Today is Giving Tuesday and the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (GRPF) is asking people to take this opportunity to generously support two projects that are very dear to its heart.

For almost seven years, a small but dedicated volunteer Herbarium Group has been meeting practically every week to inventory the plant life in the park. Their work has resulted in hundreds upon hundreds of species being identified and archived as they walk every inch of the park. Their work continues to this day.

In their second high profile Giving Tuesday campaign, the foundation is seeking donations to help rebuild and enhance the native plant garden that had to be removed during centre renovations and upgrades and to purchase a showcase to house a rotating display within the park centre. The fundraising drive continues all week long.

“You can imagine with hundreds and hundreds of pressings lovingly and painstakingly developed and research, they would love the public to have the opportunity to see these plants,” says GRPF executive director Sarah Parker. “It’s an opportunity for people to learn about these plants, see what’s growing in the park and hopefully pass on that passion for living plant life and the need to conserve it,” says GRPF executive director Sarah Parker.

The goal of this group of park stewards is to catalogue every plant, flower, shrub and tree. The samples are pressed, identified and researched. A botanist then reviews their work to confirm their information. If it is correct, the plant is archived.

“They’ve documented hundreds and hundreds of plants; things that we would never have noticed. So it takes incredible patience and passion and they all are friends.”

Unfortunately, one member of the group passed on recently.

“That was a really sad moment for us, but they have persevered and are continuing to do the work.”

Over the years they’ve made some surprising discoveries, says Parker.

“They discovered a Lindberg Pine, for instance, which typically doesn’t come this far down in the Foothills. It’s a species at risk and they were very excited to find that.”

Those wishing to donate can visit www.grpf.com\donations and indicate it’s for the Giving Tuesday fundraising drive.

The park office is also open today, Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.