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Native gardening tips from Pender Native Plants

The Pender Island Conservancy Association jointly holds 20 Covenants on Pender Island. Putting a conservation covenant on your property creates a permanent sanctuary for the plants and animals you share your land with. When you place a covenant on your land, you agree to use and care for it in ways that protect its valuable natural features. The covenant ensures that the natural features that you value today will continue to be protected into the future, even after you sell o

The Pender Islands Conservancy played a key role in the acquisition of Brooks Point. The Conservancy partnered with the Friends of Brooks Point, the Islands Trust Conservancy, The Habitat Acquisition Trust, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the CRD in raising funds necessary to purchase and protect an ecologically diverse and vulnerable area of land adjoining Gowland Point on South Pender Island. The land was purchased in stages over several years, and the result is the b

Historical photo of Gowlland Point (Davy Rippner) In 1994 members of the Pender Islands Conservancy Association became aware that the Atkins family—owners of an ecologically valuable piece of land adjoining the popular Medicine Beach, and the tidal marsh behind it—were putting the property up for sale. The Conservancy was instrumental in raising $533,997, which included a $127,000 donation from the Atkins family, enabling the property to be purchased. In 1995 the Conservancy

Many vital ecosystems exist on privately owned land. For landowners who want to preserve the natural features of their property, there are two main legal mechanisms available: conservation covenants and land donation. Each option has different implications for ownership, use, and taxation. Conservation Covenants What is a Conservation Covenant? A conservation covenant is a legal agreement that permanently protects specific natural features on your property. It is registered o

There’s nothing like the thrill of the hunt – even if your quarry is a slim and gregarious grey bird with a long tail and a penchant for flitting through dense brush while you circle around and around on the ground through brambles, mud, low branches, and dense vexation. Our quarry, on a chilly November morning along Dallas Road in Victoria, was a blue-gray gnatcatcher that was not supposed to be anywhere around there. The last one I spotted had been near a sewage treatment p

With David Manning A writing expert I admire says I should, as a writer, place myself in the background. Pardon me in this introduction to a new series on birding if I dispense with this cardinal rule and indulge a bit in ego. I promise in future articles to place birds in the foreground. Remind me if I’m unsuccessful. Like most naturalists I appreciate the many aspects of our wildlife world, from whales to woodpeckers. But if I had to pick one area of particular interest, it

By Dr. Pamela Wright Forest Wetland Nature Reserve, North Pender Island BC Conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems is important to protect wildlife and their habitats, to provide clean water and air, to protect watersheds and soil, to buffer against natural disasters, to fight climate change, to support local communities through sustainable livelihoods and tourism, and for many more reasons. We often hear the question: How much do we need to protect? The answer is c

This year marks Pender’s 37th beach cleanup, a long history that Islander Michelle Marsden set in motion almost four decades ago.

From time-to-time, every organization reviews its foundational documents to ensure alignment with the current state of the organization and to make sure they provide direction for the organization's growth. In late 2023, the need to update one of the bylaws was noted. This led to the formation of a small ad-hoc committee to take on a more thorough review. That committee looked at the bylaws of peer organizations, including the Land Trust Alliance of BC, to ensure Pender Conse

By the light of the Snow Moon, a whispered series of soft whistles echoed through the misty forest, just louder than the sound of water flowing over the falls of Shingle Creek on North Pender Island. This was the call of a Northern Saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) – a tiny owl no bigger than a robin. These tiny forest dwellers are increasingly rare on Pender thanks to the loss of intact, old forests with large standing dead trees, or snags, containing woodpecker holes they ne

By Adam Miller Manager of Pender Native Plants pnp@penderconservancy.org As the flower buds began to swell on Oregon Grape around the island I found myself ready for spring and for the gardening projects I’ve got planned. It's easy to forget that in February we still have a couple of months of winter. Ever the optimist and garden planner, I’m opening the nursery for sales. Starting on February 1, 2025, Pender Native Plants will be open every Saturday from 10 am - 2 pm selling

by Bob Vergette The Banana Slug is one of only three (known!) native slugs on Pender Island. Which local creature is almost everyone on Pender familiar with? The Banana Slug, of course! Slugs are members of the Phylum Mollusca, in the Gastropod Class that also includes their hard-shelled snail cousins. Several species of slugs can be found on Pender; however, only a few are native. This includes the Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus) - the second-largest slug in the world, g

Along a shaded north-facing slope on Pender Island, big-leaf maple seedlings and saplings emerge from the understorey and recruit into the canopy in gaps formed by fallen trees; the beginning of old-growth forest structure is re-emerging from this heavily harvested landscape of the past century. The land slopes steeply up toward a dry ridge of arbutus and Garry oak. Along the way, a perched wetland collects water and sprouts skunk cabbage from its saturated soils. This precio

Imagine a place where sun-drenched Garry Oak meadows border moist, shady seeps, all perched above steep rocky cliffs overlooking the Salish Sea. Imagine a cool, mossy forest where ghost pipe emerges from the carpet of green and oceanspray, red huckleberry, salal and Oregon grape fill the forest floor. Where over 60 species of plants, birds and mammals find a home, providing shelter, food and space to grow and roam. Now imagine knowing that this place has been protected foreve

Introducing Vulture Ridge Nature Reserve and Osprey Ridge Nature Reserve: Two new nature sanctuaries on S,DÁYES, Pender Island! We are excited to announce that two new Nature Reserves have been established on S,DÁYES (Pender Island), protecting an additional 46 acres (19 ha) of diverse, mature forest and enhancing connections with existing protected lands. Vulture Ridge Nature Reserve lies on the north-facing slope along Clam Bay Road, supports forest wetlands, diverse microc

The Role of Conservation Land Trusts in a Landscape of Development The Pender Islands Conservancy was established as a Land Trust 31 years ago in response to increasing human development and associated loss of ecosystems in our community. Across Canada, Land Trusts exist to protect private land in perpetuity through donation, acquisition or conservation agreements. Our founders enshrined in the Pender Islands Conservancy’s Constitution the mandate to “preserve and protect lan

The fabulous Pender Island Community has stepped up again this year to remove litter, garbage, cans, bottles, plastics, foam, and other debris from the byways and shorelines of our islands.

By David Manning Trailhead: South Pender, Spalding Road, west entrance/leg of the Enchanted Forest Trail, beginning just left of a private driveway at a sign saying “Waterfall and Viewpoint.” A few steps into your walk, Take One moment to center yourself. Remember, you’re going to pay attention only to this walk, not allowing your mind to wander elsewhere. Early in the walk, can you see what I call Quintet Tree, where 5 tree trunks appear to emerge from one place in the groun

Great news! In November, a generous donor offered to match all donations made until the end of the year. The community response was amazing, and we are thrilled to announce that we reached our goal! These funds will help support our land protection, restoration, education and research programs in 2024. A heartfelt thanks to all who donated! Shoreline protected by a conservation covenant on North Pender Island Ecological education and outreach at the Saturday Farmer's Market E