This is a progress report about what a few dedicated "re-greeners" have done recently at the semi-shade garden site on the slope of Lions Bay Avenue below the highway - clearing Ivy, Himalayan Brambles, dead trees, rubbish, and pruning or lopping the tall Mahonia and other trees or shrubs as required. We have the basis of a visible, attractive and informative selection of suitable native plants of our area. As Spring advances so very quickly this year, we see more sun on the garden's northern perimeter than we realised at first. This can only make for a wider choice of plants to feature there, making this site a true "Semi-Shade Native Garden".

To give some privacy to immediate neighbours to the south, we have already cleared Ivy, made suitable holes and planted quite a few young cedar trees donated by residents. These we can easily manage and intermix with small hemlocks to allow for a natural screen.

Roy Forster visited recently to advise on our progress. Among several suggestions, he thought that a small back-hoe could access the middle of the site to deal with the worst part of the bramble infestation, while removing rubbish and roots to leave good tilled soil easier to plant in.

We have worked out a simple 'path plan' which will not in any way destroy the existing natural appearance of the site, but will allow access for clearing, planting and future use. We realise that to approach this sensitively, without creating a temporary 'construction zone' eyesore, the project will likely take about three years.

The photographs give you an idea about the area. It is already graced by a very substantial native Birch (Betula papyrifera), five fine healthy Arbutus menziesii, along with smaller Bitter Cherry, Red Alder and large leaf Maples. Much of the ground floor is made up of Sword Ferns, Mahonia, Red Huckleberry and Salal. For the future we will have opportunities to include many other native plant possibilities.

We (Louis (921-7260) and I (921-7842)) wish to thank all who are helping by working on site or donating plant material, and we welcome others to join in the "re-greening of Lions Bay ventures".