By Gary Gauthier​

If you travel past Nanaimo on the Nanaimo Parkway, you will drive past an area where you get glimpses of meadows interspersed with stands of Douglas-fir and scattered Garry Oak. For most of the year, the area seems unremarkable, but at the end of April through May these meadows transform as flowers emerge in a kaleidoscope of colours. This is Harewood Plains, an area characterized by conglomerate bedrock topped by a thin organic layer. This creates ideal conditions for spring seeps and vernal (spring) pools, which is perfect for restricting tree growth while creating unique conditions for certain plant species, some of which are very rare. Others have cultural significance to local First Nations. Common Camas, Yellow Monkey-flower, Shortspur Seablush, and Spring Gold dominate with blue, pink and yellow, creating an easily accessed flowering jewel located at the edge of the city.

At the northwest end of the area, the City of Nanaimo has designated a small portion as Lotus Pinnatus Park, named for the park’s rarest plant, Bog Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus pinnatus, now Hosackia pinnata). It is the official flower of Nanaimo, and Nature Nanaimo’s logo. The species is red-listed in BC, and categorized as endangered in Canada, with almost its entire Canadian population growing right in Harewood Plains. Several other red- and blue-listed (threatened) species are also found in the area.

The park is largely unknown by most residents, however, and signs to delineate the park are only now being erected. In addition to the small park, a small area is under a covenant, providing some level of protection. The vast majority of Harewood Plains is owned by Mosaic Forest Management. In spite of warnings of up to $50,000 in penalties, ATV and off-road motorcycles have torn up significant areas of the sensitive habitat affecting the hydrology critical for flora and fauna. A portion up-slope from the park is zoned residential. Nanaimo & Area Land Trust, Nature Nanaimo and others are working to gain permanent protection of this area. Please visit the park, and write to your MP, MLA and responsible ministers to help save Harewood Plains.