Skip to content

Burweed bashing continues at Cattle Point this Sunday

A split rail fence around a patch of carpet burweed didn’t do the trick.

The prickly low-growing invasive plant jumped beyond the barrier at Cattle Point last year, prompting Oak Bay parks staff to burn a section of it to contain its spread.

This Sunday (March 27), naturalist Margaret Lidkea leads a burweed patrol at Cattle Point. The public is invited to learn more about the invasive plant.

“They will learn how to differentiate it from other plants, then we’ll mark them and pluck them from the ground,” Lidkea said.

Originating in South America, burweed was discovered in Ruckle Park on Saltspring Island in 1997 and at Cattle Point four years ago. It is identified by its sharply pointed seed spines that can dig into human skin and animal paws. The name comes from the plant’s ability to creep through and cover compacted soils like a carpet.

Volunteers are asked to meet near the boat launch at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information call Lidkea at 250-595-8084.

vmoreau@oakbaynews.com