What does it mean to be a naturalist? Naturalists observe nature in its various forms, most often plants or animals, often investing considerable time in communicating the results to a popular audience. In the case of plants, a naturalist will study the location and growing conditions of a plant, and Read more…
A report from the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts conference held in October, 2022, and attended by two Conservancy board members.
Ethnobotanical gardens are landscapes that feature culturally relevant native trees and understory plants while also functioning as places that revitalize traditional knowledge. We are happy to announce that the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation, W̱SÁNEĆ artists, W̱SÁNEĆ Curator Rose Spahan, the Mayne Island Conservancy, and the Campbell Bay Music Festival Society are Read more…
Oceanspray, also known as cream bush rock spirea, ironwood or arrowwood is a common native flowering shrub found growing in forests on the Southern Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. In logged areas, or forests recovering from wildfire, it may be one of the first plants to appear. In July, we Read more…
The Mayne Island Conservancy is delighted to announce a soon-to-be established legacy fund inspired by a recent gift from the late Susan Bloom. This new endowment will provide ongoing support for our mission to work with the community in conserving the ecology of Mayne Island and its surrounding waters for future Read more…
Some of our supporters have asked us about Planned Giving, also referred to as Estate or Legacy Planning, as a way to support the Mayne Island Conservancy in the longer term. This is the first of a series of articles on this topic. Over the next few months, we will Read more…
Bigleaf Maple The Bigleaf Maple is by far the most common maple tree on Mayne Island. It is a broad-leaved deciduous tree with a wide, rounded crown that can reach a height of thirty metres or one hundred feet. They often have curved trunks and sport the largest leaves of Read more…
Groundwater is a critical element that supports the health of our ecosystems and the hydrological function of watersheds. The concern today is that changes in seasonal precipitation, evapotranspiration, recharge, and saltwater intrusion are threatening this precious resource. Groundwater – A Primer The unsaturated zone above the water table contains soil Read more…
As the mother of four wonderful young women and grandmother of a two-year-old, I’ve reached a satisfying stage of life. In her book ‘Grandmothers of the Light’, Paula Gunn Allen eloquently describes this time as one when a woman’s strengths turn to a circle wider than our own children—to the Read more…
Striking a Balance With Mayne Island property owners aware that 30% of the land here is dedicated to human use, they are motivated to look for ways to strike a balance between nature conservation and development. This leads to all kinds of practical questions, such as: How do we build Read more…