Garden City Lands
| Garden City Lands | |
|---|---|
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| Nearest city | Richmond, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°10′37″N 123°06′52″W / 49.1770510°N 123.1143684°W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. |
| Area | 55 ha |
| Created | 2010 |
The Garden City Lands is a 55 ha (137 acre) municipal park in the Agricultural Land Reserve on Lulu Island, in Richmond, British Columbia. The park is in the traditional territory of the Musqueam people, at the margin of the Greater Lulu Island Peat Bog. The Garden City Lands were purchased by the City of Richmond in 2010. Park development is guided by the City's Legacy Landscape Plan[1], adopted in 2014. It is bounded by dense urban development on three sides, across Garden City Road to the west, Alderbridge Way to the north, and Westminster Highway to the south. Mixed-use trails circle the perimeter of the park. A dyke with a walking trail bisects the property diagonally, separating a bog conservation and restoration zone on the east from an agricultural zone on the west. The agricultural zone includes community gardens and a teaching and research farm operated by Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
History
Richmond sits on a group of islands that formed 4,000 to 8,000 years ago from alluvial deposits at the mouth of the Fraser River. Musqueam oral history recounts the islands' formation as they grew from east to west. About 4,000 years ago, a large, raised peat bog gradually formed on the oldest (eastern) part of the largest island, now called Lulu Island. Peat deposits range in depth from 1 to 6 meters, but tend to be shallower at the bog margin, where the Garden City Lands sit. This land had plentiful resources such as cranberry bogs, crabapple trees, and other plants. [2] It was also home to animals such as beavers, muskrats, mink, salmon, and sturgeon. [2] During spawning periods, salmon and sturgeon were abundant. Migration patterns indicated the presence of wildfowl in the area. [2] The sloughs were important travel paths, as canoeing provided access to the different islands. [2]
1903 - 1948
The federal government owned the GCL from 1903 to 2010, when the city of Richmond purchased it. [3] In 1904, the Vancouver Rifle Range was set up on the GCL and ran here for 24 years. [3] The bog land at the site was drained and cleared to build structures for a rifle range. The rifle range was used recreationally and by Canadian soldiers during WWI. [3] There were many peat fires recorded at the GCL’s in the 1930’s and 1940’s. In order to mitigate these fires, the land was regularly cleared and mown, these management techniques continued for decades. [3]
1949 - 2012
From 1949 to 1994 the lands were home to Coast Guard navigation towers. [3] The city of Richmond continued to explore recreational uses of the lands, such as a major sports complex that would host the 1993 Canada Games and the 1994 Commonwealth games [3]. It was soon after decided that instead they would go ahead with this project in another city. [3]
By 2001 the GCL were unused, so from 2005 to 2009, the Musqueam Indian Band, the city, and the Canada Lands Coalition Society, worked together to set up a long-term plan for the site. [3] To enhance the lives of those who lived in Richmond, it was decided that sixty-five acres of the land would become a park so that the community would have an open space to spend time in nature. [3]
A year after this was decided, many groups such as the Garden City Lands Coalition Society, Richmond Sports Council, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and the Food security Society came forward with different ideas about the use of the land to Richmond City Council [3]. In 2010, the city finally decided to landmark all 136.5 acres for community use. [3] In 2012, a report called the Legacy Landscape Plan was created as a guideline for future projects on this site. [3]
Environment
Lulu Island Bog
Richmond makes up most of Lulu Island, and before Richmond’s anthropogenic development, bogs were a common feature of Lulu Island and encompassed half of the land. [4] The bog lands are now significantly reduced and are found in the Department of National Defense (DND) lands, the Richmond Nature Park (RNP), and the GCL. [4]
A Biophysical Inventory and Evaluation of the Lulu Island Bog
Conducted from 2001 to 2008, an evaluation called 'A Biophysical Inventory and Evaluation of the Lulu Island Bog' was done at the DND, RNP, and the Richmond Nature Study Area (RNSA) lands. [4] These 3 properties are adjacent to the GCL and before development on the GCL these properties would have all represented a similar ecosystem. [4] While the DND, RNP and RNSA were minimally developed, the GCL bog was drained by the federal government for recreational use in 1904 and the property was mowed to mitigate the fires. [4] In studying the three properties it was apparent that these forested bog lands play an important ecological role in these areas. [4] This is shown by the species that inhabit the bog and the continued growth of sphagnum moss where areas have been disturbed, drainage and disturbance of bogs causes them to lose many native species. [4] Bog lands are only 5% of the total land area in the Temperate Wetland Region, which covers a most of the southwest corner of British Columbia. [4] Therefore, bogs serve an uncommon and ecologically important space, and the draining of bogs enables the establishment of invasive species, as has been clearly seen in the GCL. [5]
Biophysical Inventory of the Garden City Lands (2012)
