Tending the Reserve

It’s been about 1 ½ years since the Whatcom Land Trust deeded Lily Point Reserve to Whatcom County.  And that deeding, I would suppose, means that the County is responsible for the Reserve’s upkeep.  But in these days of diminishing government income levels because of the financial crisis and of taxpayer resistance to tax increases, even for services the public wants the government to provide, the availability of Whatcom County funds to preserve the Reserve are doubtless scarce.

And that is why it is a very good thing that the Whatcom Land Trust staff organized a work day to help get rid of some of the English ivy that is climbing the big trees as well as spreading out across the land.  The event was organized by the Land Trust’s new Volunteer Coordinator, who comes to the Trust via Americorps.  A bright and cheerful young Kansan who always dreamed of living in a place with mists and tall trees and rain sent out notices via the Point Interface urging Point Roberts residents to join the Trust from 10-2 in getting some of this work done.

And so it was that Ed and I got down there this morning, a little late for the opening salvos, but nevertheless there in time to do almost three hours of ivy eliminating work.  Unfortunately, we were there with only, as far as I could tell, four other people from Point Roberts.  Well, of course, lots of people left after Labor Day, and it was a Tuesday so some people had to work, but still…only six people?  It didn’t feel like we were showing much propensity for community effort here.  And it must have felt a tad discouraging for someone just beginning her volunteer coordinator work.

Doubtless, there are Point residents who go at their own times to do this kind of work.  Certainly it does not need to be done in groups.  But it does need to be done if Lily Point is to be the kind of place that the community seemed to hope it would be back when the acquisition was completed.  For Ed, who was sawing away thick ivy vines scaling very big maple trees—almost an hour and a half on just one tree-- it was very hard work.  For me, on my knees, trowelling and hand-pulling yards of ivy stems from the ground, stems that were heading for maple trees, it was somewhat less hard, but wonderfully peaceful, nevertheless. 

Lily Point is a visually beautiful place. When I go there, though,  it’s usually down to the beach with just a quick walk through the forested part.  This was very different, though.  Digging in the dirt of Lily Point’s forest for a couple of hours, I got especially to hear Lily Point in a way I had not previously experienced.  Thanks to Whatcom Land Trust for giving me that opportunity.