Banish Burdock 2024 Comes to an End
As fall arrives, we are finally wrapping up our 2024 Banish Burdock season. Our dedicated team of 19 volunteers worked tirelessly, monitoring and removing Common Burdock from over 21 sections across Whistler. For a glimpse of their incredible efforts, check out our June update featuring some amazing before and after photos sent in by our volunteers.
With nothing but shovels, high-visibility vests and sheer determination, our volunteers tackled this persistent invasive plant along the Whistler Valley Trail. This task was no small feat – Common Burdock taproots can extend over a meter deep, and the plant is likely to regrow if the taproot is left behind.
To close up our season, we dedicated one final burst of energy to deadhead the dense stands of Common Burdock growing in Bayly Park, in Cheakamus Crossing. In this event, we removed over 100 flowering burdock plants, thus preventing thousands of burdock seeds from spreading into the environment.
We had an amazing turnout of 8 volunteers who dedicated their Monday evening to getting waist-deep into bushes and covered in burs. Highlights of the day included impressive feats of teamwork as we transported armfuls (and tarps full) of burdock out of the park, and the wonderful smiles of our volunteers. Despite leaving with prickly burs in our hair and clothes, we also left with the rewarding feeling of being one step closer to banishing burdock from Whistler public land.
Deadheading vs. Digging out the Root
You might be wondering why we were only deadheading the plants, instead of digging the roots out (which is our standard method of burdock removal). Don’t worry – we tagged all the burdock stumps with flagging tape, and one of our board members (and dedicated Burdock banisher) will be returning to the site later this fall to dig out all the roots.
Our goal for this event was to remove the bulk of plant matter and all the seeds before they started to spread. Furthermore, the burdock roots will be much easier to remove in a few weeks after some rainfall, as the moisture helps to loosen the soil.
Thank you Banish Burdock Volunteers and Sponsors
We want to say a huge thank you to all of our Banish Burdock volunteers – you are the backbone of our program and have made such an impactful difference in reducing Common Burdock density in our community. We are pleased to announce our winner for the Banish Burdock lucky draw:
Congratulations to Colleen
Colleen has won 2 day passes to the Scandinave Spa in Whistler. Thank you for volunteering with us this year!
We also thank our funders, including the Whistler Community Foundation, the Squamish Community Foundation, and BC Hydro. The Banish Burdock program is made possible in part by their generous contributions.
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