ȽÁU,WELNEW PARK (John Dean) I'm very excited to report that the park is ivy, blackberry, Daphne, and broom free!
- 11 of 11 broom zones are mint;
- By Dec 18 (80hrs), the broom zones were totally cleared;
- 75hrs per year is required to maintain the achievement. All meadows are maintained at minus 18”/18mths growth; today, 2” has been achieved throughout;
- BC Parks does not ask a minimum amount of time or effort. They “appreciate everything people give no matter how big or small”; and
- This story is posted for future volunteers. The below tables describe the time and commitment needed to maintain and sustain the achievement.
THE 11 BROOM ZONES AT ȽÁU,WELNEW PARK (John Dean)
| ZONE | MEADOWS | CLASSIFICATION | PRIORITY |
| 1 | Airport Radar Tower | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
| 2 | Upper Thomson Cabin Trail | Special Place | Priority 1, Internal |
| 3 | Coast Guard Radar Tower | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
| 4 | Pickles’ Bluff | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
| 5 | ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Trail | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
| 6 | Woodward Trail | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
| 7 | Surveyors’ Trail | Trail-side Viewpoint | Priority 2, Boundary |
| 8 | West Viewpoint | Trail-side Viewpoint | Priority 2, Boundary |
| 9 | West Block | Special Place | Priority 1, Internal |
| 10 | Entrance Road | Special Place | Priority 1, Internal |
| 11 | Upper Gail Wickens’ Trail | Special Place | Priority 2, Boundary |
The seedbank is now largely exhausted. Noteworthy, few parks within the region have received such a long-time commitment towards the complete removal of broom.
It’s now my great hope that a person or family adopt each zone. If you have a favorite spot you love and would like to care for, contact Jarrett @ jarrettteague@yahoo.ca // 250-642-3031 for volunteer info:
| ZONE | LOCATION | BACKGROUND | SITUATION |
| 1
2018 mint |
Airport Radar Tower:
a) West side of road, main b) East side of road |
Flagship Presentation
1995, initial removal
Major removals occurred
2011, Jarrett adopted the meadow; seed bank not exhausted, requires monthly attention
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Adjacent broom within MOT compound; unreliably cut
Removal actions required, 30min per month / 6hrs annually
|
| 2
2018 mint |
Upper Thomson Cabin Trail:
a) Center east side b) Base of slope c) Lower shelf |
Flagship Presentation
1996, initial removal, Jarrett adopted the meadow
Seedbank almost exhausted |
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Removal actions required, 30min per month / 6hrs annually |
| 3
2018 mint |
Coast Guard Radar Tower:
a) East of entrance road b) South metal fence line c) Lower-middle treeline d) North at wood fence |
Flagship Presentation
1991, initial major removals occurred
1997, Jarrett adopted
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Seed bank almost exhausted
Requires 30min per month / 6hrs annually
|
| 4
2018 mint |
Pickles’ Bluff:
a) Bluff, center area b) Bluff, lower south end c) Bluff, lower north end d) Meadow, below and north e) Meadow south of steps f) Meadow far south of steps g) Meadow north of steps
|
Flagship Presentation
1991, initial removal
1992-98, Major removals occurred
1999, seed bank exhausted
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Requires 30min per month / 6hrs annually
|
| 5
2018 mint |
ȽÁU,WELNEW Trail:
a) Fern Dell Trailhead b) West of trail, upper area c) East of trail, along ridge d) East of trial, middle slope e) East of trail, lower S area f) East of trail, lower SE area g) Northward towards the bluff
|
Flagship Presentation
1993, initial removal
Dr. Bryce Kendrick adopted; Many thanks to Bryce who pulled in this location: 1995-2013
2008, seed bank exhausted
2009-current, maintained at -11”
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Requires 8-10hrs annually |
| 6
2018 mint |
Woodward Trail:
a) Triangle Junction meadow b) Triangle Junction, area below and SW c) Ridge below Woodward d) Lower SE Gary oak Meadow e) Ridge above Woodward |
Flagship Presentation
1993, initial removal
1999, Seed bank exhausted
Major adjacent seed bank on private property; ongoing action required forever
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Requires 30min per month / 8hrs annually
|
| 7
2018 18” |
Surveyors’ Trail:
a) Viewpoint b) Viewpoint tree line c) Below viewpoint in forest d) Behind house e) Eastern meadow f) Eastern meadow in forest g) Above Surveyors’ Trail h) Above Surveyors’ Trail, north meadows
|
Trail-side Viewpoint
1992, initial removals
Ongoing removals by a few Friends occurred; many thanks to Dr. Bryce Kendrick who pulled in this location: 1995-2013
2015, Jarrett conducted a 26hr 100% removal throughout the entire area; committed to long-term monthly removals
Major adjacent seed bank on private property; ongoing action required forever
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
2015, 99% removed
Maintained monthly
Requires 30min per month / 8hrs annually |
| 8
2018 Clear |
West Viewpoint:
a) Lower shelf b) Lower shelf, outer perimeter |
Trail-side Viewpoint
1991, Initial pull; inconsistent removals occurred
