Join City of Vancouver staff from Naturespaces, Volunteer Programs, and Urban Forestry in spreading mulch to improve the quality of soils at The Downs Park! Event will take place, rain or shine, Saturday November 12, 2022 from 10AM-12PM.
Advance registration is required (helps us know how many tools to bring and how much hot cocoa to make)! See RSVP details below.
Why? Soils are an essential building block for healthy ecosystems and adding bark mulch to the soils at The Downs will improve water retention on site, provide a layer of compost through adding nutrients from old trees back into the soil, and prepare the areas for future plantings! Bark mulch will also contribute to keeping the soil temperature in The Downs Park more stable throughout the seasons, helping our trees and future plants stay healthy and provide us with clean air, shade, and water. Healthy soils and bark mulch will also attract more birds to the site, providing us with an opportunity to bird watch in the spring.
What will we be doing? Volunteer project will include loading bark mulch into wheelbarrows and buckets and spreading bark mulch in the front landscape bed of The Downs Park, as well as spreading mulch in the North landscape area around existing trees, with areas accessible from sidewalks and paved pathways, but also on unpaved, relatively flat natural surfaces. We will use wheelbarrows, five-gallon buckets, rakes, and pitchforks.
What should I bring or wear? Gloves, water, tea, hot cocoa, and snacks will be provided. Please bring a reusable water bottle or hot drink mug if you have one, and your own gloves or tools if you would like to. Dress for the weather, with long pants, close toed shoes, and choose clothing you are okay with getting damp or dirty. We recommend having at least one layer on your upper body that is not made of cotton to help keep you warm, even if wet. Youth under 18 must file or bring a signed minor consent form, youth under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
RSVP - Advance registration is required.
Please RSVP here! Registration will close Thursday before the event and an email with logistics and event details will be sent out. Don't wait, RSVP today!
If you have questions that are not answered in the FAQs on our Citywide Volunteer Programs website, please contact jade.jones-hawk@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8344.