View Royal residents can help save a piece of Canada’s most endangered forest this Friday, June 27, 2026. The View Royal Habitat Restoration group and the Greater Victoria Green Team are hosting a volunteer work party at Knockan Hill Park from 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM, meeting at the High Street entrance. The event focuses on removing invasive species that threaten the park’s rare Garry Oak ecosystem, one of the last of its kind in the country.
Knockan Hill Park covers about 12 hectares of Garry Oak woodlands, rocky outcrops, and Douglas-fir forest, straddling the boundary between View Royal and Saanich. Garry Oak ecosystems are among the most endangered in Canada, with only about five percent still in a natural state. These woodlands are found only on southeastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Volunteers will help protect this special habitat by pulling out invasive plants like English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry, which crowd out native species and reduce shelter for wildlife.
The Greater Victoria Green Team has been working with the Town of View Royal since 2017, running about 10 hands-on stewardship events each year in local parks. At last year’s Knockan Hill work party on June 29, 2024, 28 volunteers gave 93 hours of their time, removing 17 cubic metres of invasive plants and revitalizing 483 square metres of habitat. Organizers hope to build on that success this Friday.
Before heading out, volunteers should check the weather. The event will be cancelled if temperatures top 30 degrees Celsius, stormy weather hits, or the Air Quality Health Index reaches seven or higher. To confirm the event is still on, text 250-888-4086 after 7 AM on the day. Participants are also reminded to check for ticks after working in wooded areas and can use eTick.ca to identify any they find.
The park holds deep cultural meaning as well. For centuries, Songhees people harvested camas here, and the land remains significant to the Songhees First Nation. Pre-registration for the work party is appreciated. Contact Habitat Restoration Coordinator Chris Junck at [email protected] or text the number above to sign up.