2015, Jarrett conducted a 100% removal throughout the entire area; committed to long-term monthly removals
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
2015, 99% removed
Forest broom within sight has been removed
Maintained bi-annually
Requires 15min per month / 5hrs annually
|
| 9
2018 mint
|
West Block:
a) Upper, above relocation b) Lower, above the multiple drainage channels c) Central meadow d) Arbutus Ridge slope |
Special Place
1996, initial removal
Inconstant removals occurred
2011, seed bank exhausted
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Requires 4hrs annually |
| 10
2018 Mint |
Entrance Road:
a) Upper Slektain Meadow b) Meadow below road corner c) Meadow above fire hydrant d) High ridge above road e) Cliffs above road f) Meadows above Montfort Trail West
|
Special Place
1993, initial removal
maintained at -11”
2018, the entire zone is fully secured of broom |
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Requires 15min per month / 5hrs annually |
| 11
2018 clear |
Upper Gail Wickens’ Trail:
a) South trailhead of Barret Montfort East b) Former viewpoint c) Haldon Park, center meadow |
Special Place
2002, initial removal, inconsistent removals occurred
2006, last seeded; Jarrett adopted the zone
|
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Adjacent broom on private properties
Removal actions required, 15min per month / 6hrs annually
|
- In 1991, Jarrett and a committed group of six Friends started to remove the major broom throughout the park. The initial removal of the big broom (2” girth) took six years of hard work. By 1998, the large seed producing broom was gone, and the meadows were growing a continual lawn of baby broom. By 2002, the broom growth slowed and thinned, but continued. Only Bryce Kendrick and I were steadfastly removing broom;
- Broom produces seeds during its third year, those seeds can remain in the ground for 15-20 years, and therefor it’s essential that all broom be removed immediately to hedge against the 35mth deadline. For example, if a meadow is cleared of 12mth broom, the 36mth regrowth countdown is reset;
- Jarrett is working towards establishing a multi-volunteer Broom Succession Plan;
- For spring 2019, the broom is under the 18” / 18mth level. Today, a new volunteer inherits a zero debt & zero deficit workload; and
- Interested in a favorite spot? Contact Jarrett @ jarrettteague@yahoo.ca // 250-642-3031
EASY MEADOW ASSESMENT | DEBT, DEFICIT, OWN
Jarrett’s 2015 thinking
| STAGE | EFFORT | AGE/HEIGHT | THREAT | CONTROL |
| 7 | no concern | 49mth / +31” | seed generating | abandonment |
| 6 | failure | 48mth / +30” | seed generating | rejection of duty |
| 5 | setback | 36-47mth / 24-29” | seed producing | negligence of duty |
| 4 | debt | 24-35mth / 18-23” | growth | attention |
| 3 | deficit | 12-23mth / 12-17” | growth | care |
| 2 | routine | 3-11mth / 6-11” | babies | love |
| 1 | mastered | 1-5” | babies minimal | own |
SELF-ASSESSMENT | BROOM INVOLVEMENT SPECTRUM
Jarrett’s 2017 thinking
|
I don’t know |
Park visitor
|
Visits the park for a great park experience.
Likely doesn’t want to know about and/or hear about broom, or support those who are involved. |
|
I don’t know |
Level: 1 |
Park visitor who cares about the park.
Who may have a vague awareness of broom, but does not understand its scope or what they need to learn. |
|
I know |
Level: 2 |
Park regular who can describe the broom situation, and can remove some broom with support.
They understand what they need to learn to personally progress. |
|
I can |
Level: 3 |
Park regular who regularly removes broom with little to no support.
They reflexively remove broom without necessarily thinking through it step by step. |
|
I am |
Level: 4 |
Park reliable who persistently removes broom without any support.
They instinctively seek and remove broom throughout the park, step by step. |
|
I guarantee |
Level: 5 |
Park steward who has committed that she/he will remove broom prior to 18mths/18” growth, to methodically ensure all broom is removed from the parks 11 broom zones.
Does not require support; does not require thanks; maintains the Master Broom Register; and ensures all work is done each year. |
THE WAY TO SUSTAIN BROOM FREE IS:
- Set mission statement: “ensure the park remains broom-free (under 11mths growth)”;
- Assign each meadow to a person or family who commits;
- Leadership monitors and updates the parks “Broom Register” quarterly (11 zones);
- The best time to surge on broom is October to December; conduct double checks January to February; avoid flower areas March to June; 30min monthly per zone is crucial; and
- To operate whereby less work is required from future volunteers.
- Broom Sponsor (encouragement / supporter)
- Broom Companion (2nd year & 1-2 zones)
- Broom Supervisor (3rd year & 3+ zones)
- Broom Principal (4th year & all zones)
QUALITIES OF VOLUNTEER BROOM COMPANIONS:
Awareness – Interest – Time – Vigour – Ownership
- recognizes action is required;
- believes broom free must be sustained;
- identifies with the object of the exercise;
- commits exceptional worth to the park;
- performs well;
- achieves results;
- regards the role as a talent; and
- orchestrates a succession plan.