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Invasive plants continue to be a concern for City of Parksville

Species out-competing native plants
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Many invasive plant species thrive in Parksville’s mild climate, including Giant Hogweed (pictured) and can displace native species. (City of Parksville photo)

Invasive plant species continue to be a concern for the City of Parksville.

Many invasive plant species thrive in the region’s mild climate and can displace native species.

Parksville city council has funded a special noxious weed budget for the control of invasive plants in the community since 2015, primarily focused on Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed, according to a news release by the city.

Part of the program includes working with volunteer groups, such as Broombusters. The next broom cut is scheduled for May 19 to May 21 and volunteers are always needed.

Over the past years, the Friends of Foster Park have volunteered many hours, working in partnership with the city to control non-native species which are out-competing the native species planted in the park.

The Coastal Invasive Species Committee (Coastal ISC) recently applied spot treatments in Foster Park and will continue to treat several other locations in Parksville. As part of the integrated pest management system, signs will be posted at locations where treatment will occur.

Work continues with the program to contain Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed. Anyone who knows of locations of these plants within the city can contact the Coastal ISC regional hotline at 1-844-298-2532.

READ MORE: Extreme weather could help invasive green crab crawl along Vancouver Island, B.C. coast

To help eradicate some usual suspect species, the Invasive Species Council of BC has created a guide, Grow Me Instead, to inform gardening enthusiasts about horticulture’s ‘most unwanted’ invasive plants in B.C., while providing a variety of native and exotic plant alternatives found to be non-invasive across the province.

Working with municipalities, regional districts and First Nations on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast, Coastal ISC provides services to manage invasive alien species and raise awareness about the impacts and management of invasive species.

— NEWS Staff, submitted

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