In 2012, a six-step planning process was endorsed by the city of Richmond to decide what possibilities the future held for the GCL. [5] The three themes adopted in this plan were community wellness and enabling healthy lifestyles, urban agriculture, and environmental sustainability. [5] The first stage of the process was to conduct inventory and analysis, identify opportunities and constraints, and to develop a vision and guiding principles. [5] To fulfill the inventory and analysis of the property, the Biophysical Inventory of the GCL was conducted. [5] While over the years urbanization, agriculture, and peat mining caused the ecosystem to change at the GCL, in 2012, the City of Richmond established a plan to meet the environmental, social, and economic goals of Richmond’s residents, this included conservation efforts and plans for community engagement. [5]
Vegetation
Distinct plant communities and 166 different plant species have been identified on the GCL to date. [5] 91 species in the 166 are introduced species, most of them being found in disturbed areas. [5] Although the introduced species make up over half of the plant species in the area, the dominating plants are native. [5] Dominant native plants on the GCL include; hardhack (Spiraea douglasii), bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) and sedges (Carex sp.). [5]
Some other species found at the GCL are associated with bog habitats includes cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus), bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum), bog laurel (Kalmia microphylla), bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), and velvet-leaved blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides). [5] Two Sphagnum species were also identified, Sphagnum pacificum and Sphagnum capillifolium. [5]
Animals
According to the GCL report, the land is considered an open habitat being home to plants such as grasses, sedges, rushes, and shrubs. [5] The vegetation at the GCL is affected by mowing, which prevents shrubs and trees from growing tall. [5] Taller vegetation allows animals to hide from their prey, because the GCL are regularly mowed this may not make them a suitable environment for some of the species that thrive in the forested DND lands. [5] Despite this, some species that occupy the DND lands will have a larger home range that does encompass the GCL. [5]
Birds
In the Lulu Island Bog study 41 bird species were found, and due to the proximity of the park, a diverse array of bird species will use the GCL as part of their habitat for most of the year. [5] The GCL have two bird species, the barn owl (Tyto alba) and barn swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), that are on the blue species at risk list. [5] The blue list identifies any species or ecosystem that are of special concern. [5]
Mammals
The few larger identified mammals in the adjacent parks are black-tailed deer and coyotes. [5] The deer inhabit the DND lands and because of this may use the GCL for foraging. [5] The coyotes (as of 2022) are often seen on the GCL property. Hunting is believed to be highly productive at the GCL as coyote scat is common and often contains the remains of small mammals. [5] At the DND and RNP lands, a live trapping program was conducted to identify small mammals in the area. [5] Mice and other small rodents have been spotted on the GCL (as of 2022) and based on the data collected, others may be present considering its similarities to the DND and RNP properties. [5]
Amphibians & Reptiles
Amphibians and reptiles usually inhabit wetland ecosystems that have semi-permanent waterbodies. [5] Although the GCL habitat is not optimal for these animals, there is the possibility of a few garter snake species. [5] A survey at the DND and RNP lands for amphibians and reptiles was conducted and eight species were identified. [5]
Insects
This study did not collect an inventory for insects on the GCL, but they did note that there was a high number and variety of insects found which is believed to be a direct indication of the land's biodiversity. [5]
Wildlife/Habitat Analysis
Determining biodiversity in this report was challenging because there are many species that could not be accounted for. [5] While plants (shrubs, trees, herbs, etc.) and wildlife (reptiles, mammals, birds, insects, etc.) are easier to spot, they make up a small portion of the biodiversity. [5] There is a host of bacteria, fungi, invertebrates, and algae that there is no data for. [5] In this report biodiversity refers to the more visible species that there was data collected for and the overall health of the ecosystem. [5]
The full list of plant/animal species can be found in the GCL report. The vegetation analysis provides summaries of each zone and a map to highlight the surveyed areas. The elevation, water tables, and disturbance are some of the main factors that affect the type of vegetation present. In bog ecosystems the diversity of plant species is often lower, as few plants are adapted to their specific growing conditions. [5] Many of the plants found on site were introduced species. [5]
Habitat loss at the GCL has resulted in loss of native species diversity and some larger animals that were once common in this area require a larger habitat range that is no longer present. [5] For many remaining larger animal species, the GCL is a portion of their larger habitat. [5]
Agricultural Recommendations
The GCL are municipally owned land and in 1974 the property was appointed under the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).[3] Since the land is under the ALR, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) dictates what the property is used for. The ALC allows non-farm activities that have low impacts on the land base, such as dedicating the land to conservation or educational efforts. [6]
The recommendations provided were based on the direction that the peat lands would be drained to sustain agricultural production. Despite this, it was decided to leave the peat to mitigate damage to the natural environment. The recommendations available in the report are based around the idea that the peat land would be drained for crop production. That said, the other considerations mentioned in the inventory such as the pest concerns, are still relevant.
