Gerald Island, nestled in the Ballenas Channel near Nanoose Bay, is a testament to both the resilience of nature and community stewardship. Once home to a mid-20th-century homestead, the island’s gardens ran wild after it was abandoned in 1960. Non-native plants, such as English ivy and Himalayan blackberry, introduced as part of the homestead, spread unchecked over the years, suppressing native vegetation and altering the island’s ecosystem.
Today, Gerald Island is a BC Parks day-use site. Recognizing the ecological challenges facing Gerald Island, BC Marine Trails began a dedicated restoration effort in 2017 as part of its broader mission to intertwine outdoor recreation with environmental stewardship along the BC coastline. Over the years, volunteers have returned to Gerald Island twice annually (April & September) to remove invasive species, such as English ivy and Himalayan blackberry, reclaim natural habitat, and to protect native plant species, including the blue-listed coastal wood fern. The project embodies the BC Marine Trails’ commitment to collaboration, working closely with BC Parks, local communities, and First Nations to preserve natural spaces.
Current progress
When the project began in 2017, English ivy spilled out onto the beach, reaching the water’s edge on a high tide. Today, the ‘Ivy line’ has been pushed back 120 meters inland!
Our most recent visit to Gerald Island was in September of 2025 — burning 98 tarp loads of invasives with the help of 13 volunteers over the four day event (small event due to strong winds). While there is still a long way to go before declaring Gerald Ivy-free, it feels as though the island is beginning to breath easier. With far fewer fruiting plants and areas of dense coverage — plus passable trails and clearings throughout the island — the island is returning to its natural state.Â
The satellite image of Gerald Island has areas of remaining dense invasive species coverage (English ivy & Himalayan blackberry).
- Beach and Picnic Area: Blackberry roots removed, with extent of bushes pushed further back into the forest.Â
- SW Bluff: Now clear of English ivy. The flagged prickly pear patches were preserved.
- SW Lowlands Trail: Now fully established and flagged, with substantial clearing on all sides of the trail. The trail now connects to the south most beach / bluff on the island, and has been extended to include a loop back to the picnic area. Further English ivy clearing is needed on the new loop section.
- NE Bluff: Two passable trails (lightly flagged) now connect to the NE and SE bluffs. The NE bluff is nearly free of English ivy, and we’re excited to see healthy coastal wood ferns flourishing along the trails.
- NE Lowlands:Â A new clearing has been created up to 125m inland, making space for native plants to thrive, including thimbleberry, ocean spray, and snowberry.
- NE Bluff:Â Six trees freed from climbing, flowering English ivy.Â
As our work areas expand and begin to connect, we hope to transition from ‘attack mode’ to ‘maintenance mode’ in the coming years.Â
Spring 2026 Event Information
Dates for our spring event will be set in early 2026 — check back then!
Typically, the event takes place on one of the first two weekends of April.Â
Join the quest to restore Gerald Island’s natural beauty! BC Marine Trails is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help us remove invasive English ivy and protect the island’s unique ecosystem. Together, we can support native plant growth, preserve biodiversity, and create a healthier, natural environment for future generations. Your efforts make a lasting impact — come be part of the change!
Our fall event will take place from Thursday September 25th to Sunday September 28th. Volunteers are welcome to join for just a day, a night, or the whole weekend! We are privileged, as these events are the only time that camping is allowed on Gerald. If you require help with arranging travel to the event (carpooling) or acquiring paddling gear, please reach out to scutcliffe@bcmarinetrails.org.
Volunteers must be self sufficient with camping supplies, food, and water. BC Marine Trails arranges for a pack-out toilet for the event.
