Armed with gloves and long handled pruners Sunday morning, the Lower Mainland Green Team set out to eradicate invaders at Campbell Valley Regional Park.

Volunteers - from seniors to brothers aged two and three years - went on a 10 minute hike through the park to a spot where English Ivy, an invasive plant, was prominent.

Invasive plants and animals can overtake an area and grow exponentially, choking out native species in the process.

Led by founder Lyda Salatian, the team's first event was at the South Langley park, pulling invasive weeds.

"We want to make a positive impact on our natural environment," Salatian said. "I'm a former Langley resident and love Campbell Valley Park."

The Green Team is a group of volunteers from across the Lower Mainland who get together once a month (sometimes more often) to help an environmental group, non-profit organization, charity, or city tackle an environmental issue.

Over the weekend, tools and gloves were supplied, as were muffins by Cravings Coffee & Bakery.

The Green Team members were encouraged to not only pull ivy, but also another well known and ever-present local invader, blackberries.

Following the pull, each volunteer was handed a product, with a choice between a bike bell, reflective leg band, LED light, and carabiner, provided by Mountain Equipment Co-op.

A huge amount of ivy fell by the wayside. Salatian said the volume measured 56.63 cubic metres.

"I overheard someone singing under their breath, 'Today's a sunny day, I'm heading out to play, gonna make the ivy pay for invading our parks this way!'" Salatian related.

The team's future plans include:

- pulling invasive plants that are overtaking native flora;

- planting native plants and trees;

- restoring areas along a stream, river, marsh or shoreline;

- beach, river, and lake clean up;

- harvesting organic fruits and vegetables;

- trail building and maintenance, and;

- the restoration of wildlife sites.

The Green Team's website is at: www.meetup.com/The-Lower-Mainland-Green-Team.

tlandreville@langleyadvance.com