Cochrane area residents interested in gathering some free plants to add to their gardens are being invited to a native plant rescue, courtesy of Calbridge Developments and their ‘The Summit Lands’ Development project.
Organized by Blake McNeill of Alberta Native Plant Rescue, the public is being welcomed to come with shovels and pails on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 am to 3 pm to collect a variety of native grasses and plants before the bulldozers scrape them away forever in south Cochrane, in the field behind Bow Valley High School.
McNeill said his group of native plant rescuers were overjoyed to be approached by Calbridge with the invite. One of the native plant experts in his group described the site as “a gold mine” after he inspected the Summit Heights area last week.
The Native Plant Rescue is the same group that gathered thousands of rare plants from the site of the Highway 1A/22 interchange just before the dozers moved in a couple of years ago.
This time, the plant gatherers didn’t have to lobby anyone or pressure the province or the developers to allow them access to the land – the developers came to them first.
That’s why McNeill said Calbridge deserves special kudos for taking the initiative.
“They contacted us out of the blue. This is really progressive of them,” he said.
They don’t always get the opportunity to get organized in time to do native plant rescues with all developers.
“We didn’t get a shot with other developers. Calbridge gave us a shot, and that’s fantastic,” he said.
Native species are popular choices to plant in gardens and yards.
“This is a good time to plant too, the plants are starting to go dormant, so they have all their energy stored up for the winter – this is a great time to be moving those plants,” McNeill said.
Normally they don’t allow children on plant rescue sites like this near construction sites, but this one is different – kids are welcome. Just no pets, please.
Children will be allowed to attend this event, but organizers ask that participants be mindful of site risks like wetlands, uneven ground etc.
Anyone able to share native plant ID skills is asked to wear a reflective safety vest so it will be easy for people looking for help.
Participants should bring a clean trowel and/or spade (round point spade or square transplanting), gardening gloves, sturdy shoes, depending on weather, sun hat, sunscreen, raingear, etc., water for you, water for plants, totes, large pots, big bags, buckets (to store plants in), magic marker and labels, moist potting soil, moist sawdust, or other material to keep plants moist.
This is private property so all attendees will need to register by email before the event.
The requirements for this event are: participants are “at their own risk” with no liability assumed by the Alberta Native Plant Rescue Volunteer Group and/or Calbridge Developments or any employees, contractors, officials or volunteers thereof. A signed waiver will be required before accessing the rescue area.
McNeill’s group will have their van on site with waivers for people to sign and lists of the various species of plants to look for. Plant hunters will be able to spot them off Willow Corner, behind Bow Valley High School.
Alberta Native Plant Rescue contact for this event is Blake McNeill. He is easy to spot in a crowd wearing bib overalls and a tie dye shirt. Further questions can be sent to him by texting 403 605-4198 or email [email protected].
