Editor:
As an addition to Caitlin Hicks’ letter on knotweed control “Is this the best we can do?” (Coast Reporter, July 28), I would like to remind folks of a project that was done at Henderson Beach to remove invasive knotweed without the use of herbicides, using just the power of the people of Roberts Creek and community effort. This project ran for five years, commencing May 2016.
A five-year agreement was signed with Ministry of Transportation, Highways and Infrastructure and research was done on how to remove the invasive plant without causing more spread, and without using any chemicals. The motivation for the project was an aversion to using herbicides with potential to cause harm to our environment, and the proximity of the knotweed to Henderson Beach, an area full of sea life and heavily used by families for picnics and swimming.
The neighbourhood was canvassed for volunteers to help out, and the SCRD assisted in spreading the word about the project. After five years, the knotweed is gone, (I have found one sprig since 2021) and every time I go by, I check for the knotweed, as I hope the other volunteers do as well.
Where there is a will, there is a way. Glyphosate is not the only option for control of knotweed.
Dianne Sanford, Roberts Creek