The crops highly recommended were root vegetables (potato, onion, carrot, radish, beets), green vegetables (lettuce, celery, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, herbs), blueberries, and strawberries. [5] The moderately recommended edible crops were peas, corn, cereal grains, squash, cranberries, and raspberries. [5] The crops of the lowest recommendation were tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melon, fruit trees, and grapes. [5] The problems that was foreseen by the contractors with growing certain crops were the water table, soil type, frost susceptibility, soil pH, lack of pollinators, and more. [5]
On the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Teaching and Research Farm, all of the above crops are grown currently or could be grown, other than cranberries, due to their different production process. To mitigate the challenges that were brought forward by the contractors in the analysis, the farm has implemented soil amendments, built high tunnels, grown plants that attract pollinators and beneficial insects, and more. Instead of draining the peat land, the university brought in mineral soil to grow their crops in. The mineral soil was layered on top of the peat so that it was not necessary to drain it. Additionally, drain tiles were put in place to prevent the water table from rising too high, while still allowing the preservation of the peats natural state.
2022
The Biophysical Inventory of the Garden City Lands was conducted in 2012, and this is the most up to date report of its kind for the GCL. In 2022, the farm is being used as a teaching and research farm, a conservation area, and a place for community members to gather at their community garden plots. Some species mentioned in the report are present, along with other birds, insects, and plants.
Community and Conservation
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) Teaching and Research Farm
The GCL are just 200 meters west of KPU Richmond Campus. [7] KPU’s Department of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems leases 20 acres of land for their teaching and research farm; they have had this lease since June 2017. [7] The university has a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture, and most of the student's hand on learning happens at the farm. The organic farm highlights regenerative, sustainable, and diversified farming practices. [7]
Learning Garden
In 2022 at the KPU farm, a learning garden was put in place to engage community members of all ages and capabilities. [8] The garden is an opportunity for people to have an experiential experience. [8] The garden is utilized for school field trips, life skills classes, and tours. [8] The garden grows a variety of crops, including edible and cut flowers, vegetables, strawberries, and herbs. [8]
Community Gardens
In the Spring of 2022 two hundred garden plots were set up for interested community members. [9] The plots were set up by Urban Bounty, an organization that works towards food security in different communities. [10] The plots are black tubs filled with soil and compost. [9] Urban Bounty supplies gardening tools and water access. [10] Due to high demand, securing a plot can take from one to three years. [10] The hope for the garden is that it will eventually be semi-permanent and soil-based if the Agricultural Land Reserve approves the request to do this. [9]
Ecological Conservation Efforts
Garden City Lands Conservation Society
The GCL Conservation Society is a community group that is run by volunteers. [11] They work together toward the goal of conserving the lands' natural inhabitants. [11] They host events and meetings for people who are interested in being part of their mission. [11]
Owl and Swallow Nesting Houses
The Nest Box Program began in 2010 with barn owls. [12] Nesting sites have been drastically reduced in Richmond due to anthropogenic development, which resulted in a lower population of owls. [12] The owls are known to readily move into properly built structures on agricultural fields and marshes, so the city put some in Terra Nova Park. [12] Once the nesting boxes were observed as successful, they were put up in more locations, including the GCL. [12] The nest boxes are monitored by a licensed Canadian Wildlife bird bander and this species of owl is part of provincial and federal conservation projects. [12] As recorded in February 2022, Richmond has twelve of its fifteen nests occupied. [12]
In 2020, the city of Richmond along with a local wildlife biologist decided it was time to initiate a nesting plan for tree swallows in the city. [13] Custom nest boxes were built and installed on metal poles in suitable habitats, such as the GCL. [13] As of February 2022, 14 of the 41 boxes were being used, which, because it takes several years before the target species starts nesting unknown structures, is considered a successful operation. [13]
References
- ↑ https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/2014_Legacy_Landscape_Plan_-_May_201438760.PDF[bare URL PDF]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 richmondarchives. "First Nations – Outside the Box – The Richmond Archives Blog". Outside the Box - The Richmond Archives Blog. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/2014_Legacy_Landscape_Plan_-_May_201438760.PDF[bare URL PDF]
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Lulu_Island_Bog_Report48892.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 5.36 5.37 5.38 5.39 https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/GCL_Biophysical_Inventory_-_July_201341823.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ↑ "Permitted Uses in the Agricultural Land Reserve - Provincial Agricultural Land Commission". 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Teaching and Research Farms". Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "KPU Farm Learning Garden". Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "200 new community garden plots in Richmond City Centre already spoken for". Richmond News. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Community Gardens Program". Urban Bounty by Richmond Food Security Society. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Garden City Conservation Society". gardencitylands.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 "City of Richmond BC - Barn Owls". www.richmond.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "birdnestboxes". www.richmond.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
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