Knox Mountain Park
Knox Mountain Park is located right in the heart of Kelowna.
This beautiful park is mostly made up of low elevation forest, but tucked away in the forest lives a marsh and the serene Kathleen Lake. The goal was to enhance these wetland habitats by adding more native vegetation, with trembling aspen as the star player. Aspens work as incredible fire breaks, which was a major consideration for our project collaborators, the City of Kelowna.
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In 2025, with help from the City of Kelowna and a local plant group, we were able to plant more than 200 trees and shrubs between the two spots. Deer fencing was also installed around some of the plants to stop deer from inhibiting the growth of the young plants.​​
Aspens: Nature's Firefighter
Aspen have moist, broad leaves and smooth bark that resist burning. Their open canopies allow more sunlight to reach the ground, encouraging lush green understory plants that also hold moisture- all of which add up to make aspen stands natural firebreaks​​.
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Encouraging or restoring aspen on your property can increase fire resilience while supporting wildlife and soil health. Aspen groves provide habitat for birds, pollinators, and small mammals, and their deep roots help stabilize slopes and improve water retention.
If you have aspen on your property, consider protecting and maintaining them by preventing overgrazing, allowing natural regeneration, or planting a few new shoots. Over time, these living firebreaks can help protect homes, crops, and surrounding landscapes while adding beauty and biodiversity.
Prescribed Burning: Rejuvenating the Forest
A week prior to the planting at Knox Mountain in 2025, a prescribed burn was performed at the park by the City of Kelowna. This was done to help reduce the amount of fuel made from fallen pine needles and other brush. With less fuel, future fires will not burn as intensely and will cause less damage to the surrounding area. It is also healthy for forests and grasslands for fires to take place periodically. Fires can help with releasing nutrients and giving plants more space to grow. Past fire suppression has caused an overgrowth and encroachment of vegetation in areas that should be more open, so more fires are beneficial when done in these safe and controlled conditions.
