c) Community Engagement
The City’s Adopt-A-Park, Adopt-An-ESA and “Friends of” groups have been donating volunteer time over the past decade to assist in the physical removal and awareness of invasive plant species in parks and ESAs. Community “Buckthorn Busting” events were promoted by the City in ESAs and parks in partnership with the City of London Urban Forestry section and UTRCA until 2015. The City of London protects and enhances more habitat every year by providing opportunities for engagement in planting on public and private property, by protecting natural areas, by reducing mowing, and by planting native species. The City holds annual naturalization planting events in partnership with ReForest London and other community groups, the majority of which are business or volunteer oriented, to promote the growth of native vegetation on public lands.
d) Woodland Management
The City has been treating invasive plants in parks and woodlands across London for years. On average, $50,000 per year has been spent in 13 parks and woodlands treating Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard, Periwinkle, Japanese Knotweed, and Norway Maple across 30 hectares of City-owned land. This work is now coordinated by Urban Forestry staff who have retained a Contractor to protect Parks and Woodlands through an increasing number of invasive species projects.
On average, reactive invasive plant species management is costing $2000 per hectare to treat. This includes spot treatments, patch work, and up to three follow-up visits per site.