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Laura O'Brien of the Tsolum River Restoration Society is our guest speaker for our January general meetingShe will be speaking on "the Tsolum River Watershed - River Resilience in the 21st Century"
We will learn about the history of the river and the current issues effect its health, including drought, flooding and invasive species. Laura will also touch on the hope for the future of the Tsolum with the return of pinks and the establishment of new conservation connections.
Laura is a leader on the TRRS Outreach Committee which participates in many public events to celebrate the River and watershed, develop community connections, share information and raise awareness. The Committee is also actively involved in bringing watershed education to local schools. Sharing her love of the Tsolum with others and encouraging them to be active stewards of our unique watersheds and our beautiful Valley are among her favourite pursuits .
Laura O’Brien was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, loves water, writing and the natural world. She has lived in the Comox Valley since 1994 and on the Tsolum River for almost 25 years.
#tsolumriverrestorationsociety #watershed #comoxvalley #comoxvalleyconservationpartnership
Comox Valley Nature's Photo group got together again this week to share some of their recent or finest photos with each other and now it is time to share some of the best with you. One shot from each participant and their stories are shown in the post.
Nature Trust of British Columbia is calling for volunteers to help plant trees at the Lazo Marsh Wildlife Management Area on Monday, January 19th.The West Coast Conservation Land Management Program of Nature Trust BC manages this important conservation area in Comox. Their plan this month is to plant 330 native trees and shrubs in the area. This work is the continuation of a large scale restoration project that began in 2025 and treated over 1.5 hectares of Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom. The selected area for planting native species is roughly 0.5 hectares.
Please contact the event leader, Geoff Stathers,at in advance so he knows how many volunteers to expect and for answers to any questions you may have.
Geoff estimates that with enough volunteers the job can be done in one day.
Meet at the Meet at the North end of Torrence Rd. , at 11:00 a.m. on January 19. (park between the soccer field and the public works yard)at 11:00 a.m. on January 19.
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Bring a suitable planting shovel, as well as gloves, a water bottle and snacks.
#lazomarsh #comoxvalleynature #volunteer #treeplanting #nativeplants
We are excited to have Jack Bindernagel leading our first botany walk of the New Year.Jack is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria biology program who is originally from Courtenay BC. His areas of interest include vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, birds, fish, and insects. Over the past 3 summers he travelled across the province documenting these groups (and others) with the BC Biodiversity Program.
We will be looking at mosses and signs of winter growth. Since Jack calls himself "a reformed birder with a plant problem" there should be lots to discover and discuss.
Please dress for the weather, and wear layers as we will be not be moving quickly.
More details on exact meet up location to follow upon registration.
These walks are free to the public, however donations are gratefully accepted.
Please do not come if you have symptoms of a contagious disease or a cold. And leave your pet home. Thank you for your consideration.
Register at
#winterbotany #mosses #dicranum
#comoxvalleynature #comoxvalley
#bcbiodiversity
BC Nature stands in strong opposition to Bill M216, the Professional Reliance Act.This legislation would remove municipal environmental oversight, privatize regulatory responsibility, and allow environmental assessments to be approved based on the judgment of one hired consultant, without independent or local review. Such a framework places ecosystems at immediate risk. Wetlands, salmon streams, riparian corridors, shorelines, and old-growth-connected habitats could be approved for development even when environmental concerns have not been fully assessed.
Once habitat is lost, we cannot reverse it. Once pollution enters a watershed, we cannot pull it back. Bill M216 invites irreversible harm — quickly, quietly, and without accountability.
Environmental protection must remain a public responsibility grounded in science, transparency, and community review. Removing local authority weakens the safeguards British Columbia relies on for climate resilience, biodiversity stability, and responsible land stewardship.
BC Nature has formally activated our province-wide network of nature clubs, conservation partners, members, and supporters. We are urging British Columbians to speak out now, while decisions can still be influenced.
Public feedback can be submitted here: consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations/154
All feedback must be submitted by 3 p.m. PT on January 6, 2026
for more information, and to find letter template links visit bcnature.org/bc-nature-stance-on-bill-m216-professional-reliance-act/
#bcnature #CVCP #comoxvalley #comoxvalleynature #environmentalprotection
Category Archives: Learning material
Botany at Kitty Coleman Park, December 2025
On December 2, the Botany Group met at Kitty Coleman Provincial Park to explore both a typical Douglas-fir forest and the estuary at this coastal location. The focus was on the lush mosses and on signs of both winter setting … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Mama Bear Trail, October 2025
On October 14, the Botany Group explored part of the very pleasant Mama Bear Trail in Cumberland Community Forest. The focus of the trip was on the lush ferns and mosses, as well as the early fungi that the recent … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Paradise Meadows, August 2025
On August 9, a small contingent (two leaders and one member) from the Botany Group enjoyed a mid- to late-summer field trip to Paradise Meadows. This subalpine environment (elevation 1200 m) offers many plants different from those at lower levels. … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Thames Creek, June 2025
On their first trip (at least in recent years) to Thames Creek near Bowser on June 3, repeated with public participation on June 14, the Botany Group enjoyed exploring the variety of habitats in the area. The presence of old-growth … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at the Airpark, May 2025
Botany Group members enjoyed a field trip to the Courtenay Airpark on May 6 (repeated with public participation on May 10). With the (perhaps surprising) diversity of plants at this urban location, there was much to see, ranging from algae … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Ruth Masters Greenway, April 2025
The Botany Group’s early-spring field trip to Ruth Masters Greenway on April 1 (repeated on April 12) was a followup to the winter outing in January. Although plenty of spring growth was visible, including some flowers, observing bark, branches and … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Lazo Marsh, March 2025
The Botany Group made a late-winter visit to Lazo Marsh on March 4 (repeated on March 15) to continue identifying plants without the aids of leaves, flowers or fruits. This was the first trip that repeated the usual first Tuesday … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Ruth Masters Greenway, January 2025
The Botany Group enjoyed a field trip to Ruth Masters Greenway in Courtenay on January 7. Ruth Masters was a prominent local environmentalist and activist, and was a long-time member of CVN. In 2004, she donated this important property adjacent … Continue reading
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Botany at Seal Bay Park, December 2024
On December 3, a large contingent of Botany Group members enjoyed a walk in Seal Bay Nature Park, following the Coupland Loop trail. The main themes of this late-autumn outing were mosses and fungi, and many interesting and beautiful specimens … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Botany at Puntledge forest, November 2024
The Botany Group delved into the plentiful and diverse world of fungi in the Puntledge forest on their November field trip. Although walking only a short distance, it seemed the group saw specimens to examine every metre along the side … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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