There has been a lot of activity in the forest this fall as classes from Cumberland Community School have engaged in human impacts learning and hands on restoration work in the Cumberland Community Forest!
Building on work initiated in Spring of 2024 with 3 different classes (kindergartens, grade 2/3s and grade 8/9s) CCFS Program Coordinator Heather Thomson worked with Andy Phillips’ kindergarten students on a restoration planting project in the newly designated ‘Big Log Classroom’.
This area has been heavily impacted by off trail trampling by visitors. This has resulted in compacted soils, erosion, forest floor desertification, and decreased plant diversity at this critical intersection and entrance / exit to the Cumberland Forest and surrounding trail network. Andy’s class carefully planted 12 native plants around the new ‘classroom’ between the orange restoration fencing.
In October, Heather also facilitated special bat talks with the kindergarten class and with kids from Early Years Collaborative program, to share knowledge about the important role of bats in the ecosystem, how to protect them, and how the Cumberland Forest supports their habitat needs. This was all part of BC Bat week celebrations which amplified the work of the CCFS in the local chapter of the BC Community Bat Program.
In early November, the Cumberland Forest team (Heather with support from our forest friend Luke English) also spent time in the forest with Mrs. Hale and Mr. Prentice’s grade 8s & 9s to learn about ecosystem types, and to document human impacts (both recent and historical) in the Cumberland Community Forest. The students also engaged in a plant study and a hands on revegetation project along Big Log trail. This included new native plantings between Orange Peels and Big Log to discourage further trail braiding, provide cover to exposed areas, and help retain moisture as the forest here regenerates.
This work is all part of an Education and Outreach Strategy developed by the CCFS in partnership with the Village of Cumberland. The purpose of the strategy is to address human impacts in the Cumberland Community Forest through meaningful place based engagement with local schools and pre school programs in the care and stewardship of the land and waters of our community. Big thanks to Tyler Farley from the Village of Cumberland for joining us to share his knowledge with the kids!