Check out our newly rehabilitated wetland!

Thanks to our generous sponsor Shell, the fantastic volunteer support we were so fortunate to have and our wonderful contractor Ken Motherwell, we were able to rehabilitate a large portion of the marsh in our Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary in Cobble Hill this past weekend. Special thanks is due to Carlo Acuna, a BSc Ecological Restoration student from BCIT who volunteered his time to help guide and oversee this project.

L-R: Carlo Acuna (BCIT student volunteer), Connel Bradwell (NWPS Vancouver Island Educator), June (volunteer), Dorothy (volunteer), Ted (volunteer), Kristine Krynitzki (NWPS Executive Assistant)

In 2010 NWPS completed the title transfer of 240 acres of property in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island from the Estate of Mrs. C.P. Granfield.  As stewards of the property, NWPS is ensuring the farmed acreage is worked in an environmentally sustainable manner and that wild spaces are protected to the greatest extent possible to serve as a bird and wildlife sanctuary. On this land exists an 8 acre marsh that was very overgrown (black outline in photo below).

In 2012 we were chosen to participate in Shell's Fuelling Change competition. From this opportunity we were very fortunate to receive funding for this project.

Our goal is to rehabilitate the entire 8 acre marsh to provide nesting and feeding habitat for a myriad of water fowl and birds in the area. We continue to inventory the plants and animals that currently reside in and around the area, and improve the condition of the marsh to increase biodiversity in the area.

This project also includes a large component of community education and involvement to raise awareness of this sensitive area within the surrounding communities to highlight the importance of wetlands and encourage ongoing consideration for this important piece of land.

Already we have seen a lot of interest and utilization by the local wildlife in this portion of restored wetland. We look forward to increasing this availability of sanctuary for local wildlife through expanding the area of rehabilitated marshland here. If you would like to support this project please contact Kristine Krynitzki, NWPS Executive Assistant at execassistant@northwestwildlife.com, by phone at 604-568-4907 or visit http://northwestwildlife.com/donate.html

See more photos from this project here.