weed pulling – Forests of Memory. Forests of Learning. Forests for Life.

Help Remove Invasive Baby’s Breath/Bag Up Trash

We are thrilled to invite you to an environmental protection volunteer event hosted by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. to help restore two of Saskatoon’s beloved urban forests.

📍 Locations:

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West Side) – invasive baby’s breath removal
George Genereux Urban Regional Park (North Side) – litter and trash cleanup
Sign up now! Eventbrite. CITO.

🗓️ Date: Thursday July 31, 2025 – date chosen before the August long weekend when folks may leave to lake country, and to be out when Baby’s Breath are flowering before they go to seed.
🕙 Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am (before the day gets too warm)
🛠️ Activities:

Digging and pulling baby’s breath from the roots at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Bagging trash for removal from George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Why This Matters:

Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata), also known as maiden’s breath, may look delicate and beautiful, but it’s a harmful invasive species in Saskatoon. Native to Europe, this escaped ornamental thrives in sunny, sandy soils and has become a serious threat to local ecosystems:

A single plant can produce over 10,000 seeds
It displaces native plants and prevents new ones from growing
It contributes to fire hazards and waterway degradation
Once established, it’s incredibly hard to remove due to deep root systems

Removing baby’s breath now—before it goes to seed—is critical to protecting biodiversity in our forests.

What to Bring:

Shovel (helpful for larger plants of Baby’s Breath)
Work gloves or Gardening Gloves for removing Baby’s Breath / Picking up Trash
Insect spray
Drinking water
Camera or smartphone (let’s capture the impact and upload to the event page!)
Your energy and enthusiasm!

We will not NOT compost or burn any removed baby’s breath — we will bag it and dispose of it properly at the landfill.

What to Wear:

Light-colored clothing (tick season is tapering, but precautions are still wise)
Tuck pants into socks
Sturdy shoes or boots
Sun hat or sunscreen
Change of clothes for afterward (recommended i.e. ticks)

Other Details:

Large garbage bags will be provided
Weather: If rain is expected, we’ll post updates here and on the event page.
Baby’s Breath Location: It would be appreciated if folks could take a screen shot using a free app for GPS wayfinding, or use the free app iNaturalist to take a photo of the baby’s breath you removed or use the compass on Geocaching.com, or create a waypoint for additional Baby’s Breath locations so they can be spot treated in the following year.

Trash: Image of trash dump area (laundry basket in trash for scale or size)

Trash at George Genereux Urban Regional Park, Saskatoon, SK

World Nature Conservation Day July 28th reminds us that every action we take—no matter how small—can contribute to the well-being of our planet. That’s why this year’s trash cleanup event at George Genereux Urban Regional Park and the Baby’s Breath removal at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, on Thursday July 31, 2025, takes on special meaning.

By removing litter and invasive species like baby’s breath, volunteers are not only caring for local green spaces—they’re actively participating in a global movement to protect biodiversity and safeguard the ecosystem services we all depend on. Clean air, fresh water, healthy soil, and thriving wildlife begin with clean, cared-for landscapes.

The purpose of celebrating World Nature Conservation Day is to raise awareness about the urgent need to preserve Earth’s natural resources, promote biodiversity, and encourage responsible stewardship. It’s a call to honor the interconnectedness of all life by taking meaningful action—like our cleanup day—to restore and respect nature.

Addresses:

Part SE 23-36-6 – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A

Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A

S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A

NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063

Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot

Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map

Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation