancouver area is joining the City Nature Challenge. April 29 - May 2, 2022. You can contribute to citizen science during this international biodiversity challenge no matter where you are.
All you need to do is:
- Download and use the iNaturalist app (or access iNaturalist from a web browser).
- Use iNaturalist to make observations of wild animals, plants, or fungi from April 29th to May 2nd.
There is nature all around us, even in the city. Knowing what species are in our region and where they are helps us study and protect them, but the ONLY way to do that is TOGETHER. Scientists, land managers, and community members – working together to find and document the nature in our area. By participating in the City Nature Challenge, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but you can also make your city a better place – for you and other species!
Visit the Greater Vancouver City Nature Challenge web page for more details, iNaturalist user guides, and more. Don't forget to make some observations at Derby Reach and Brae Island!
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3 Interesting Uses for Mushrooms
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Mushrooms, fungus, mycelium...whatever you commonly call them, these almost magical beings are not quite plants but are not animals, either. Kingdom fungi is made up of non-vascular, non-motile, heterotrophic, and eukaryotic organisms.
Mushrooms can be used for so many interesting things, including nature-based solutions for environmental concerns. Here are just a few of the amazing things mushrooms can become:
- Biodegradable packaging called myco-foam. Similar to styrofoam, it is a great option for zero waste packaging and shipping fragile items.
- Vegan leather. Mushroom leather is just as beautiful and durable as leather made from animals.
- Bioethanol fuel. A renewable fuel often made from grains like corn can also be made from mushroom compost to power our cars, lawnmowers, and more.
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Join us for a walk and talk along Tavistock Trail all about nature-based solutions. Learn about our living retaining wall bio-engineering project at Brae Island Regional Park and join in on the conversation about nature-based solutions as we go along the trail. (Tavistock Trail is wheelchair accessible, gravel not paved).
Saturday, April 30, 2022 | 10:00am-12:30pm
Let's get some fresh air and exercise while celebrating nature together! Please REGISTER HERE to attend (or simply reply to this email).
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