KPU Surrey Forestry
March 2025 Update, Surrey Campus Central Forest Replanting Work
The next phase of the Surrey campus central forest refurbishment is scheduled to occur this March, as landscapers initiate the replanting of a variety of tree and understory shrub species discussed with and selected by KPU’s Natural Spaces Advisory Committee (NSAC).
The removal of dead and unsafe trees in the forest was completed in close consultation with the NSAC and following the City of Surrey's permitting requirements. This next phase of rejuvenation meets the City’s requirements for replacement plantings of removed trees and honours KPU’s commitments to the health and longevity of our natural environments and our commitments to sustainable practices.
The replanting strategy is intended to enhance the diversity within the forest through the replacement with indigenous tree and understory bush species selected for resilience against our evolving climate. Primary tree selection includes cedar, fir, maple and willow species. Understory bush selection is intended to enhance the health and overall ecosystem of the forest, including the opportunity to expand biodiversity in the area through the use of hardy, berry-producing plants. Salmonberry, salal, and wild rose will complement the existing snowberry already present in the forest.
Some of the specific strategies for the planting zone include:
- Providing a diverse mixture of indigenous conifer and deciduous plantings.
- Ensuring resilience to climate change impacts, along with the selection of compatible species.
- Diversifying the age structure of the new trees to fill gaps in the forest and provide succession growth and greater tree density.
- Building shade into the forest center to enhance growth opportunities.
- Establishing a consistent annual maintenance program.
As well, the project recognizes the opportunity to reestablish a healthy ecosystem.
- Resilient understory plantings, including indigenous and berry-producing species, will enhance the ecosystem as a natural forest that supports a diverse array of insects, birds, and other animal life.
- As the ecosystem rebounds, planting connections can include fungi, mosses, and ground-level indigenous species like wild blackberry
- Retention and enhancement of the existing organic soil materials, including accelerating the rotting of fallen trees, will provide nutrients for growth
- An opportunity exists to connect the forest understory to a future Indigenous Medicine Garden.
Finally, the forest is seen as an important teaching, learning, and gathering space.
- Maintain the already existing gathering spaces in the forest.
- Consider how the forest supports Indigenous cultures and practices.
- Capture learning cross-over opportunities
- Ensure the forest provides the space for safe access, reflection, and other activities
- Build the forest connections to the adjacent courtyard, pond, and the Aboriginal Gathering Space.
Consider the focus of the forest in relation to the KPU Master Plans and Campus 2050. We appreciate the campus community’s input as we work together in a mindful approach to restore this valued ecosystem in a way that honours Indigenous ecosystems and practices, provides a healthy and safe space, supports teaching and gathering activities, and builds connections with adjacencies at the campus now and in our future.
January 2025 update.
Over the past winter holiday break, landscape contractors worked on-site within the central forest at our Surrey campus to prepare areas for tree replanting. This work followed the previous maintenance work completed last year to remove dead and unsafe trees from the area.
The clean-up work was scheduled during the semester break to mitigate noise and pedestrian disruptions to activity in the adjacent buildings.
This preparatory work clearing the space is intended to begin replanting of the area and meet municipal requirements for replanting as part of previous permitting for tree removal. Landscape contractors have removed invasive species and enhanced the soil conditions in the planting zones identified by a collaborative working group of Natural Space Advisory internal members as well as external partners. This group continues to meet to finalize tree species selection and initiate forest replanting in the first months of 2025. The team will also engage with ecologists and the City of Surrey as part of the planning.
As this rejuvenation work continues, further updates will be provided.
If you have any questions, please contact us at Facilities@kpu.ca.
December 2023 update.
The forest at KPU Surrey will be undergoing maintenance work to provide a safe environment for all. The effects of climate change are being seen and has been a contributing factor to this work that includes the removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees.
Work to remove the unsafe trees will begin Mid December 2023 and is scheduled to end by January 2024.
External arborists conducted a comprehensive assessment of the trees on the KPU Surrey campus and identified the trees that were deemed unsafe and recommended for removal.
A working group of KPU’s Natural Spaces Advisory Group walked through the grounds reviewing the arborists recommendations and prioritized the maintenance activity based on pedestrian and parking area safety.
Trees considered of no risk to campus activity and that may have teaching and learning significance or that may support wild life activity will not be removed. Replacement trees will be planted on campus through the City of Surrey’s replacement tree process.
KPU Facilities is continuing to work with the arborists to determine the health of the trees across the campus
August 2019 update.
In August 2019, Facilities Services commissioned BC Plant Healthcare, a professional arborist consultant, to perform an audit with a comprehensive tree inventory of the KPU Surrey forest.
The work was done in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture Best Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment and ANSI A3002 Part 9: Tree Risk Assessment, and City of Surrey tree protection bylaw.
The arborist's report and recommendations form the basis of our tree management strategy and provides vital information regarding:
- Safety - what needs to come out?
- Wildlife habitat - what should stay as part of the natural environment?
- Research - what should stay to support educational outcomes?
Our tree management strategy will also help inform future natural space use, learning and research spaces, operational improvements, landscape redesigns and strategies for replanting aligned with the KPU2050 Campus Master Plan.