Habitat Steward Highlight: Sue Genest
Site visit on Sue’s property.
We had the pleasure of connecting with Sue through our Good Neighbours: Saanich Biodiversity Partners pilot project this past winter, and were immediately inspired by her hard work in caring for her property. Her lovely Saanich property backs onto a wildlife corridor, where she often sees deer and a wide variety of birds. She has incorporated native plants into her garden areas, and has been working to restore a rocky Garry Oak area – removing English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, and other invasive species. We asked Sue about her experience being a land steward, and being involved in our Saanich Good Neighbours program. Read our conversation with Sue below.
What interested you about being a part of this project, and working with HAT?
Learning more about native and invasive species especially, considering my property is on a wildlife corridor edge. I have tried to keep ivy off the trees…and keep cutting the blackberry back. I’ve consulted a gardener to add more native species and have seen about 5 different kinds of bees. I wanted to keep adding to the health of the environment around me and making my yard a sanctuary for native birds, bees, butterflies [and other wildlife]. If I can learn more and get help doing this then all the better.
What has been your experience being involved with this project?
Wonderful… learnt more and appreciated the help taking out invasive species! I appreciated the friendliness and entire program and what you are accomplishing.
What do you think makes this urban natural space important?
Invasive blackberry and lamium removal.
The whole wildlife corridor is important in the middle of the city. There are a lot of pollinators here, many types of birds and butterflies, and the more we care for, it the better sanctuary it will be for the native species. Currently the corridor is full of ivy and blackberry and trees are being swallowed up all around this neighborhood as well as others. We need a huge task force of volunteers to address this.
Why is protecting and restoring natural habitats important to you?
I’ve always been a person who cares for things beyond myself. Perhaps it was the way I was brought up or my personality or both….I care and I act to care for things around me despite those who don’t bother. I know there are many volunteers who take the time to care and we need to highlight them more…. we need the encouragement at this time in the world as well….If we don’t care about our environment we will lose it.
What advice would you give to someone who is working on, or thinking about starting, their own restoration project?
Lovely licorice ferns.
Please do… Good Neighbours is a great encouragement and support for those who might feel alone trying to tackle the health of their section of the city. It helps a lot to know there are others working on this and caring for our environment. The more we are connected the more we can do together. Especially in these times, we need to connect and know others like us are out there. So thanks for a program that supports those who are caring for their yards, planting native, and working on eliminating invasive species.
Thanks to Sue for her support of our Saanich Good Neighbours project and her dedication to caring for the land around her.
Are you interested in getting involved in the Good Neighbours Program? Learn more here!