{"id":9545,"date":"2014-04-08T12:42:43","date_gmt":"2014-04-08T19:42:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/sustainability\/?p=9545"},"modified":"2014-05-16T13:13:31","modified_gmt":"2014-05-16T20:13:31","slug":"is-english-ivy-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/sustainability\/2014\/04\/08\/is-english-ivy-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Is English Ivy Bad?"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to some, English Ivy is a problem and Bellevue College is now presented with a report that asks our campus to look at this possible issue.<\/p>\n

The “Recommendation Report for the Removal and Replacement of English Ivy on the Bellevue College Campus<\/a>” report was just released, a report that the Issaquah Environmental Council (IEC)<\/a>\u00a0asked to have conducted; and findings could end up changing our campus ecology. \u00a0According to this report, the change would be for the better.<\/p>\n

The research and recommendations were part of a request by the IEC as a continuation of their ongoing “IvyOut<\/a>” program which seeks to mitigate damage done by ivy in public areas. \u00a0The report address the issues of English Ivy’s invasive nature on our environment by covering what English Ivy is, how it has become listed as a class C noxious weed, what the removal could look like or cost the Bellevue College campus and finally what native plant species are suggested alternative replacements.<\/p>\n

Upon reading you will discover a brief synopsis on the different environmental effects of English Ivy from establishing Ivy deserts that choke out native plants, to how English Ivy could be adding to structure deterioration and many other problems such as providing hiding areas for vermin. \u00a0This report also provides a breakdown of removal options from manual, to smothering or burning methods and even using goats to eradicate the plant on campus. \u00a0The research is wrapped up with photos of 24 native plant species and their growing conditions as his suggested replacement alternatives.<\/p>\n

Another project that is underway is by the\u00a0Secretary of Environmental and Social Responsibility Representative, Alex Clark<\/a>, and another fellow BC student who will be breaking ground on the first campus beds to be replanted with native plants. \u00a0Both replanted beds are close to the HR department in the A building and one is a shaded bed while the other is in the sun.<\/p>\n