The North Okanagan Scotch Thistle Bash is a coordinated, region-wide effort to control Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium), an invasive plant that spreads aggressively and can dominate grasslands, trailsides, and agricultural edges. During Earth Week 2026, community groups, partner organizations, and local volunteers will host multiple “bashes” across the North Okanagan to remove plants, prevent seed spread, and record locations for long-term management.

What is a “Thistle Bash”?

A Thistle Bash is a community work event focused on:

  • Removing first-year rosettes by cutting 1 to 2 inches below the soil to destroy the regrowth point.
  • Preventing seed spread by deadheading any flowering plants and bagging seed heads.
  • Documenting results so the region can track progress over multiple years.

Why it matters

Scotch thistle can:

  • Outcompete native plants and reduce grassland biodiversity.
  • Degrade habitat for birds and wildlife.
  • Reduce recreational access and enjoyment on trails and parks.
  • Create serious challenges for agriculture by lowering forage quality and increasing control costs.

How to participate

You can help in two main ways:

  • Join a local bash listed below, or connect with Heidi to discuss organizing
  • Be “eyes on the landscape” by reporting thistle locations through iNaturalist, even if you cannot attend an event

Partners and support

This initiative is coordinated by the North Okanagan Environmental Collective, in partnership with the Grasslands Conservation Council of BC and the Invasive Species Council of BC, with participation from many local organizations, clubs, and residents.

Media and outreach

  • Short educational videos and shareable materials are being prepared for community partners.
  • Local groups are encouraged to share this event list through newsletters, social media, and community boards.

Event list

Some event dates are still being finalized!

Area Description

Organization / Individual

Point Person & Contact Info

Event Date

Event Time

Event Meeting Place
KM 0 of the ORT Friends of Okanagan Rail Trail Pam Van Kleeck (pammvk@gmail.com)
Point Sage Drive Judy Ann Mossat Judy Mossat (jamosset@gmail.com)
South Otter Lake to O’Keefe Ranch Kim Fulton Kim Fulton (kfultondr_fish@yahoo.ca) Sat April 11 11:00
North BX Melanie Piorecky Melanie Piorecky (pioreckym@ae.ca)
BX Ranchlands Park BX/Swan Lake Community Association Kathy Jenkins (triskele.jenkins@gmail.com April 22nd 9:00 am – 2pm BX Ranchlands Parking Lot
Adventure Bay Bev Lyons Bev Lyons (bevlyons@hotmail.com) various dates in April, depending on the availability of volunteers & sites to be cleared
McKergow Meadows and Middleton Mountain ISCBC Ainsley Muitrie (amutrie@bcinvasives.ca)
College Way/Kickwillie Sharell Watts Sharell Watts (sharellwatts1@gmail.com)
Graystone Park Greig Crockett Greig Crockett (crockettgreig@gmail.com)
Braeburn Trail & Beach Trail Friends of Kalamalka Lake Brenda Couture (bcouture01@gmail.com)
one of the covenants on 7203 Coldstream Creek Road Nature Conservancy of North Okanagan Marnie Williamson (mpw660@telus.net)
Blackrock & 39th Linda Ensing
Swan Lake Nature Reserve, Crane Rd-Jordan Park Reserve, Cools Pond, & Grey Canal (Cypress Rd to Warren Rd.) NONC Marnie Williamson (mpw660@telus.net)
Thomas Hayes Ecological Park Armstrong Spallumcheen Trails Society Marge Sidney (marg.sidney@gmail.com) Don’t know yet but probably mid to late Apr Probably 10 am Thomas Hayes parking lot
Grey Canal, from McLennan south to Rugg Rd Vernon Outdoor Club Sue Ghattas (supepghat@hotmail.com) April 21st
Allan Brooks Nature Centre David Lilly David Lilly (david_lilly@abnc.ca) April 22nd TBC Allan Brooks Nature Centre
Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park – area to the north of Comin’ Round The Mountain Trail UBCO SUST / FKLPP (Collaboration) Daryl Nolan (kalamalka.blues@gmail.com) March 23 16:00 Red Gate Parking Lot (access to KLPP from Kidston Road)
Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park – multiple satellite sites Friends of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park (FKLPP) Daryl Nolan (kalamalka.blues@gmail.com) flexible scheduling flexible scheduling Widespread known sites, with less than 100 plants, will be most efficient to control with a small group of no more than 2 or 3 cyclists.

Report Scotch thistle with iNaturalist

We are building a shared inventory of thistle locations to support coordinated management over multiple years.

Project link:

https://inaturalist.ca/projects/scotch-thistle-bash

How to contribute:

  • Take a clear photo of the plant.
  • Make sure your phone’s location services are on so the observation includes coordinates.
  • Upload your observation to iNaturalist and add it to the project.

Tips for strong observations:

  • Use a “breadcrumb” approach by recording the first thistle you see, a few observations along the way, and the last one.
  • Add notes like approximate abundance (for example: “20 to 50 plants observed”).
  • If you prefer, take photos in the field and upload later from home to save phone battery.

Safe and effective removal of Scotch Thistle

  • For rosettes (first-year plants): slice 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface to destroy the growth point.
  • For flowering plants: clip and bag seed heads first, then cut stalks.
  • Minimize soil disturbance where possible to reduce triggering new germination.
  • Only bag and dispose of viable seed heads. Dead, brown stalks can often remain on site because they will not regrow.

Contact

For general coordination questions or to add your group’s event to this list, please contact:

  • Heidi Wismath: heidi@bcgrasslands.org

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