Out for a … Tree ID Walk – Dominion Brook Park

story and photos by Scottee Giles – 

In 1913, Dominion Brook Park was started as a public arboretum and ornamental garden by William Tyrrell Macoun and the Canadian Department of Agriculture. The BC Electric Railway stopped here en route from Victoria to Deep Cove. Today, a hardworking group of volunteers maintains the park in partnership with the District of North Saanich and the Centre for Plant Health.

Walking trails surrounded by 11 acres of lush greenery lead down a steep slope past a wide variety of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Mossy rock walls, steps cut into the hillside and little hidden waterfalls give this local gem a timeless ambience.
A lively brook can be crossed by way of a traditional Scottish packhorse footbridge, unique in its dry-stone construction using no mortar, only gravity, friction and the shape of the granite and field stones.

Tree lovers will recognize their West Coast favourites such as fir, pine, arbutus, hemlock and dogwood. Swaths of bluebells and daisies gather at the base of oaks and big leaf maples. White flowers adorn walls of laurel in bloom, festive yellow chains hang from liburnum, and red berries stand out on holly and skimmia.

Papery white birch and the mottled bark of London planes give away their names, but you may want to bring a good tree ID book to help identify rare finds like yew, ginkgo, deodor, copper beech, and sumac.

Thanks to the initiatives of Katie and John Dawson, a citizens group formed the Friends of Dominion Brook Park non-profit society in 2000. They stepped in when invasive plants took over and there wasn’t enough federal funding to restore the park.

At the bottom of a long grassy hill in the shade of a cedar grove, two picnic long-tables can seat more than 30 people. A historic tea house nearby offers shelter to additional picnic tables. Further down, the trees open up to stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the islands surrounding the Saanich Peninsula.

Things to Note:

• Find free roadside parking at 8801 East Saanich Road
• Be prepared for hills and stairs, and dress for the weather
• To reserve space for an event email admin@northsaanich.ca
• There are no washrooms on site. Closest facilities are across the road at Panorama Recreation
• Dogs welcome; must be kept under control and picked up after
• To volunteer, donate, sponsor the park and to book tours visit www.dominionbrookpark.ca