Some places just want to be a wetland. This might seem odd – how can a place ‘want’ to be anything? But as one particular place in Langley demonstrates, a place’s desires can be evident, leaving it to people like our habitat enhancement team to help places achieve their dreams.
The scene is a wet spot where trucks keep getting stuck in Williams Park, Langley. The solution is one that could only come from a habitat enhancement coordinator like Jon Blais, who is one of the very few people who would look at a puddle behind some cones and think, this will make a great wetland garden. Based on the types of vegetation already growing there, Jon had no doubt about this particular spot’s wetland aspirations.
“It doesn’t have to be one or the other,” says Jon, referring to the potential for the spot to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional habitat for local amphibians and pollinators. When we found some Northern Red-legged frogs already using the space, we knew Jon had the right idea. Red-legged frogs are an at-risk species here in the Fraser Valley, and their existence in the space shows just how important creating more habitat would be.
After some discussion with the parks staff and some initial digging, our habitat enhancement team was joined by LEPS (Langley Environmental Partners Society) staff. Planting was underway. As Pacific Tree frogs croaked their approval nearby, the garden was installed. Several students from the neighbouring Langley Forest School stopped by to help out and to talk with the team about frogs. “If you build it, they will come” rings true when it comes to wetland habitats.
Because of the season, most of the installed plants are currently dormant or merely plugs. But come springtime, there will be a diversity of flowers, foliage, and seedheads. With more vegetation and easier access to the water, local species of amphibians and pollinators will be attracted. What Jon imagined as both a functional habitat and aesthetic space in the park will come to fruition. A far cry from what was just a puddle beforehand.
If you live near a wetland or are just interested in what lives in habitats like Williams Park, check out our native amphibians webpage for more information.
Our programs are made possible by our wonderful donors and supporters as well as funding from these partner organizations. Thank you.
