We see it beginning to bloom in late spring and early summer. Scotch broom is a double edged sword though. It may look pretty, spreading along the highways, fields and power lines but broom, an invasive shrub, is a significant problem all over the Island.
Introduced in the 1850s, it has spread widely, particularly in southern parts of the island and the Gulf Islands. It outcompetes native plants and threatens biodiversity by creating dense monocultures and altering soil chemistry. Additionally, broom is highly flammable, increasing wildfire risk.
Each plant can produce more than 10,000 seeds per year and the seeds can last more than 60 years, lying dormant in the soil. Broom is known for its high oil content, making it a significant fire hazard. Fire can potentially kill the plant and seeds but, even after a fire, some seeds may still be viable and germinate, especially if the fire is not overly intense.
In the Ladysmith area, along with other areas of the Island, there is a dedicated group of volunteers who have taken on the overwhelming task of trying to keep broom under control. Led by Nikki Toxopeus the small group has already taken on one area in their efforts to reverse the spread of this invasive vegetation.
“In Earth Day, April 22, was a great event at Trillium with CVRD, Ladysmith students and Cowichan drummers," Toxopeus said. "Three of our broombusters quietly cleared broom from the park edges and did trash removal, including a dumped Christmas tree.
“We have put our broombuster signs up on the highway and will work to clear the broom away from this major corridor between Pamela Anderson's house and Home Hardware," she said. "We want to continue to keep Transfer Beach and Hill and Holland Creek clear. All part of the plan to protect our special places.”
The local group has a plan for areas they wish to cut this year, and are looking for more volunteers.
“If you are new to broom busting, we ask that you come to at least one community cut before working on your own," Toxopeus said. "We will give instructions on how to cut and stack broom correctly and believe it or not cutting or stacking incorrectly does more harm than good.”
The tool of choice, for Broombusters, is loppers (pruners) which are used to cut the invasive plants right down at the ground level. For those folks, wishing to volunteer, that don’t have loppers Toxopeus said there will be ones available from the group.
“If you are planning to cut the broom on your own throughout the season, you can sign for and borrow our loppers for the season.”
Other recommended items are some gardening or work gloves and sturdy footwear. Broom often grows close to blackberries and other thorny vegetation so volunteers should wear long sleeves and long pants. People coming out to help are asked to bring their own water and refreshments.
The group has the support of the Ladysmith Parks Department and the town will be picking up and disposing of all the cut broom from the community events. For volunteers, deciding to work on their own, there are recommended ways that the cuttings need to be handled.
“Please let me know where you plan to cut, before starting, and where you plan to leave the pile(s). It may take time to get around to pick it up so please make sure your piles are not a nuisance or hazard to others,” Toxopeus said.
Broombusters asks volunteers to stack the piles on the side of the road or path but clearly off the roadside and the shoulder, combine smaller piles into larger piles for ease of pick up, place the piles close as possible to an area where a truck or ATV can have access and park safely and stack with the stems towards the path or road for ease of pick up. If you are planning to cut broom outside of Ladysmith, ensure there is a plan for disposal before doing any broombusting.
For those who want a refresher on how to cut, check out the BroomBuster website www.broombusters.org/how-to-cut-broom/
Upcoming Ladysmith Broombuster’s plans for this season:
May 4, Sunday. 2-4 p.m. Highway/railway corridor south. Meet at the corner of King Road and Roland Lane near the Estuary Trail head. Starting from Hwy 1A and work northwards. If needed, we will revisit the estuary area.
May 5, Monday. 10 a.m. – noon. Transfer Beach. Meet in the Kinsmen Hut to have with Friends of Holland Creek. Bring your own refreshments. Tending the native plant beds and doing broom busting and invasive work along the park edges and towards the pedestrian tunnel.
May 11, Sunday. 2-4 p.m. Holland Creek Estates. Meet in the Holland Creek Estates on Rollie Rose Road and Colonia Drive. The priority is to work along the south edge of Holland Creek. There is also dense broom on the uphill side of the estate under the hydro lines and on the gated, undeveloped, cleared areas.
May 12, Monday. 10 a.m. – noon. Arbutus Hump/upper Holland Creek. Meet in the parking lot by the water treatment facility, accessed via Ryan Place gate or from the trail. Continue to clear the area around the waterworks and towards Arbutus Hump. Check areas cleared last year.
May 17, Saturday. 2-4 p.m. Hwy/rail corridor north. Meet on Ludlow Road near Home Hardware and work south along the highway/rail towards Transfer Beach.
May 19, Monday. 10 a.m. – noon. Holland Creek. Meet in the info hut on Methuen and Sixth Avenue to join Friends of Holland Creek to clear broom from the patch cleared last year and along the trail up towards the Rotary Lookout. On the way we will clear Colonia bridge embankments if we have access.
June 2, Monday. 10 a.m. – noon. Transfer Beach. Meet in the Kinsmen Hut with Friends of Holland Creek, bring your own refreshments. We will be tending the native plant beds and doing broom busting and invasive work along the park edges and towards the Dogpatch and then the Waterfront.
To help in volunteering to rid the local area of Scotch Broom or for more information people can contact Toxopeus at nikki.toxopeus27@gmail.com
