Major Update in Grow Hope - Restore Nature 

Written By Garry Oakley

Field Crew left to right Lauren, Dana, Hannah, and Chelsea.

As you know, HAT’s field crew has been hard at work restoring critical meadows, woodlands, and forests across our region, thanks to your support. Our Grow Hope Restore Nature Project is a vital part of HAT’s work, and we are thrilled to share that we have raised enough funds to extend the crew’s field season until November 30!  

As of today, we have raised $49,482! That is 82% of our overall goal of $60,000. Since the field season is extended, we are extending this campaign until November 30th. 

$49,482 Raised!

〰️

$49,482 Raised! 〰️

We are so close! Can you help us? 

Thanks to your support, our dedicated Field Crew has accomplished the following so far: 

  • 12 hectares restored: The crew has successfully removed invasive plants from 12 hectares. That is almost 30 acres of habitat that has been substantially improved for biodiversity 

  • 26 different restoration sites: Our restoration efforts have been spread across the local area, from East Sooke to Pender Island. The crew has hiked, camped, and ferried over to important sites to conduct restoration 

  • 10 Species at Risk observed: with 2 flowering plant species populations counted and mapped  

  • 6 collaborators engaged: the crew and staff have been contributing to three Indigenous community-based restoration projects including seed collecting at the W̱SÁNEĆ Land Trust Society lands of ȾIKEL (Maber Flats), PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ project at SṈIDȻEȽ (Gowlland Tod Park), the Songhees member-led Lekwungen Community Toolshed, and the W̱SĺḴEM Ivy Project.  

 Empowering Youth Through Skills Development 

What truly sets Grow Hope Restore Nature apart is its focus on the combination of youth employment and conservation. The campaign provides young people with skills-based employment and a Living Wage, allowing them to gain valuable hands-on experience in ecological restoration techniques. This prepares them for future careers in conservation while providing them with a fair wage to focus on learning and making a positive impact. 

Your generous support is essential to the success of this innovative campaign. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a tangible difference. By contributing to Grow Hope Restore Nature, you're helping to: 

  • Protect endangered species by restoring critical prairie-oak ecosystems. 

  • Combat climate change by creating healthier ecosystems  

  • Create healthier communities by providing educational opportunities and improving access to nature through restoration events 

  • Leave a lasting legacy for future generations by empowering young people to become the next generation of conservation leaders. 

(Left to right) HAT Habitat Restoration Coordinator Max Mitchell (left), then Lauren HAT field crew lead, Dana HAT field crew technician, Islands Trust Conservancy staff Jemma and former HAT staff and now current Saltspring Conservancy staff member Wendy Tyrrell. The HAT field crew restored over 3,000 square meters of landscape at Mount Tuam Ecological Reserve.   

We would like to thank some major supporters of the Grow Hope project including Metchosin Foundation, Clean Foundation, Nature Canada, and many donors like you who made this possible so far.  

We still need to raise $10,518 before November 30 to make this possible. We invite you to join us in this important work.  

How much will your contribution make a difference? 

  • $25 can support the planting of 2 native plants this fall like Fawn lilies 

  • $50 can support a new pair of loppers for the crew to remove invasive plants 

  • $200 can support the crew for 1 hour of restoration 

  • $1500 supports a full day of crew restoration 

There are 5 ways you can do that: 

1. Visit hat.bc.ca/growhope to make a secure online donation  

2. Consider sending a cheque to:  

       Habitat Acquisition Trust, PO Box 8552 Stn Central, Victoria, BC, V8W 3S2  

3. Send a secure e-transfer from your bank account to HAT (saves on fees): hatmail@hat.bc.ca and leave the word ‘habitat’ as the security answer 

4. Phone us at 250-995-2428 and make a donation over the phone with a credit card 

5. Come down to volunteer at an upcoming restoration event, check out our calendar here: hat.bc.ca/volunteer 

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can build a brighter future for our region and its ecosystems. 

See you in the field, 

Paige Erickson-McGee 

Program Manager

Habitat Acquisition Trust 

Garry Oakley
Next

HAT Launches Collaborative Pilot Project with District of Saanich