This past week the Sechelt Groves Society, the custodians of both the Sechelt Heritage Forest and the Hidden Grove, looked back over the progress of the months of 2014 and were able to say, “Well done.”
The volunteer trail builders, who work on the trails every week, have finished most of the planned projects for the Groves. Several new long trails have been built with a major loop in the north and another one out into a new area granted to the Groves by the Sechelt Community Forest.
Some short trails provide new loops that add more variety to the walks already available. At the same time, these new loops preserve the forest’s quiet and solitude even when others are visiting the Groves.
New colour coded trail markers have been installed and old ones refurbished.
All the intersection sign posts (over 65 of them) in the Hidden Grove have been updated with some colour changes to reflect the added trails. All the laminated signs are now replaced with metal ones.
The main guide signs in the Kiosk have been redone to reflect the new trails and update the history and the list of donors.
Three patches of rare Elphinstone rhododendrons have been planted to assist in the saving and proliferation of this special species. Watch for flowers next spring.
The Groves now have an official street address: 7000 Sechelt Inlet Road. This will greatly assist in the event that anyone must call 9-1-1 for emergency help. Guidance for calling 9-1-1 is on all the new hand-out maps and brochures.
And more is planned! Some interpretative educational signage is to be installed, and a committee is currently working with the Sechelt community forest, which has agreed to sponsor the signs. As the years have passed, the trail builders have become more skilled, and the newer trails reflect that increased expertise. Now it is time to upgrade the old trails, particularly in the Heritage Forest. The clearing of non-native plants — principally near the entrances — will be undertaken along with some replanting of native species.
It is worthy of special comment that the Groves so far have had few instances of litter or vandalism and very few problems with misbehaving dogs. We’re also pleased that cycling folks have respected the Groves as “out-of-bounds.” Thank you all.
The Society would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the sponsors (listed at the kiosk and on the website) and donors (some from as far away as the UK and Korea), our wonderful membership, and especially the dedicated volunteer trail builders. Without any of these people, this wonderful treasure in Sechelt would not exist. See more about the Groves at secheltgroves.com.
