Scotch broom quickly takes over empty fields & clear cut forest land. This yellow field was a forest 10 years ago. Parksville Interchange #51

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2 Scotch broom quickly takes over empty fields & clear cut forest land. This yellow field was a forest 10 years ago. Parksville Interchange #51

3 Scotch broom has been allowed to grow densely under BC Hydro power lines. It spreads into young forests where it competes with and strangles young trees.

4 Forests in Danger You can see broom spreading in among the young forests. Broom is a woody weed. It will strangle the young trees as they compete for sun, water and nutrients. Oregon estimates that it loses over $47 million each year in lost timber sales because of Scotch Broom. Near Parksville With climate change and invasive plants, it is becoming more difficult for our forests to grow back in balance & good health.

5 When trees are removed, broom moves in. Parksville Interchange.

6 What s Wrong with Scotch Broom? Scotch broom is an ALIEN invasive plant that Spreads rapidly and densely Forms dense thickets Crowds out native plants Leads to dramatic loss of diversity Slows and prevents forest re-growth Causes allergies Highly flammable a serious fire hazard. The Scourge of Pasture land is toxic to grazing animals, changes soil chemistry, makes farmland useless. Broom takes over anywhere in the sun. Stop the Bloomin Broom

7 MYTHS about Scotch Broom Myth 1: You can t stop Scotch broom. FALSE! Scotch broom is a hardy plant, producing up to 18,000 seeds per plant - seeds which can sprout for years. But it can t grow in the shade. Even grass is shade! Qualicum Beach is proving that you can stop the spread. Pulling and excavating large broom disturbs the soil, and broom thrives in disturbed soil. But if you Cut in Broom in Bloom, preserving and creating good ground cover, grasses, native plants and trees will thrive again. MYTH #2: Broom is naturalized. FALSE! Broom is just getting started! Broom covers whole mountains in Portugal, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Croatia, New Zealand. We can t let that happen here

8 The beginning of Broombusters In its home town: Qualicum Beach FIRST Broom cut on Memorial Ave

9 2006 Memorial Avenue had lots of broom!

10 2007 Huge Broom lined Village Way.

11 The broom on Village way was so large, some of it had to be cut with a chainsaw. 2007

12 More broom on Village Way.

13 2007 More cuts on Village Way.

14 2007 Cutting Broom near Arbutus and Claymore Rd.

15 2007 Broom can grow 15 feet tall!

16 Rupert Road was our focus in 2008.

17 2008 Large broom on Rupert Road

18 Broom was everywhere at the intersection of Rupert Road and Memorial Ave.

19 .Rupert Road

20 2008 A long line of piles Rupert Road

21 Rupert Road

22 2009 The focus was on clearing the old Landfill Site. Qualicum Beach council dedicated two summer workers to cut broom for one week at the gravel area.

23 2009 Clearing the Landfill Site

24 2009 Clearing the Landfill Site

25 Moira Macleod from Scotland at the Landfill: Vancouver Island have more Scotch Broom than Scotland!

26 Cutting broom on Qualicum Beach s Island Hwy.

27 Continuing work on Qualicum Beach Interchange.

28 2011 Controlling broom under QB Power lines. The broom between Memorial & Hilliers Road is mostly under control. We have a lot of work ahead of us in the other direction!

29 FIRE HAZARD In the drought of 2015, the BC Wildfire Service posted this warning: Two invasive species cause fire behaviour and control concerns: broom and gorse. * It is harder to predict and control wildfires because of Scotch broom! Powerlines? The BC Hydro power lines should be a natural fire break. But when covered with broom, they are an avenue for fire to race rapidly across the island. *According to the Coastal Fire Centre on website of BC Government, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources

30 FIRE HAZARD Broom has high oil content and naturally occurring dry branches. This broom is not dead just brown and dry from the drought. This dry broom was in Qualicum Beach! At the land fill & airport.

31 More Fire Hazards Live but dry broom on public roads and green spaces. Dry Broom that used to be in Qualicum Beach

32 Young people love Broombusting.

33 KSS Students at the Dog Park

34 2013 KSS Students on school grounds

35 Qualicum Beach Broombusters on Hwy 4 Volunteers have cleared the broom from the waterfront in Qualicum Beach to the intersection with Alberni Hwy

36 In 2012, 40 people from Oceanside at one cut.

37 Giant Broom was taking over the the Estuary.

38 In 2012, a Campbell River Council member contacted us: We want to do what Qualicum Beach has done.. Setting the Example!

39 Other communities inspired by Qualicum Beach & Broombusters: Parksville (2007) Nanaimo (2008) Lantzville Comox Valley Campbell River Port Alberni North Cowichan District of Highlands It s time to raise the bar! Make Qualicum Beach Broom-Bloom Free

40 CFB Comox May volunteers! The base continues their yearly broom cuts.

41 In 6 hours, 2.5 km of broom was cut by volunteers.

42 Comox Valley

43 The Reason Why We Cut Broom for Future Generations