There are few things in life that provide as much satisfaction as watching plants grow. Many of us first experience this as small children, peering down at germinating bean seeds in classrooms scented by washable paint and warm peanut butter sandwiches. The small act of planting can have an impact Read more…
As the Biologist for the Mayne Island Conservancy, I get to visit some pretty cool places, and see some amazing things. Finding hidden patches of wildflowers in bloom, watching giant silk moths emerge from cocoons, and observing the graceful movement of kelp crabs balancing on the tips of an eelgrass Read more…
Spring is here, with rain, flowers, insects, and – bats! Our B.C. bats are now returning to summer roost sites. One of our more familiar species in buildings and bat boxes is the Little Brown Myotis. Like all B.C. bats, the Little Brown Myotis is an essential part of our Read more…
We have a limited selection of wonderful native plants available for sale this spring. All of our plants have been lovingly grown from seed or cutting right here on Mayne Island. Click below to see our current availability and pricing. If you have any questions about native plants or would Read more…
Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), also known as stinking willie, is a toxic invasive biennial or short-lived perennial plant introduced to Canada from Europe in the 1850s via the ballast water of ships. It is currently found in the Fraser Valley, southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, and in parts Read more…
Attention Mayne Islanders! It’s time for BC’s Annual Community Bat Count and we need your help. The Mayne Island Community Bat Conservation Program is looking for new roost sites to monitor as part of our annual program. Have you seen 5 or more bats flying around your property? Have you Read more…
All plants are grown on Mayne Island by the Mayne Island Conservancy from seeds and cuttings collected locally by hand. The plants are grown in our plant nursery without the use of artificial fertilizer or any pesticides. We use 100% rainwater to water our plants. Care is taken to follow Read more…
“Out in the field”—a term originally used by farmers, and shamelessly stolen by biologists. When I’m having a lucky day free from grant writing or reporting, I’m often ‘in the field’, which could involve anything from invasive plant removal and monitoring past restoration projects to landowner consultations and leading school Read more…
By Karen Robinson Having joined the Mayne Island Conservancy the spring after I purchased my property on Beechwood Drive, I immediately took advantage of the Conservancy’s Walkabout program in order to learn more about both the native and invasive species on my land. Biologist Rob Underhill and Conservancy Executive Director Read more…
By Rob Underhill You may have heard about the current housing shortage on Mayne Island. As the inventory of homes for sale has decreased, so has rental availability. This has created a challenging problem for our community that will require us to work together to solve. There is another housing Read more…