emailDevonian Regional Park
Learning Centre
Natural History
Forest
As you walk the path on either side of the stream-cut valley, you'll encounter two types of forest communities. The sword fern community covers most of the valley floor. Douglas-fir, grand fir, western red cedar and western hemlock grow here. Look for sword fern in moist pockets and licorice fern on steeper slopes.
You may also spot the occasional Pacific yew tree along the path. Its tough wood was used for bows, harpoons, spear shafts, cooking utensils and digging sticks by early First Nations people.
Closer to the beach, the Garry oak/arbutus community flourishes on steep slopes of volcanic rock. In pockets of soil, grasses and spring flowers are abundant. The thick, succulent leaves of stonecrop form a green mat over the rock. In early summer, this mat turns bright yellow with flowers.
Wetlands
Sherwood Creek meanders three kilometres from its headwaters before reaching Sherwood Pond. At one time Sherwood Pond was connected to the sea, but the tidal channel closed because of tidal changes and shore accretion (build-up).
The pond supports a resident population of spawning cutthroat trout below the small falls. Usually, young fry descend to the sea in their second or third year, returning to spawn in their fourth year. But some populations, like those in Sherwood Pond, remain in fresh water for life because the channel is now closed to the sea.
Animals like mink, raccoons and birds prey on the fish.
The small bridge surrounded by shrubs over the south end of Sherwood Pond is a perfect place for birdwatching before heading out to the beach. The most common visitor and year-round resident is the mallard duck, the ancestor of our domestic duck with which it often mingles and interbreeds.
Beach
The impressive beach, composed of sand and cobble, has a stable berm (raised sand near the high tide mark) covered by driftwood, beach rye grass and shrubs like ocean spray and Nootka rose. Even a few small Douglas-fir and Garry oak trees have taken hold.
Look offshore with your binoculars for seabirds and marine mammals. Sea lions and harbour seals are frequent visitors to the offshore waters of the park. Occasionally, a pod of killer whales will cruise by the beach chasing the fall salmon run.
Cultural History
Sherwood Farm
Before Europeans began to arrive on Vancouver Island, a tribe of Coast Salish First Nations, called the “Ka-kyaaken,” lived in the Metchosin area, or Smets-shosin as it was originally called. Archaeological sites near Devonian Regional Park show evidence of forts connected by trenches and of middens (collections of shell and burnt rock) where feasts were held. Most of Metchosin was sold to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1850, as part of the Fort Victoria Treaties.
Following this, a parcel of land that included the current park was purchased by John McGregor. His farm, the small creek and the lagoon became known as Sherwood.
In early 1865, Hans Helgesen, a Nordic traveller, purchased Sherwood Farm, which began the legacy of the Helgesen family. Hans Helgesen was a wandering spirit, in search of adventure — from mining in Nevada to fishing in Rivers Inlet and the Queen Charlotte Islands. His wife, Lillian Helgesen (nee Calquhoun), was originally from Ireland. As farm manager during her husband's long absences and mother of seven children, she worked laboriously to maintain the comfort and shelter of Sherwood. Two of their sons inherited Sherwood Farm and their great grandchildren continue to live in the area.
In 1980, through the generosity of the Devonian Foundation and the provincial government, the CRD acquired the 11.3 hectares comprising Devonian Regional Park. The CRD purchased an additional 2.2 hectares in 1983 for an equestrian trail along the southern park boundary.
