Esquimalt's Earth Day Celebration

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Wednesday, April 20th, 2016
9:45 AM to 2:30 PM

The Township of Esquimalt is celebrating Earth Day by hosting a community clean-up and planting event at Highrock Park. The project will involve invasive species removal, shrub and tree planting of native species, a park clean-up, and laying of mulch to establish a new trail within the park. Local schools, residents, Township staff, businesses, organizations and even some four-legged friends will all be pitching in.

The event has become an annual celebration with hundrends of participants (and plenty of excitement for the goats assisting with the invasive species removal in places that machinery and people cannot). Young children will also have the opportunity to feed the goats during the Earth Day Celebration (Wed, April 20 only).  We invite you to see the goats in action. The goats will be in the park Tuesday, April 19th until Friday, April 23rd.  

Mayor Barbara Desjardins will provide welcoming remarks at 9:45 a.m. followed by a ceremonial tree planting.

In addition to the invasive species removal and planting, the celebration will also include interactive exhibitors, and site tours with a scavenger hunt for younger children. Lunch is generously being provided for students and volunteers by Country Grocer. All equipment and tools will be provided. Community volunteers and teachers wishing to have their classrooms participate can express their interest of their involvement to Vicki Klyne, Community Development Programmer by email or telephone at 250-412-8511.

A number of invasive plant species including broom, Himalayan blackberry, daphne, English ivy and holly have colonized in Highrock Park and are posing a threat to the Garry oak ecosystem. Garry oak and associated ecosystems are among British Columbia’s most threatened ecosystems, primarily due to urban development.