Help us protect the area for future generations

Queen’s Park was established in 1887 and is listed on the Heritage Registrar because of its historical, aesthetic, social and natural values. For the past 125 years, Queen’s Park has evolved to include a wide range of facilities and amenities – and has always remained New Westminster’s premier park destination.  

Mature fir and cedar forest cover about 50% of Queen’s Park, contributing to the valuable green park character that exists today. On a larger scale, these forested areas contribute significantly to city-wide urban forest and ecosystems network. Read: What is an urban forest?

The majority of the trees are the same species and age, nearing or over 100 years old, and will require ongoing assessment and regeneration in order for this asset is to continue to be a part of Queen’s Park for future generations. Additionally, there are little to no shrub and groundcover layers creating a limitation to habitat values.

Bike activity in the forested areas is not a compatible use, as it negatively impacts the trees, vegetative understory and causes soil erosion/compaction. Please help us protect these areas!

The intent of the ecological restoration project in Queen’s Park is to create:

1. Diversity in the forest species and structure for long term resilience and sustainability;
2. Critical habitats for wildlife that are also essential for the provision of a wide range of ecosystem services that are important to human well-being; 
3. Enhanced forest ecosystem functioning including biomass production, pollination, seed dispersal, resistance to wind storms, fire regulation and mitigation, pest regulation of native and invading insects, carbon sequestration, and cultural ecosystem services; 
4. Community participation, stewardship and education for ecological restoration. Although we will specifically focus on engaging youth for this project, all members of the will be welcome to participate; and
5. Indigenous cultural recognition and interpretive information specific to the traditional uses of the newly installed trees and plants.