Beckwith Park
About the Park
Beckwith Park is a large recreational and natural area park which contains sports fields, a playground and water park in the west half, and a natural area with trails, a wetland system and a Garry Oak woodland in the east half. The wetland comprises of two ponds connected by a small stream to the Colquitz River watershed.
For details such as directions, amenities, hours of operation and more, See the handout below.
Park Updates
"Pulling Together" Volunteer Team
January 2024 Update - Eylin Gilbart (Park Steward)
The Saanich Pulling Together Team, has been working at Beckwith Park for the past 14 years (Saturdays, twice a month), removing invasive species in various zones park zones and then maintaining these areas with regular sweeps.
More recently, the group is proud of the “native garden” created on the south side by the Beckwith Park sign and pathway. This area was a Himalayan blackberry mess, which upon removal, revealed beautiful large rocks. We planted native trees, bushes and plants which have spread vigorously throughout the garden, preventing the resurgence of new invasive plants.
Also in progress is the restoration of a Garry Oak meadow near the ponds. This area has camas, fawn lily, hookers’ onion, pacific sanical and native yellow violets (introduced).
On a sad note: Our volunteer group lost one of our longest-term devotees this winter, Marilyn Mills. Marilyn was an enthusiastic member of the volunteer group since the beginning…14 years ago, dedicating hundreds of hours to the cause. She was instrumental in our team bonding with luncheons and loved to discuss our activity with passerby’s. We miss her immensely.
Without a doubt, “Pulling Together” Lead Steward, Eylin Gilbart and her dedicated team of volunteers are responsible for the many trail improvements, wildlife habitat enhancements and ecological restoration to Beckwith Park over the years. Last spring NQCA presented a “Community Volunteer of the Year” award to Eylin in recognition of her long-standing leadership and service to North Quadra.
Interested in volunteering with Saanich Pulling Together Program at Beckwith or other North Quadra Parks? Contact Saanich Parks at parks@saanich.ca for calendar work parties.
To learn about the program: Volunteer for Pulling Together | District of Saanich
To volunteer at a park near you: Saanich Parks Pulling Together Volunteer Events | District of Saanich
Beckwith Pod Dam Decommissioning
There is currently a project to decommission the dam surrounding the large pond in order to remove the water license currently held by Don Mann Excavating. This plan is still in flux and while there is hope a new proposal will allow the ponds remain as they are in water volume, the current proposal will reduce the water volume sufficiently so that the smaller pond will likely become a marsh wetland in winter and dried all summer. This will quickly cause the neighbouring vigorous plants and trees to completely fill in and eliminate the smaller pond.
January 2024 Update - Doug Ashbee (NQCA Director)
In the Spring of 2022, North Quadra Residents learned that the BC Dam Safety Authority designated Beckwith Pond’s main dam site (one of 3 along the loop trail at 857 Beckwith) to be at risk of collapse or potential flooding.
Since Beckwith Pond dam inspections and maintenance had not been sufficiently carried out by previous private water license holders over the past 20 years, significant decay and overgrowth has occurred around the 3 related dam sites.
The current license holder (Don Mann Excavating) is now directed by the Province of BC to carry out remediation to meet new and more stringent safety standards before the requested transfer is granted. Saanich Parks favours this transfer as it will allow for full water control and future restoration activities. As considerable excavation/rebuilding to the dam structure(s), removal of trees/shrubs and significant water reduction may occur, residents have expressed concern regarding ecological degradation and potential loss of the lower duck feeding pond. To date, Saanich Parks posted info signs along the trail, hosted a Q & A Open House at Church of the Nazarene Feb. 7/23 and launched a feedback request survey Feb. 28/23.
It was hoped that precise and comprehensive measurements of the pond’s water levels could quality as a “low” rather than high risk status, allowing for less drastic mitigation. However, as of Jan 2024, measurements remain unclear and plans/outcomes of the decommissioning process have yet to be made public.
NQCA, on behalf of residents continues to press Saanich for input and timely updates. To that end, we thank Doug Ashbee, NQCA Committee Rep for providing the following, more detailed report (outcome of recent meetings/correspondence with Saanich Park Manager, Paul Degreeff, Suzanne Samborski, Parks Director and Jordon Mann (Don Mann Excavating).